Built Heritage and Geotechnics

This is a series of short books on specialized topics that fall under the overarching theme of built heritage and geotechnics, like well documented case studies of restoration works at one specific site or of a monument, or detailed overviews of construction techniques, intended as a material witness of knowledge of the historical period in which the monuments were built, or specific conservation / preservation works.

OBJECTIVES
Preservation of monuments and historic sites is one of the most challenging problems facing modern civilization. It involves various cultural, humanistic, social, technical and economical aspects in inextricable patterns. The complexity of the topic is such that a shared framework of reference is still lacking among art historians, architects, structural and geotechnical engineers. This is proved by the fact that, despite there being exemplary cases of an integral saving of any structural components with its static and architectural function, as a material witness of the knowledge, the culture and the construction techniques of the original historical period, there are still examples of uncritical confidence in modern technology which leads to the replacement of previous structures with new ones, which only preserve an iconic appearance of the original monument.
For this reason publishing short books on specialized topics, like well documented case studies of restoration works at one specific site or of a monument, or detailed overviews of construction techniques, intended as a material witness of knowledge of the historical period in which the monuments was built, or specific conservation/preservation works, will be of great value.

MAIN FIELDS COVERED BY THE BOOK SERIES
Civil and structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, architecture, art history, archaeology, soil mechanics, tunneling, cultural heritage management, restoration and preservation. 

ADVISORY EDITORIAL BOARD
Giovanni Calabresi ([email protected])
Carlo Viggiani ([email protected])
Alessandro Flora ([email protected])
Salvatore Settis ([email protected])
Paulo José Brandão Barbosa Lourenço, University of Minho ([email protected])

READERSHIP
The audience for these books will consist of professionals and academics in the wider fields of civil engineering, architecture and cultural resources management, and particularly to those involved in art history, history of architecture, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, archaeology, restoration and cultural heritage management, and even the wider public.