USING DIGITAL TWIN MODELS (DTM) FOR MANAGING, PROTECTING AND RESTORING HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

In Italy, historical buildings are particularly vulnerable to extreme events, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides often connected with extreme climatic events, without mentioning all the risks connected with vandalism, wars, and acts of terrorism. Fragility is due in part to the age of most of these buildings, as well as to their construction materials and techniques. Most of the historical buildings in Italy were built using unreinforced masonry, which can be prone to collapse or severe damage in the event of an earthquake. In addition, some buildings may have been constructed on unstable ground or in flood-prone areas such as the case of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which further increases their vulnerability to natural disasters. Such vulnerability requires the use of all the most advanced technologies, both for monitoring and management, and the most promising one is currently the use of Digital Twin Models (DTM). Digital Twins are defined as virtual replicas of physical objects, systems, or processes that are used to simulate, monitor, and optimise their real-world counterparts [8]. They have become increasingly important in various industries, including the built environment, because of the numerous benefits they offer [9]. In general, Digital Twins allow for better understanding and management of complex systems, as they provide real-time data and insights that can help identify and address issues before they become significant problems.