Abstract
Historic timber structural elements in Venice, including foundation pilings and load-bearing ceiling joists, face unprecedented threats from increased tidal flooding (acqua alta) driven by global climate change. Traditional heritage conservation methodologies rely heavily on reactive restoration after visible structural or biological damage has occurred. This study introduces an integrated Digital Twin framework to monitor and predict the structural resilience of historic timber assemblies subjected to cyclic flooding events. Using a 16th-century Venetian palazzo as a case study, real-time Internet of Things (IoT) sensors measuring timber moisture content, ambient relative humidity, and water table fluctuations were coupled with a high-resolution Building Information Model (BIM) and non-linear Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The anisotropic mechanical properties of aged European spruce (Picea abies) and European larch (Larix decidua) were modeled as functions of transient moisture transport. Results indicate that cyclic submersion leads to localized saturation above the fiber saturation point, causing significant reductions in the Modulus of Elasticity and ultimate bending strength, particularly at timber-masonry bearing interfaces. The Digital Twin effectively forecasted stress concentrations and structural performance loss during real high-water events, providing a non-destructive, predictive tool for preventive conservation. This research demonstrates how coupling physical sensing with computational modeling enhances the climate resilience of timber heritage in vulnerable coastal environments.
