2D FDTD Numerical Modelling of GPR a Masonry Wall: An Application for Cultural Heritage Conservation in Central Italy

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is widely recognized for its ability to collect high-resolution datasets. For this reason, this method is applied across various fields, including Cultural Heritage, where the conservation and preservation of historical buildings are essential for multiple purposes. Nevertheless, the complexity of internal structures and the lack of a priori information on masonry walls can make the interpretation of processed data particularly challenging. In such cases, numerical modelling serves as a valuable tool to qualitatively validate hypothesis. In this study, numerical modelling was employed to support the early-stage evaluation of GPR profiles collected at the historical Castellina Museum (Norcia) which was damaged by strong earthquakes occurred during 2016-2017 in Central Italy.