Conservation of the Religions Complex in Old Cairo through the integration of geosciences and earthquake engineering

The project is developed in the framework of Particular Relevance Italy-Egypt bilateral projects and involves the Dep. of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Trieste (DIA - UniTS) and the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG)

The Religions Complex is located in Old Cairo, where worship places of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism exist, as the three religions helped shape the country's history. The Complex is also considered a symbol of coexistence, tolerance, and humanity. Cultural heritage is an indispensable reflection of social, cultural, and historical values and its conservation is essential for developing a sustainable society. Furthermore, it is vital for economic development and can play a crucial role in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable growth. Also, antiquities and cultural heritage became one of the main axes of Egypt 2030's national strategy. The Complex site may be at risk from natural disasters, even on a modest scale, which would have significant economic consequences for society since repair costs may be substantial. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of geosciences and structural engineering aspects for the Complex site is required to identify the appropriate interventions to protect and preserve it.

Accordingly, this project aims to assess the seismic risk of the Complex, to develop a general protocol for monitoring assessment and to propose possible mitigation techniques. New technologies such as dynamic identification, computer vision techniques based on machine learning, 3D non-linear structural modelling and physics-based ground motion simulations on HPC platforms will be used to inspect and monitor the Complex and to develop and test a robust assessment methodology. A team of young and multi disciplinary researchers will be involved to ensure knowledge transfer and application of new technologies to traditional structural and risk problems. Strong innovation will result from the project. Holistic recommendations will be derived to assist decision-makers and developers in adopting scientifically sound conservation measures. Hence, the project will heavily contribute to the development of new sustainable conservation criteria for cultural heritage.