GPR investigations to reconstruct the geometry of the wooden structures in historical buildings

Abstract

GPR applications to historical buildings have been cautiously increasing in recent years. The investigation of the wooden structural elements in historical buildings is essential to plan the restoration works. We discuss three case histories where 2D and 3D GPR surveys were executed to solve problems posed by restorers. The first survey was carried out to locate the beams of a wooden floor in a two hundred years old house in Pescate (Italy). The second survey was carried out in a stone masonry house of the 19th century in Lecco (Italy) to investigate the beam-wall connection. The third survey was carried out in a five hundred years old church in Busto Arsizio (Italy) to detect all the wooden elements. In this case some beams were totally hidden inside the brick and stone walls.