{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T13:30:07Z","timestamp":1780493407643,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,10]],"date-time":"2018-07-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1531180800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The Mediterranean region is affected by considerable daily and seasonal temperature variations due to intense solar radiation. In mid-seasons, thermal excursions can exceed tens of degrees thus influencing the long-term behaviour of jointed rock masses acting as a preparatory factor for rock slope instabilities. In order to evaluate the thermal response of a densely jointed rock-block, monitoring has been in operation since 2016 by direct and remote sensing techniques in an abandoned quarry in Acuto (central Italy). Monthly InfraRed Thermographic (IRT) surveys were carried out on its exposed faces and along sections of interest across monitored main joints. The results highlight the daily and seasonal cyclical behaviour, constraining amplitudes and rates of heating and cooling phases. The temperature time-series revealed the effect of sun radiation and exposure on thermal response of the rock-block, which mainly depends on the seasonal conditions. The influence of opened joints in the heat propagation is revealed by the differential heating experienced across it, which was verified under 1D and 2D analysis. IRT has proved to be a valid monitoring technique in supporting traditional approaches, for the definition of the surficial temperature distribution on rock masses or stone building materials.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s18072221","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,10]],"date-time":"2018-07-10T10:01:46Z","timestamp":1531216906000},"page":"2221","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":40,"title":["Thermal Response of Jointed Rock Masses Inferred from Infrared Thermographic Surveying (Acuto Test-Site, Italy)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4616-7108","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matteo","family":"Fiorucci","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Earth Sciences Department of \u201cSapienza\u201d, University of Rome and CERI\u2014Research Centre for Geological Risks, P.le Aldo Moro n.5, I-00185 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0443-4389","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gian Marco","family":"Marmoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Earth Sciences Department of \u201cSapienza\u201d, University of Rome and CERI\u2014Research Centre for Geological Risks, P.le Aldo Moro n.5, I-00185 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1277-7784","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvatore","family":"Martino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Earth Sciences Department of \u201cSapienza\u201d, University of Rome and CERI\u2014Research Centre for Geological Risks, P.le Aldo Moro n.5, I-00185 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0042-3444","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paolo","family":"Mazzanti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Earth Sciences Department of \u201cSapienza\u201d, University of Rome and CERI\u2014Research Centre for Geological Risks, P.le Aldo Moro n.5, I-00185 Rome, Italy"},{"name":"NHAZCA S.r.L., Spin-off Company of \u201cSapienza\u201d University of Rome, Via Vittorio Bachelet n.12, I-00185 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.5194\/nhess-2-15-2002","article-title":"Probabilistic approach to rock fall hazard assessment: Potential of historical data analysis","volume":"2","author":"Helmstetter","year":"2002","journal-title":"Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2286","DOI":"10.1029\/2001JB000650","article-title":"Statistical analysis of rock fall volume distributions: Implications for rock fall dynamics","volume":"108","author":"Dussauge","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.5194\/npg-16-179-2009","article-title":"Probability distributions of landslide volumes","volume":"16","author":"Brunetti","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nonlinear Process. Geophys."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.1139\/t98-106","article-title":"Magnitude and frequency of rock falls along the main transportation corridors of southwestern British Columbia","volume":"36","author":"Hungr","year":"1999","journal-title":"Can. Geotech. J."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s10346-010-0224-x","article-title":"Meteorological effects on seasonal displacements of the \u00c5knes rockslide, western Norway","volume":"8","author":"Groneng","year":"2011","journal-title":"Landslides"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.1130\/0016-7606(1984)95<406:LCBE>2.0.CO;2","article-title":"Landslides caused by earthquakes","volume":"95","author":"Keefer","year":"1994","journal-title":"Bull. Geol. Soc. Am."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"77","article-title":"Ground Effects Triggered by the 24th August 2016, MW 6.0 Amatrice (Italy) Earthquake: Surveys and Inventorying to Update the CEDIT Catalogue","volume":"40","author":"Martino","year":"2017","journal-title":"Geogr. Fis. Din. Quat."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enggeo.2011.08.002","article-title":"On far field occurrence of seismically induced landslides","volume":"123","author":"Delgado","year":"2011","journal-title":"Eng. Geol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tust.2008.08.002","article-title":"Damage assessment of basaltic rock mass due to repeated blasting in a railway tunnelling project\u2014A case study","volume":"24","author":"Ramulu","year":"2004","journal-title":"Tunn. Undergr. Space Technol."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Collins, D.S., Toya, Y., Hosseini, Z., and Trifu, C.I. (2014). Real Time Detection of Rock Fall Events Using a Microseismic Railway Monitoring System, Geohazards."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.1016\/0169-555X(95)00075-G","article-title":"Aspects of landslide activity in the Mercantour Massif and the French Riviera, southeastern France","volume":"15","author":"Julian","year":"1996","journal-title":"Geomorphology"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijrmms.2004.11.003","article-title":"Influence of daily surface temperature fluctuations on rock slope stability: Case study of the Rochers de Valabres slope (France)","volume":"42","author":"Gunzburger","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"B02201","article-title":"Chronology and complex volcanic processes during the 2002\u20132003 flank eruption at Stromboli volcano (Italy) reconstructed from direct observations and surveys with a handheld thermal camera","volume":"110","author":"Calvari","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"B12206","article-title":"Thermal monitoring of hydrothermal activity by permanent infrared automatic stations: Results obtained at Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Campi Flegrei (Italy)","volume":"112","author":"Chiodini","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/j.earscirev.2011.01.003","article-title":"Volcano surveillance using infrared cameras","volume":"106","author":"Spampinato","year":"2011","journal-title":"Earth Sci. Rev."