The integrated use of non-destructive geomatic and geophysical techniques such as close-range digital photogrammetry, laser scanner techniques, thermography, sonic and ultrasonic methods, resistivity, etc... for the diagnostics of the stone building materials of architectural structures has become increasingly dependent on the integration of different disciplines of applied research. As is well known many historic monuments are characterized by severe damage due to temporal degradation, problems caused by differential settlements of the foundations and various types of natural hazards. Therefore it is of great interest to test and develop effective, integrated non invasive procedures to detect the conservation state of the building materials of historic structures, and identify and prevent their potential vulnerability in order to preserve their intrinsic characteristics for a long time. For extensive applications, as well as for investigations on monuments or large architectural elements, scanning and digital high resolution images are particularly useful, thanks to their limited cost, high production and relatively simple reproducibility of the tests. These techniques give useful information on the shallow conditions of the investigated materials. Geophysical techniques such as the ultrasonic and resistivity methods are non-invasive and are considered the most appropriate to evaluate the internal structure and assess the quality of the stone materials of the architectural heritage. This paper presents an integrated approach that combines advanced geomatic survey procedures, such as close-range photogrammetry (CRP) based on high resolution images and Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) techniques with a few geophysical techniques such as the ultrasonic and resistivity ones in order to test the effectiveness of the integrated approach in providing an effective diagnosis of stone building materials in the Basilica di San Saturnino (Cagliari – Italy). This Basilica is the oldest monument of the town of Cagliari (Italy) and represents an interesting synthesis of different construction techniques with heterogeneous stone materials of different origins. CRP and TLS were applied to the investigated elements with the aim of obtaining a natural colour texturized 2D-3D model with a calibrated scale and coordinates. The geometrical anomaly and reflectivity maps derived from the data of the CRP-TLS survey show the presence of some anomalies worthy of attention, but they were referred to the shallow materials. A further investigation on site using the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and electrical resistivity techniques were performed to investigate the materials in depth. The results of the CRP and TLS techniques allowed the best design of the ultrasonic and electrical techniques and also proved to be useful in the data interpretation phase. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the Ministero della Cultura - DIREZIONE GENERALE MUSEI - DIREZIONE REGIONALE MUSEI SARDEGNA (ITALY) for their kind permission to work on the San Saturnino Basilica.

Non-invasive techniques, such as close-range photogrammetry (CRP) and 3D ultrasonic tomography complemented with optical and scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry, were applied to characterize the carbonate rock samples of the Calcari di Cagliari formation. The integrated approach started with the computation of high-resolution 3D models of the carbonate samples using the CRP technique to produce 3D high-resolution models texturized both with natural colors and intensity. Starting from the 3D models from previous techniques, a 3D ultrasonic tomography on each rock sample was accurately planned and carried out in order to detect the elastic properties of such rocks and relate them to textural heterogeneity or internal defects. The results indicate that the relationship between longitudinal velocity and rock properties is complex even in the same carbonate formation. Understanding the relationship between the geomatic and geophysical responses in the investigated rock properties, such as textural characteristics and especially structure and geometry of pores, type of pores, tortuosity and cementing material, is important for many practical applications and especially in the diagnostic process of the conservation state of monumental structures. The integration of the above non-invasive techniques complemented by petrographical–petrophysical data proved to be a powerful method to associate each lithotype with a different susceptibility to degradation. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the proposed integrated use of complementary methodologies would guarantee the reproducibility of the measurements both at the laboratory and field scale for the monitoring in time of the rock condition while giving a useful contribution in making decisions on an appropriate remedial strategy.

