Pompeii: hi‑tech survey with drones and AI to protect the

Pompeii: high‑tech monitoring for site protection

The Pompeii Archaeological Park has completed a comprehensive digital survey combining aerial, satellite and robotic technologies with artificial intelligence. The initiative produced a structured database on buildings, interiors and artifacts to support planned conservation activities.

The operation documented roughly 1,200 cadastral units and more than 13,000 rooms, resulting in over 70,000 records that detail the type, extent and severity of damage. Surveys used drones, satellite imagery and robotic inspections, while a bespoke software platform allowed field teams to record and georeference structural elements directly onsite.

The digital toolset, developed through collaboration between academic and technology partners, includes a custom web app used by architects, engineers, conservators and archaeologists to inspect floors, roofs, plasters, decorative elements and furnishings. Data are integrated into mapping systems and processed with AI algorithms to classify risk levels.

Key benefits

• Maintenance planning: the inventory enables three‑year maintenance schedules, improving resource allocation.
• Rapid prioritization: risk classification directs interventions to the most urgent areas.
• Continuous monitoring: the system issues real‑time alerts when new problems arise.
• Data sharing: structured, georeferenced information enhances coordination among professionals and institutions.
• Investment sustainability: reliable data make long‑term funding more effective.

Park management highlights that the digital mapping reduces daily uncertainty about the condition of the site and provides clear operational priorities. The outcome also serves as a replicable model for managing other complex archaeological sites, combining advanced technologies with multidisciplinary expertise.

By systematizing inspections and enabling alert‑based management, the initiative strengthens prevention and targeted conservation measures. The approach advances a more timely, coordinated and sustainable protection strategy for extensive archaeological landscapes.