Integrated Digital Documentation for Conservation, the Case Study of the Torre deli Upezzinghi Called Caprona, in Vicopisano (PI) Italy

Abstract

Abstract. Located on the Rocky Promontory overlooking the town of Caprona, the Upezzinghi Tower is a 19th-century reconstruction of a watchtower that once served the ancient castle, which existed in the mid-11th century and was destroyed by the Florentines in 1433. The hill on which it stands has been gradually eroded due to stone quarrying, significantly altering the landscape around Caprona. Until the mid of the last century, the rocky promontory was still substantially intact, and the remains of the medieval fortress could be identified beneath the tower. However, at its base, the remains of the medieval tower's foundation are still visible. The structure is currently in an advanced state of architectural decay, and the extraction of stone material has been so aggressive that the quarry's limit has come within about 50 cm of the tower's profile. The small square-shaped building appears to be smaller than the one demolished in 1433 since measurements at the base of the current tower have confirmed one side to be approximately 4.50 meters, while the remains of the medieval tower had a side of about 5.00 meters. Digital surveying has been carried out for the preservation and conservation of the tower, which is in urgent need of restoration. TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning) and UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) tools were used with multiple acquisitions that were subsequently compared and calibrated, using the laser scanner point cloud as a reference. The maximum misalignment error of the TLS point cloud was within a maximum range of 0.015 meters. The delivery of the survey results, considering the modest size of the structure, was performed at a 1:20 scale.