Here, an avant-garde study of three ancient Doric columns of the precious, ancient Romanesque church of Saints Lorenzo and Pancrazio in the historical town center of Cagliari (Italy) is presented based on the integrated application of different non-destructive testing methods. The limitations of each methodology are overcome by the synergistic application of these methods, affording an accurate, complete 3D image of the studied elements. Our procedure begins with a macroscopic in situ analysis to provide a preliminary diagnosis of the conditions of the building materials. The next step is laboratory tests, in which the porosity and other textural characteristics of the carbonate building materials are studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. After this, a survey with a terrestrial laser scanner and close-range photogrammetry is planned and executed to produce accurate high-resolution 3D digital models of the entire church and the ancient columns inside. This was the main objective of this study. The high-resolution 3D models allowed us to identify architectural complications occurring in historical buildings. The 3D reconstruction with the above metric techniques was indispensable for planning and carrying out the 3D ultrasonic tomography, which played an important role in detecting defects, voids, and flaws within the body of the studied columns by analyzing the propagation of the ultrasonic waves. The high-resolution 3D multiparametric models allowed us to obtain an extremely accurate picture of the conservation state of the studied columns in order to locate and characterize both shallow and internal defects in the building materials. This integrated procedure can aid in the control of the spatial and temporal variations in the materials’ properties and provides information on the process of deterioration in order to allow adequate restoration solutions to be developed and the structural health of the artefact to be monitored.

The methods and the tools aimed at characterizing and analysing the carbonate materials used in the historic built heritage often follow different ways according to the different branches of applied research involved in the knowledge process. In this framework, the 3D digital models both of in situ architectural elements and of significative samples of rocks used as building materials can play an important role in relating different data and disciplines aimed at the prevention and conservation of the Cultural Heritage. Although the 3D geomatic and geophysical digital models represent privileged tools of the diagnostic analysis, they must be supported by the knowledge of the textural characteristics of the rocks under investigation with petrographic analyses. In order to study the stone materials heavily used in the historic built heritage and analyse their vulnerability to the conditions in their environment, it can be beneficial to study appropriately prepared samples and make as many measurements as necessary with different techniques. Moreover, some analyses are destructive and there is a limit to the number of samples that can be sacrificed. For this reason, in the analysis of rock samples, non-destructive techniques are constantly being improved. In this study, using a suitably implemented integrated methodology we analysed in detail samples of the carbonate rocks of the Calcari di Cagliari formation represented by Pietra Cantone, Tramezzario and Pietra Forte lithologies, mainly used in the past as construction materials for the buildings of the Historical Centre of Cagliari (Italy). Our methodology is represented by an integration of the geomatic survey carried out by structure-from-motion (SfM) digital close-range photogrammetry and the seismic tomography normally used for the in situ inspection adapted to laboratory tests on samples of the above lithologies using ultrasonic frequency signals. The rigorous metric of the geomatic 3D models was used to implement the ultrasonic survey by which internal characteristics and physical properties of the studied material are detected thanks to the spatial variations of the longitudinal velocity obtained after the tomographic inversion. The geomatic and geophysical data were complemented by an accurate analysis of the above carbonate materials by optical and scanning electron microscopy in order to detect their textural characteristics and especially the nature and distribution of their porosity. The microscopy analyses were integrated by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) to obtain further information on the pore network, particularly on the effective porosity, pores-throat diameters/radii, permeability and tortuosity of the investigated materials. All the above parameters were found to affect the geomatic and geophysical behaviour of the carbonate materials. The integration of the multi-technique data produced in this study contributes to better understand the interaction between the investigated materials and the environment.Acknowledgements This work was supported by Regione Autonoma dellaSardegna (RAS) (Sardinian Autonomous Region), Regional Law 7th August 2007, no. 7, Promotion of scientific research and technological innovation in Sardinia (Italy), Resp. Sc. S.Fais.

