Innovative approaches to safeguarding heritage presented by UM at MetroArchaeo25

Dr Chiara Torre from the Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, and Francesca Cannizzaro, PhD student from the University of Messina and currently undertaking a research period at the UM, recently participated in the 2025 IMEKO TC-26 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (MetroArchaeo 2025), held in Bergamo, Italy.

The event, organised annually, brings together researchers and operators in the enhancement, characterisation and preservation of archaeological and cultural heritage, using diverse methodologies arising from multiple scientific disciplines.

Dr Torre delivered an oral presentation entitled “Water leaks as a hidden risk to cultural heritage sites: application of the TEAMWIRE project and the geophysical challenges”, which highlighted the interdisciplinary value of the TEAMWIRE project.

Although primarily designed to address water management issues in Malta by developing innovative methods for early detection of pipeline leakages, the project also demonstrates significant potential in safeguarding archaeological and historical structures.

In her talk, Dr Torre discussed how integrated geophysical monitoring—combining GPR, TDR, and GPS—can help identify hidden water losses that might compromise the preservation of cultural heritage assets.

As an example, the city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was mentioned as an emblematic case where heritage conservation and infrastructure monitoring must coexist in a delicate balance.

Ms Francesca Cannizzaro presented a poster titled “An integrated approach for the systematic monitoring of indoor air quality and microclimatology at churches located in the Central Mediterranean region”, which outlines a multitechnique strategy for assessing air quality in cultural heritage sites.

Her contribution focused on the measurement of particulate matter, CO₂, VOCs, and key microclimatic parameters. This integrated monitoring aims to characterise the unique sub-microenvironments typical of sacred and historical buildings in the Central Mediterranean area.

The collected data provide an essential foundation for preventive conservation and long-term preservation strategies.

Both contributions underscored the growing importance of applying advanced scientific and technological tools to the protection and sustainable management of cultural heritage, attracting considerable interest from researchers and professionals in the fields of geophysics, conservation, and environmental monitoring.