Identifying geological and geotechnical influences that threaten historical sites: A method to evaluate the usefulness of data already available

This work deals with a method to quantitatively evaluate the usefulness of data already available to identify the geological and geotechnical influences that threaten monumental and archeological sites. An ad hoc questionnaire is proposed consisting of ten questions that reflect the dissimilar geological–geotechnical conditions typical of the sites all over the world. However, it is possible to make changes in the questionnaire. In this way, the proposed approach will be useful in disparate geological backgrounds.Once the questionnaire is written up, the usefulness of the available information will be evaluated via the ‘Engineering Geological Usefulness Parameter’ (EGUP).To investigate cultural heritage sites, the EGUP parameter will allow the decision makers (e.g. head of the Monuments and Fine Arts Office, head of the Ministry for Arts and Culture) choice in what cultural heritage site to first address their economic resources.For this purpose, the building of a EGUP-based national database is suggested where an EGUP value will be attributed to each cultural heritage site, with this value being constantly updated with new studies, surveys, and investigations.To make both the management and the updating of the archive easy, a GIS platform is proposed. Such a database will be a ‘constraint’ for the decision makers responsible for safeguarding the cultural heritage.