The diagnostic process on the cultural heritage by non-invasive multi techniques generates multiple volumes of different data sets. Such volumes can be applied to a whole range of problems from diagnostics of the building stone materials to their in-time monitoring for maintenance and conservation. The results of the diagnostic process in multimodal data sets can be rendered effective by comparing multiple volumes at the same time and over time since the safety of monumental structures requires periodic monitoring. As already shown in recent works that focused on the integration of heterogeneous data from complementary techniques, the use of a single technique is generally insufficient to obtain a reliable diagnostic process. The multi-technique high resolution 3D models described in this paper was aimed to investigate the conservation state of a precious carbonate colonnade in the ancient church of Saints Lorenzo and Pancrazio, dating to about the second half of the thirteenth century and located in the old town of Cagliari (Italy). The diagnostics of the carbonate colonnade was made by 3D non-invasive multi-techniques, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), close range photogrammetry (CRP) and ultrasonic tomography supported by petrographic investigations. To obtain a natural colour texturized 3D model of the columns with calibrated scale and coordinates both the TLS and CRP techniques were applied. The geometrical anomaly and reflectivity maps derived from the data of the TLS-CRP survey show presence of some anomalies worthy of attention. The 3D reconstruction with previous techniques was the essential base for the planning and execution of the 3D ultrasonic tomography that played an important role in detecting internal defects and voids and flaws within the materials by analysing the propagation of ultrasonic waves. The results of the non-invasive diagnostic techniques on the building carbonate materials of the ancient colonnade were supported by thin section and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analyses in order to study their porosity and other textural characteristics such as the grains-matrix or grains-cement relationships, the bioclasts packing, the pore network and other petrophysical parameters (i.e. permeability and tortuosity). Knowledge of these characteristics is key to understanding the different susceptibility of the building carbonate materials to degradation and recognizing any forms of degradation while providing fundamental support to the interpretation of the geophysical data. Acknowledgements This work was supported by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (RAS) (Sardinian Autonomous Region), Regional Law 7th August 2007, no. 7, Promotion of scientific research and technological innovation in Sardinia (Italy), Resp. Sc. S. Fais.

This study presents the integrated application of a few non-destructive techniques, i.e., Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP), and low frequency (24 kHz) ultrasonic tomography complemented by petrographical analysis. The aim here is to assess the conservation state of a Carrara marble column in the Basilica of San Saturnino, which is part of a V-VI century Palaeo Christian complex in the city of Cagliari (Italy). The high resolution 3D modelling of the studied artifact was computed starting from the integration of proximal sensing techniques, such as CRP based on the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique, which provided information on the geometrical anomalies and reflectivity of the investigated marble column surface. The inner parts of the studied body were inspected successfully in a non-invasive way by computing the velocity pattern of the ultrasonic signal through the investigated materials, using 3D ultrasonic tomography. The latter was optimally designed based on the 3D CRP analysis and the locations of the source and receiver points were detected as accurately as possible. The integrated application of in situ CRP and ultrasonic techniques provided a full 3D high resolution model of the investigated artifact, which made it possible to evaluate the material characteristics and its degradation state, affecting mainly the shallower parts of the column. The 3D visualisation improves the efficiency, accuracy, and completeness of the interpretative process of data of a different nature in quite easily understood displays, as well as the communication between different technicians.

A field-integrated methodology using 3D ultrasonic tomography supported by close range photogrammetry (CRP) has been developed and evaluated as a tool to detect the presence and patterns of decay forms in a living adult holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in an urban green area of the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. Close range photogrammetry was used to compute a high resolution 3D model of the studied tree, texturized with natural colors. Moreover, following the implemented workflow process it was possible to evaluate the deformation pattern of the studied tree over time. In a second step of our integrated approach, and in order to diagnose the state of health of the inner part of the studied tree in a non-invasive way, laboratory and in situ non-invasive ultrasonic techniques were applied. The results of the close range photogrammetry analysis supported the optimal design of the 3D ultrasonic tomography of the living adult holm oak. Ultrasonic tomography is one of the most powerful non-destructive testing techniques for the full-volume inspection of a structure. It produced physical information on the inner structure of the stem of the investigated tree. The results of the study show that the integrated application of close range photogrammetry and 3D ultrasonic tomography is a powerful tool for a highly accurate and objective evaluation of the external and internal decay of trees and for monitoring their conservation states. With the fully integrated approach, the diagnostic process aimed to prevent instability and the failure of trees can be greatly improved.

