Overview
The TRIQUETRA project (2023-2025), funded by the EU’s Horizon CL2 program, aims to protect Europe’s cultural heritage from climate change and natural hazards through a three-step process: risk identification, quantification, and mitigation, implemented via an evidence-based assessment platform and a database of protective strategies.
TRIQUETRA’s objectives are to:
- compile knowledge on climate and hazard impacts and mitigation practices
- establish a framework to identify emerging threats
- develop technologies for precise risk quantification
- raise public awareness and citizen engagement in heritage protection
Its methodology combines evidence-based tools and a Decision Support System for efficient risk reduction and site restoration. The “trifecta” of actions- identification, quantification, and mitigation- supports detailed vulnerability assessments for multiple hazards across diverse heritage types. Damage evaluation includes aesthetic, structural, and environmental degradation, while advanced modeling detects stress points, cracks, and potential failures. TRIQUETRA also addresses cascading risks, such as coastal erosion and landslides, integrating climate modeling and remote sensing for effective risk prediction and management.
Within the framework of TRIQUETRA, the DAI Athens is in charge of work package 6. One of eight pilot studies is dedicated to the Kalapodi sanctuary, where the project results will be validated.
Triquetra Project: A Toolbox for Assessing & Mitigating Climate Change Risks and Natural Hazards Threatening Cultural Heritage
Combining archaeological, geological, and materials-based studies with digital technologies, the project addresses frost damage and climate change impacts on the architectural remains at Kalapodi. Initial literature review and field surveys established the site’s environmental and stratigraphic context, identifying risk factors that guided further investigation. In work package 4, risk assessment and quantification integrate environmental data, modeling, and annual monitoring to understand frost-related deterioration.
Advanced materials analyses, including porosity, XRD, petrography, SEM, and mechanical testing, characterize the building stones. Environmental data- temperature, humidity, UV, and precipitation- are continuously recorded via installed sensors and a weather station. LiDAR-based 3D Digital Twin and photogrammetry ensure precise documentation, monitoring, and predictive simulations.
The TRIQUETRA Implementation Study for Kalapodi, approved by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, aligns research with national conservation policy. It includes a full-scale replica of the steps and stylobate of the classical North Temple, errechted on site to test material performance. The project results are presented to experts and the public at conferences, in media appearances, and in specialist publications.