A pilot project for the long-term structural health monitoring of historic city gates

A pilot project demonstrates that strategic sensor placement can enable low-cost, sustainable long-term structural health monitoring of historic city gates. The study focuses on the San Niccolò gate in Florence, Italy, addressing a gap in research that has largely overlooked this architectural typology despite its prevalence in medieval European cities. By using a limited number of accelerometers, researchers identified optimal sensor positions to maximize data utility while minimizing costs. This approach balances practical constraints with the need for reliable monitoring, offering a scalable model for preserving similar structures exposed to traffic-induced vibrations.

Zini, G., Betti, M., & Bartoli, G. (2022). A pilot project for the long-term structural health monitoring of historic city gates. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 12(3), 537–556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13349-022-00563-7