The use of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) applied to construction materials allows to highlight and characterize their features, especially in the case of old buildings. The multi-technique high resolution 3D modelling described here is aimed to investigate the conservation state of the central column of a colonnade in the ancient church of Saints Lorenzo and Pancratio, dating to about the second half of the thirteenth century and located in the old town of Cagliari (Italy). This column was considered of interest because its longitudinal axis deviates from its ideal position and it appears the most deteriorated. In this work we describe the integrated application of 3D diagnostic methods, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), close range photogrammetry (CRP) and ultrasonic tomography supported by petrographic investigations. They were used to improve the diagnostic process of the conservation state of the investigated column. The TLS technique was supported by CRP to obtain a natural colour texturized 3D model of the column. The geometrical anomaly maps derived from the data of the TLS-CRP survey show the presence of some anomalies worthy of attention. Starting from the 3D reconstruction with previous techniques we planned and implemented a 3D ultrasonic tomography. Ultrasonic tomography proved to be a successful tool in identifying internal defects, as well as the presence of voids and flaws within the materials through the analysis of the propagation of ultrasonic waves. The integration of the three non-invasive techniques supported by petrographical analyses demonstrates its potential in reducing ambiguities since each technique brings its clue to the overall diagnostic process.

A multi-technique high resolution 3D modelling is described here aimed at the investigation of the state of conservation of carbonate columns of the 1000 BC ancient church of Buon Camino located in the homonymous district of the town of Cagliari (Italy). The integrated application of different Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) diagnostic methods is of paramount importance to locate damaged parts of the building material of artefacts of historical buildings and to plan their restoration. In this study a multi-step procedure was applied starting with a high resolution 3D modelling performed with the aid of Structure from Motion (SfM) Photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) methodologies. For this delicate task we operated simultaneously a Nikon D-5300 digital Reflex 24.2 Mega pixel Camera and a Leica HDS-6200 Terrestrial Laser Scanner. Subsequently, starting from the information detected with the above methods deeper material diagnostics was performed by means of high resolution 3D ultrasonic tomography aimed at the capillary definition of the elastic properties in the inner parts of the building materials. Measurements of longitudinal wave velocity from ultrasonic data were performed using the transmission method, namely two piezoelectric transducers coupled on the opposite sides of the investigated columns. The ultrasonic data acquisition was planned designing an optimal survey and providing a very good spatial coverage of the investigated columns. The columns were then criss-crossed by a large number of ray paths forming a dense 3D net. The SIRT (Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Tomography) algorithm was used to produce the 3D rendering of the velocity distribution inside the investigated columns. With this method the damaged parts were located and it was possible to distinguish them from the unaltered areas. The information on the superficial material conditions obtained by SfM and TLS techniques were compared and integrated with the information of the inner materials obtained by 3D ultrasonic tomography. The results of the above non invasive geophysical techniques have been interpreted in the light of the different textural and petrophysical features of the study carbonate building materials. The study of the main textural features, such as the relationship between bioclasts, carbonate matrix, or that of the cement and petrophysical characteristics such as the nature and distribution of porosity were found to be of fundamental importance in the interpretation of the geophysical data (e.g. TLS reflectance and longitudinal acoustic wave propagation). Therefore a detailed analysis of the textures and pore microstructure were carried out from petrographic thin-sections in Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (OM/SEM). The final result of our multi-step-technique integrated methodology is a sophisticated 3D model with a high resolution 3D image representing the internal and external parts of the investigated columns in order to account for their static load resistance and possibly plan their conservation and restoration. The described procedure can also be applied to other cases in which a diagnosis is needed of the state of conservation of the variously shaped, layered-stones and composed artefacts typical of ancient historical buildings. Key words: 3D Modelling, 3D Ultrasonic Tomography, Terrestrial Laser Scanner, SfM Photogrammetry, Non-Destructive Testing, Diagnostic, Ancient Columns, Stones

The results provided by this study contribute to the geological characterization of a potential caprock-reservoir system for CO2 storage in the experimental area of the mining district of the Sulcis Coal Basin (south-western Sardinia, Italy). The work is aimed to improve the knowledge of the petrographic and petrophysical characteristics of the siliciclastic and carbonate geological formations that make up the potential caprock-reservoir system. Core samples from a number of wells drilled in the study area for mining purposes were analyzed especially for texture and physical properties (longitudinal velocity, density, porosity, and permeability). The preliminary integrated petrographic and petrophysical characterizations indicate that the Upper Paleocene to Early Eocene potential carbonate reservoir is heterogeneous but presents suitable reservoir zones for CO2. A preliminary analysis of the potential caprock siliciclastic lithologies of the Middle Eocene to Lower Oligocene suggests that they appear suitable for CO2 confinement. Finally, to account for the stability of the investigated area, an accurate geodynamical study of south-western Sardinia was carried out using global navigation satellite system and advanced differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar methodologies in order to estimate vertical and horizontal crustal displacements. The study area results stable, since it is characterized by surface crustal horizontal and vertical velocities smaller than 1 mm/year and few mm/year, respectively.

