Venice’s historic buildings face mounting pressures. Could drones and digital twins help protect them?

Detailed summary

Preserving Venice’s most treasured monuments is a growing challenge, but innovative technologies could help detect signs of damage and aging.

With its canals, bridges and historic buildings, Venice has an extraordinary architectural legacy. But preserving many of its most treasured monuments presents a growing challenge. In recent years, floods have damaged historic structures across the city, including the iconic St. Mark’s Basilica and other UNESCO World Heritage sites. Venice’s lagoon environment presents challenges for the preservation of historic buildings. Persistent moisture and salt can gradually weaken stonework and mortar, while the city’s complex foundations and the age of its structures can create additional vulnerabilities.

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