Scientific Program

08:30am – 09:00am

Registration. Main Hall Registration Area||Morning Sessions

09:00am – 09:20am

Opening and Welcome Session

  • Welcome Address by Saudi ICOMOS President
HRH Princess Dr. Nouf Bint Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
  • Welcome Address by RCU
Dr. Silvia Barbone VP International Partnerships at Royal Commission for AlUla
  • Welcome Address by Heritage Commission Dr.
Jasir Alharbish, CEO of Heritage Commission, Saudi Arabia TBC
  • Welcome Address by ICOMOS Italia
Dr. Maurizio Di Stefano TBC
  • Welcome Address by UNESCO Chair in Florence University
Prof. Nicola Casagli

09:20am – 09:40 am

Keynote Presentation: Geomorphological process and rock instabilityaffecting the archaeological site of Hegra and surroundings

Margottini, D. Spizzichino, T. Beni, D. Boldini, G.B. Crosta, P. Frattini, W. Frodella, E. Lusini, A. Palamidessi, N. Casagli, I. Gallego Revilla, E. Mille, I. Périssé

09:40am – 11:00am

Session 1A: Master Examples Worldwide (I)

  • The stability of antique settlements in Cappadocia and Phrygia in Türkiye next to cliffs and in deep valleys
Ö. Aydan, R. Ulusay, H. Kumsar  
  • Multivariate assessment of geomorphological and environmental factors affecting the stability of Nabataean tombs at Hegra, Saudi Arabia
B. Crosta, D. Spizzichino, J. I. Gallego, C. Margottini, S. Rigamonti, F. Bonometti, P.Frattini
  • Simplified and Advanced Evaluation of the Safety Conditions of Underground Cavities: Application to Some Historic Sites in Naples (Italy)
Prof. Alessandro Flora et al.
  • Monitoring and Mitigating Cliff Instability at the Mortuary Temple ofHatshepsut, Luxor, Egypt
Dr. Gad El_Qady et al.

11:00am – 11:10am

Coffee Break

11:10am – 12:30pm

Session 1A: Master Examples Worldwide (II)

  • Risk Mapping and Preventive Conservation of Rock-Built Heritage Sites
Yasser ElShayeb
  • From rock to risk: immersive learning in ancient limestone mines.
Dr. Dominique Ngan-Tillard
  • Geomechanical assessment of the Nabatean-style rock-cut necropolis in Norchia, Italy.
Dr. Daniele Spizzichino et al.
  • The Abu Simbel Relocation: Historical Insights into Piero Gazzola’s Early Application of Rock Mechanics to Heritage Conservation
Dandria, G. El Qhadi, C. Margottini Panel discussion and Q&A

12:30pm – 14:00pm

Prayer and Lunch Break

14:00pm – 15:40pm

Session 2A: Techniques and Technologies.

  • From Rock to Digital Gateway: Innovative Methodologies for Rupestrian and Low-Accessible Architectural Heritage
Masini, A. Guida, L. Pepe, F. Gabellone, F. Fatiguso, L. Morero, M. De Fino, M. F. L. Rondinelli
  • Digital Tools for Monitoring and Preventive Conservation of Built and Rock Heritage Sites. The case of the Sassi of Matera, Italy.
Guida, V. D. Porcari, A. Donvito, C. Fattore, M. Buldo, S. Porcari, A. Priore
  • Eco-Compatible Anchoring and Stabilization Strategies for Preserving Rock-Cut Heritage in AlUla: A Conceptual Study
Hassan Ali Mohamad Abbas
  • An Applied Framework for Heritage Protection in the Face of Urbanization and Environmental Change: Spatial Modeling of Future Effects on Heritage Sites Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Muneera Alharbi
  • Alula Bio-Shield: Green Innovation for Heritage Protection.
Hala Farouk Fares

15:40pm – 15:50pm

Coffee Break

15:50pm – 17:10pm

Session 2A: Techniques and Technologies II.