Three different non-invasive techniques, namely Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) and ultrasonic tomography integrated with petrographic data, were applied to characterize two rock samples of a different nature: A pyroclastic rock and a carbonate rock. We started a computation of high-resolution 3D models of the two samples using the TLS technique supported by a digital SfM photogrammetry survey. The resulting radiometric information available, such as reflectivity maps, SfM photogrammetry textured models and patterns of geometrical residuals, were interpreted in order to detect and underline surface materials anomalies by a comparison of reflectance and natural colour anomalies. Starting from the 3D models from previous techniques, a 3D ultrasonic tomography on each rock sample was accurately planned and carried out in order to detect internal defects or sample heterogeneity. The integration of the above three geophysical non-invasive techniques with petrographical data-especially with the textural characteristics of such materials-represents a powerful method for the definition of the heterogeneity of the rocks at a different scale and for calibrating in situ measurements.

In the following we present a new non-invasive methodology aimed at the diagnosis of stone building materials used in historical buildings and architectural elements. This methodology consists of the integrated sequential application of in situ proximal sensing methodologies such as the 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanner for the 3D modelling of investigated objects together with laboratory and in situ non-invasive multi-techniques acoustic data, preceded by an accurate petrographical study of the investigated stone materials by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The increasing necessity to integrate different types of techniques in the safeguard of the Cultural Heritage is the result of the following two interdependent factors: 1) The diagnostic process on the building stone materials of monuments is increasingly focused on difficult targets in critical situations. In these cases, the diagnosis using only one type of non-invasive technique may not be sufficient to investigate the conservation status of the stone materials of the superficial and inner parts of the studied structures 2) Recent technological and scientific developments in the field of non-invasive diagnostic techniques for different types of materials favors and supports the acquisition, processing and interpretation of huge multidisciplinary datasets.

When combined, the three-dimensional imaging of different physical properties of architectural monumental structures acquired through different methodologies can highlight with efficiency the characteristics of the stone building materials. In this work, we compound high resolution Digital Color Images (DCI) and Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) data for a dense 3-D reconstruction of an ancient pillar in a nineteenth century building in the town of Cagliari, Italy. The TLS technique was supported by a digital photogrammetry survey in order to obtain a natural color texturized 3-D model of the studied pillar. Geometrical anomaly maps showing interesting analogies were computed both from the 3-D model derived from the TLS application and from the high resolution 3-D model detected with the photogrammetry. Starting from the 3-D reconstruction from previous techniques, an acoustic tomography in a sector of prior interest of the investigated architectural element was planned and carried out. The ultrasonic tomography proved to be an effective tool for detecting internal decay or defects, locating the position of the anomalies and estimating their sizes, shapes, and characteristics in terms of elastic-mechanical properties. Finally, the combination of geophysical and petrographical data sets represents a powerful method for understanding the quality of the building stone materials in the shallow and inner parts of the investigated architectural structures.

We have studied a pathology produced by dimensional changes in Miocene lacustrine limestones of the Ebro basin with very low clay content (Briviesca and Tudela stone). The samples studied come from stone blocks of the Cathedrals of Burgos and Tudela and their respective original quarries. Three additional rocks that present a pattern of similar deterioration are also characterised. The pathology, known as “Expansion by Drying (EBD)”, looks like a mechanical fracture and is produced by important dimensional changes of the material. We have carried out a detailed study of the rocks with Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and establish four different porous systems in the materials studied. A relationship is found between the type of porous system and the presence of the pathology. In order to develop, EBD pathology needs a porosimetry like the one defined for group IV. On the other hand, oxidation of the organic matter present in the rock (proven by aging the rock with ozone) changes the porosimetry of group IV rocks, converting them into a porous network of group III. These facts explain why EBD pathology develops in oxidized rocks of historical buildings and not in fresh quarry rocks. In addition, we characterise dimensional changes of the rock by the intrusion of liquid water (conventional hydric expansion) and water vapour adsorption. These data have been relevant to understand the mechanisms of the dimensional change in the rocks studied.

