Control of structural intervention in the area of the Roman Theatre of Cadiz (Spain) by using non-destructive techniques

•Operational modal testing of a group of historical masonry buildings.•Topographic control and ambient vibration tests are used for the control of a structural intervention.•Updated FE model is used to control a structural intervention in different stages.•Updated FE model is used to foresee the behaviour of a group of historical buildings after a structural intervention.

This paper presents the dynamic characterization of a group of historical buildings located over the Roman Theatre of Cadiz (Spain), a piece of heritage that has been buried for centuries under the historical town. In 2010, an intervention began in order to excavate it, while respecting the buildings over it. The control of this intervention is being done by means of topographic control points and ambient vibration tests. On the basis of the results obtained from the dynamic tests, a finite element model was updated and subsequently used to check the current works and foresee the final behaviour of the complex. A brief description of the Roman theatre and the works to recover it, the methodology followed to control such works and the results obtained are the main goals of this paper.