  • Gamification for Sustainable Conservation of Rupestrian Heritage.
Miram Ali
  • Evaluating Nano-Silica and Bio-Based Coatings for the Conservation of Sandstone Rupestrian Heritage: A Preliminary Study on Al Ula Analogues under Desert Conditions Faten
Heider Ali
  • Evaluation of the Efficiency of Polymethyl Methacrylate/Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate (MMA/HPMA) Copolymer in the Conservation of Mural Paintings and Inscriptions under Sudden Microclimatic Changes
Mahmoud Khorani
  • From Satellite to Surface: Integrated Remote Sensing for the Preservation of Rupestrian Heritage.
Lasaponara, N. Masini Panel Discussion and Q&A

08:30am – 09:00am

Registration. Main Hall Registration Area||Morning Sessions.

09:00am – 10:40am

Session 1B: Master Examples Worldwide

  • Dual-Imago: a next-generation digital photogrammetry method for ultra-high accuracy 3D modelling and 4D monitoring, from close range to kilometer scale
Margottini, O. Pandolfi, N. Santoro
  • Combined effects of excavation and morphological evolution on rock massdamage around hypogean tombs of an Etruscan site in Italy
Tommasi, T. Rotonda, G. De Donno, C. Di Salvo.
  • Cross-Scale Structural and Mechanical Characteristics of Laminated Rock
Mass and their Implications for Sandstone Grottoes Protection Lihui Li
  • INSPECTOR: A Digital Platform for Visual Observation and Data Collection in Heritage Risk Monitoring
Dr. Mohamed ElGhabri
  • Rockfall modeling for risk mitigation at cultural heritage sites in SaudiArabia
Frattini, D. Spizzichino, C. Margottini, G. Sala, G. B. Crosta Panel discussion and Q&A

11:20am – 11:35am

Coffee Break

11:35am – 12:35pm

Session 1B: Master Examples Worldwide

  • Hegra: Stone, Rock Massifs and Working Techniques in the Conservation of
Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site. R.Ballesteros, P. Pecorelli, Ylenia Rubino
  • Non-Invasive Stabilization Techniques for Fragile Rock-Cut Monuments: the Gheller approach to UNESCO case studies
Gheller, C. Adamoli
  • New Remote Sensing Approaches for Geohazards Assessments in Urban and Rupestrian Sites: Insights from Case Studies around Rome (Italy)
Romeo, D. D’Angiò, A. Fraccica, M. Maggi, G. M. Monti, O. Spiniello, V. Chiessi

12:35pm – 14:00pm

Prayer and Lunch Break||Afternoon Sessions

14:00pm – 15:00pm

Session 2A: Techniques and Technologies.

  • Use of Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Measurements on Shale to Distinguish Laminae Lithology and Mineral Composition
Beixiu Huang et al. Chinese Academy of Sciences.
  • Identifying unstable blocks in the rupestrian site of Vardzia (Georgia) by using microtremors measurements.
Spizzichino, C. Margottini
  • Numerical modeling of Hegra tombs stability and conservation
B. Crosta, M. Ciantia, L. C. Recinella, S. Rigamonti

15:00pm – 15:10pm

Coffee Break

15:10pm – 16:10pm

Session 2A: Techniques and Technologies II.

  • Toward Sustainable Assessment of Rupestrian Heritage sites: AI-Based Mapping of Weathered Rock Slopes at Hegra (Saudi Arabia)
Beni, L. Nava, G. Gigli, W. Frodella, F. Catani, N. Casagli, J. I. Gallego, C. Margottini and D. Spizzichino
  • Framework for Predicting Sandstone Weathering in AlUla Rupestrian Environments
H.Abbas
  • Decoding the Subtractive Process: A Diachronic Method for Analyzing Excavation Traces in Rock-Cut Architecture
Masini, Panel Discussion and Q&A

14:00pm – 15:00pm

Session 2B: Worldwide Examples

  • Sustainable Strategies for Sandstone Conservation in Petra
E. Ronza, C. Danielli, S. Khasoneh, S. Azaizeh
  • The impact of natural conditions and human factors on the rock art heritage in Al-Ula Governorate
Bader Alfaqeer
  • Preserving the Rock Art Heritage of Tassili n’Ajjer: Challenges and Perspectives of Digital Documentation and 3D Scanning at the Site of Sefar
Melallaoui.

15:00pm – 15:10pm

Coffee Break

08:30am – 10:00am

OPTIONAL SITE VISIT: Hegra UNESCO World