Several non-destructive (ND) techniques are presented as a tool for the evaluation of the conservation state of carbonate building materials of the “Palazzo di Città”, a historic building in the centre of Cagliari, a town in Italy. In this study, considering both the nature of the building materials and the constructive types of the investigated architectural structure, ultrasonic investigations were carried at 54 kHz. The ultrasonic measurements were performed both in the laboratory and in situ using the portable ultrasonic non-destructive digital indicating tester (PUNDIT Lab plus©) by Proceq (Schwerzenbach, Switzerland). The ultrasonic measurements were integrated by a petrographical and petrophysical study of the investigated stone materials in order to correlate their petrographical-petrophysical features with the elastic ones. A further implementation was carried out comparing elasto-mechanical and petrographical-petrophysical features of the investigated carbonate materials with surface geometric anomalies computed by means of the architectonic terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) application. In particular, we used a Leica HDS-6200 TLS to study the complex shape of some artifacts from the “Palazzo di Città” monumental compound. A multi station approach was adopted in order to acquire more than 180 million points by performing 30 high resolution structured scans. After TLS data elaboration with JRC 3D Reconstructor® software, the 3D model of the buildings together with morphological anomalies of some artifacts were computed in order to highlight the zones where the deformation was more evident.

The Municipal Center for Art and Culture Exmà is an excellent result of the transformation of a mono-functional structure (the old abattoir of Cagliari) into a polyfunctional pole dedicated to art that has hosted major events since nineties. In order to monitor the conservation state of the building materials of this monument, mostly carbonate rocks, non-destructive ultrasonic analyses have been carried out since 2007. Ultrasonic data have been related to the physical and mineralogical-petrographic features of the investigated building materials, in order to correlate the elastic properties with their intrinsic ones. In situ ultrasonic investigations were performed on the outer walls of the main building of the monumental complex, subjected to various restoration works. The methodology used in this study proved useful to evaluate and monitor the weathering process, verify the effectiveness of the old restoration works and check the thickness of the weathered shallow part of the masonry by means of refraction techniques.

The need to integrate different non invasive geophysical datasets for an effective diagnostic process of the stone materials of cultural heritage buildings is due to the complexity of the intrinsic characteristics of the different types of stones and of their degradation process. Consequently integration between different geophysical techniques is required for the characterization of stone building materials. In order to perform the diagnostic process by different non-invasive techniques thus interpreting in a realistic way the different geophysical parameters, it is necessary to link the petrophysical characteristics of stones with the geophysical ones. In this study the complementary application of three different non invasive techniques (terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), infrared thermography and ultrasonic surface and tomography measurements) was carried out to analyse the conservation state and quality of the carbonate building materials of three inner columns of the old precious church of San Lorenzo in the historical city center of Cagliari (Sardinia). In previous works (Casula et al., 2009; Fais et al., 2015), especially the integrated application of TLS and ultrasonic techniques has been demonstrated to represent a powerful tool in evaluating the quality of the stone building materials by solving or limiting the uncertainties typical of all indirect methods. Thanks to the terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) technique it was possible to 3D model the investigated columns and their surface geometrical anomalies. The TLS measurements were complemented by several ultrasonic in situ and laboratory tests in the 24kHz 54kHz range. The ultrasonic parameters, especially longitudinal and transversal velocities, allow to recover information on materials related with mechanical properties. A good correlation between TLS surface geometrical anomalies and the ultrasonic velocity ones is evident at the surface and in shallow parts of the investigated architectural elements. To calibrate the geophysical results and provide reliable data for the interpretation, the petrophysical properties (porosity, density, water absorption) and petrographical characteristics (especially texture) of the carbonate building materials under study were examined. By combining petrographical, petrophysical, terrestrial laser scanner and ultrasonic techniques, a consistent diagnostic process of the carbonate building materials can be achieved to detect the presence of defects, fissures, fractures, weathering process or compositional variations. The above diagnostic process is very useful also to evaluate the behavior of the carbonate building materials, facilitating the planning of urgent and long-term conservation programs and in time monitoring.