Mechatronics in the process of cultural heritage and civil infrastructure management

Automatized survey, construction, inspection, maintenance, restoration and reconstruction have become challenging activities conducted during the process of cultural heritage and civil infrastructure management, due to the revolutionary impact of mechatronics and information technology in routine operations. The complete process is summarized, considering different aspects related to the interconnection between classical engineering and architectural problems with the emerging technologies related to automation, robotics and information communication technologies (ICT). The impact of new technologies on data acquisition for survey, inspection and monitoring is, firstly, considered, drawing upon evidence of how the use of robotized systems and sensor networks determines new sets of available data to be processed by digital tools to build advanced models. The integration among different information and numerical models permits one to test the novelties related to the use of ICT technologies for creating an exhaustive description of the examined facility. Data and models can be then used to identify and to describe defects and degradation, especially in view of determining possible performance reduction in existing structures. All the acquired knowledge opportunely managed constitutes the input for automated or partially automated decision-making process useful in facilities and infrastructure management.