Contained in:
Book Chapter

Digital twin for monitoring complex decorative facade elements

  • Albina Scioti
  • Francesco Fabbrocino
  • Fabio Fatiguso

Historic façades combine technological functions with decorative and symbolic elements, such as columns, cornices, panels, and gables. Since the 19th century, Portland cement and artificial stone have enabled complex forms to replace natural stone. However, reinforced concrete elements deteriorate over time due to physical, chemical, mechanical, and environmental factors, making their condition difficult to assess. This study proposes a smart monitoring system to evaluate the long-term structural behavior and durability of complex decorative concrete elements. Key parameters, sensors, and their placement are defined. Using IoT technologies, real-time sensor data are collected and integrated into a Digital Twin for monitoring and visualization.

  • Keywords:
  • Digital Twin,
  • IoT,
  • Complex decorative elements,
  • Reinforced concrete,
+ Show More

Albina Scioti

Pegaso Open University, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-0794-4314

Francesco Fabbrocino

Pegaso Open University, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-8712-1048

Fabio Fatiguso

Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-4584-3776

  1. Arcadius Tokognon, C., Bin Gao, Gui Yun Tian, and Yan Yan. 2017. “Structural Health Monitoring Framework Based on Internet of Things: A Survey.” IEEE Internet of Things Journal 4 (3): 619–35. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2017.2664072. DOI: 10.1109/JIOT.2017.2664072
  2. Avci, Onur, Osama Abdeljaber, Serkan Kiranyaz, Mohammed Hussein, Moncef Gabbouj, and Daniel J. Inman. 2021. “A Review of Vibration-Based Damage Detection in Civil Structures: From Traditional Methods to Machine Learning and Deep Learning Applications.” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing.
  3. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2020.107077. DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2020.107077
  4. Azanaw, Girmay Mengesha. 2024. “Application of Digital Twin in Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Structures: A Systematic Literature Review Based on PRISMA.” Journal of Mechanical and Construction Engineering (JMCE) 4 (1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.54060/a2zjournals.jmce.50. DOI: 10.54060/a2zjournals.jmce.50
  5. Chen, Hua-Peng, and Yi-Qing Ni. 2018. “Structural Health Monitoring of Large Civil Engineering Structures”. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119166641. DOI: 10.1002/9781119166641
  6. Corte dei Conti Europea. 2020. “Special Report – The EU’s Industry 4.0 Strategy and Digitising European Industry.” Luxembourg.
  7. Grieves, Michael, and John Vickers. 2016. “Digital Twin: Mitigating Unpredictable, Undesirable Emergent Behavior in Complex Systems.” In Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Complex Systems: New Findings and Approaches, 85–113. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38756-7_4. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-38756-7_4
  8. Gubbi, Jayavardhana, Rajkumar Buyya, Slaven Marusic, and Marimuthu Palaniswami. 2013. “Internet of Things (IoT): A Vision, Architectural Elements, and Future Directions.” Future Generation Computer Systems 29 (7): 1645–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FUTURE.2013.01.010. DOI: 10.1016/J.FUTURE.2013.01.010
  9. Guo, Ming, Xiaoke Shang, Jiawei Zhao, Yanru Shi, Mengxi Sun, Ming Huang, Guoli Wang, and Liqiong Liao. 2025. “Digital Twin Models for Architectural Heritage Conservation.” Journal of Building Engineering 112 (October): 113792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113792. DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113792
  10. Haag, Sebastian, and Reiner Anderl. 2018. “Digital \Twin – Proof of Concept.” Manufacturing Letters 15 (January): 64–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2018.02.006. DOI: 10.1016/j.mfglet.2018.02.006
  11. Khan, Aajid, Satanand Mishra, Shivani Pandey, Tanmay Sardar, Aayush Mishra, Manish Mudgal, and Sandeep Singhai. 2025. “A Critical Review of IoT-Based Structural Health Monitoring for Dams.” IEEE Internet of Things Journal 12 (2): 1368–79. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2024.3488290. DOI: 10.1109/JIOT.2024.3488290
  12. Martinelli, Alessandra. 2023. “Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and the Implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) Paradigm.” In Transizione: Sfide e Opportunità per l’ambiente Costruito, edited by Fabio Fatiguso, Francesco Fiorito, Mariella de Fino, and Elena Cantatore, 4104–12. Monfalcone: EdicomEdizioni.
  13. Moyano, Juan, Elena Cabrera-Revuelta, Pastora Revuelta-Marchena, and David Marín-García. 2026. “Applicability Parameters in a Digital Twin for Cultural Heritage.” In Extended Reality: International Conference, XR Salento 2025, Otranto, Italy, June 17–20, 2025, Proceedings, Part V 371–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-97775-6_23. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-97775-6_23
  14. Strangfeld, Christoph, Sergej Johann, and Matthias Bartholmai. 2019. “Smart RFID Sensors Embedded in Building Structures for Early Damage Detection and Long-Term Monitoring.” Sensors (Switzerland) 19 (24). https://doi.org/10.3390/s19245514. DOI: 10.3390/s19245514
  15. Tao, Fei, Qinglin Qi, Ang Liu, and Andrew Kusiak. 2018. “Data-Driven Smart Manufacturing.” Journal of Manufacturing Systems 48 (July): 157–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2018.01.006. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsy.2018.01.006
  16. Tao, Fei, He Zhang, Ang Liu, and A. Y. C. Nee. 2019. “Digital Twin in Industry: State-of-the-Art.” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics 15 (4): 2405–15. https://doi.org/10.1109/TII.2018.2873186. DOI: 10.1109/TII.2018.2873186
  17. Warsi, Zain Hussain, Shahzadi Mahaa Irshad, Fahd Khan, Muhammad Aaquib Shahbaz, Muhammad Junaid, and Syed Usman Amin. 2019. “2019 Second International Conference on Latest Trends in Electrical Engineering and Computing Technologies (INTELLECT).” In Second International Conference on Latest Trends in Electrical Engineering and Computing Technologies (INTELLECT). Karachi, Pakistan: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/INTELLECT47034.2019.8955453. DOI: 10.1109/INTELLECT47034.2019.8955453
PDF
  • Publication Year: 2026
  • Pages: 912-937

XML
  • Publication Year: 2026

Chapter Information

Chapter Title

Digital twin for monitoring complex decorative facade elements

Authors

Albina Scioti, Francesco Fabbrocino, Fabio Fatiguso

Language

English

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-1113-0.42

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2026

Copyright Information

© 2026 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

ReUso 2026 - New heritage and future strategies. Perspectives on conservation and promotion

Book Subtitle

14th International Congress Barcelona-Girona, 4-7 November

Editors

Alessandro Scarnato, Marisa García Vergara, Ángeles Layuno Rosas

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2026

Copyright Information

© 2026 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Publisher Name

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-1113-0

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-1113-0

eISBN (xml)

979-12-215-1112-3

Series Title

ReUso

0

Fulltext
downloads

0

Views

Export Citation

1,530

Open Access Books

in the Catalogue

3,867

Book Chapters

6,674,567

Fulltext
downloads

6,258

Authors

from 1241 Research Institutions

of 69 Nations

83

scientific boards

from 417 Research Institutions

of 46 Nations

1,439

Referees

from 400 Research Institutions

of 41 Nations