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-005-0425-7","article-title":"Lava effusion rates from hand-held thermal infrared imagery: An example from the June 2003 effusive activity at Stromboli","volume":"68","author":"Harris","year":"2005","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"B05215","article-title":"Field thermal monitoring during the August 2003 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise (La Reunion)","volume":"112","author":"Coppola","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-009-0320-8","article-title":"A comparison of field- and satellite-derived thermal flux at Piton de la Fournaise: Implications for the calculation of lava discharge rate","volume":"72","author":"Coppola","year":"2010","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1256","DOI":"10.1016\/j.renene.2015.09.042","article-title":"Thermal infrared imaging of geothermal environments and by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): A case study of the Wairakei e Tauhara geothermal field, Taupo, New Zealand","volume":"86","author":"Nishar","year":"2016","journal-title":"Renew. Energy"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvolgeores.2016.06.014","article-title":"Drone with thermal infrared camera provides high resolution georeferenced imagery of the Waikite geothermal area, New Zealand","volume":"325","author":"Harvey","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvolgeores.2011.03.008","article-title":"Scale-dependent location of hydrothermal vents: Stress field models and infrared field observations on the Fossa Cone, Vulcano Island, Italy","volume":"203","author":"Schopa","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jseaes.2010.02.001","article-title":"Infrared thermography of the fumarole area in the active crater of the Aso volcano, Japan, using a consumer digital camera","volume":"38","author":"Furukawa","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Asian Earth Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvolgeores.2008.07.003","article-title":"Fumarole monitoring with a handheld infrared camera: Volc\u00e1n de Colima, Mexico, 2006\u20132007","volume":"177","author":"Stevenson","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-7788(01)00105-0","article-title":"Infrared thermography for building diagnostics","volume":"34","author":"Balaras","year":"2002","journal-title":"Energy Build."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2014.08.005","article-title":"Infrared thermography (IRT) applications for building diagnostics: A review","volume":"134","author":"Kylili","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3077","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2017.10.031","article-title":"Applications of the infrared thermography in the energy audit of buildings: A review","volume":"82","author":"Lucchi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enggeo.2015.06.010","article-title":"Integrated geostructural, seismic and infrared thermography surveys for the study of an unstable rock slope in the Peloritani Chain (NE Sicily)","volume":"195","author":"Mineo","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eng. Geol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijrmms.2016.01.010","article-title":"InfreRed Thermography proposed for the estimation of the Cooling Rate Index in the remote survey of rock masses","volume":"83","author":"Pappalardo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enggeo.2005.04.005","article-title":"Integrity assessment of rock mass behind the shotcreted slope using thermography","volume":"80","author":"Wu","year":"2005","journal-title":"Eng. Geol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/S1296-2074(02)01159-7","article-title":"Monitoring of ancient building by the thermal method","volume":"3","author":"Grinzato","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Cult. Heritage"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/S0963-8695(02)00060-9","article-title":"Application of infrared thermography to the non-destructive testing of concrete and masonry bridges","volume":"36","author":"Clark","year":"2003","journal-title":"NDT Int."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1007\/s10346-012-0367-z","article-title":"Application of infrared thermography for mapping open fractures in deep-seated rockslides and unstable cliffs","volume":"11","author":"Baron","year":"2012","journal-title":"Landslides"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cageo.2011.10.022","article-title":"IRTROCK: A MATLAB toolbox for contactless recognition of surface and shallow weakness of a rock cliff by infrared thermography","volume":"45","author":"Teza","year":"2012","journal-title":"Comput. Geosci."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Squarzoni, C., Galgaro, A., Teza, G., Acosta, C.A.T., Pernito, M.A., and Bucceri, N. (2008, January 13\u201318). Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Infrared Thermography in Rock Fall Prone Slope Analysis. Geophysical Research Abstracts 10, EGU2008-A-09254. Proceedings of the EGU General Assembly 2008, Vienna, Austria."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"831","DOI":"10.5194\/nhess-14-831-2014","article-title":"Integrating geomechanical surveys and remote sensing for sea cliff slope stability analysis: The Mt. Pucci case study (Italy)","volume":"14","author":"Martino","year":"2014","journal-title":"Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Frodella, W., Morelli, S., and Pazzi, V. (2017). Infrared thermographic surveys for landslide mapping and characterization: The Rotolon DSGD (Northern Italy) case study. Ital. J. Eng. Geol. Environ., 77\u201384."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scaioni, M. (2015). A New Approach Based on Terrestrial Remote-Sensing Techniques for Rock Fall Hazard. Assessment. Modern Technologies for Landslide Monitoring and Prediction, Springer. Springer Natural Hazards.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-662-45931-7"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1038\/ngeo2686","article-title":"Rockfall triggering by cyclic thermal stressing of exfoliation fractures","volume":"9","author":"Collins","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nat. Geosci."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/0148-9062(73)90055-7","article-title":"Fatigue behaviour of rock","volume":"10","author":"Hattewell","year":"1973","journal-title":"Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1016\/0013-7952(75)90003-4","article-title":"Dry and wet laboratory tests and thermal fatigue of rocks","volume":"9","author":"Velez","year":"1975","journal-title":"Eng. Geol."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Vargas, J.R., Castro, J.T., Amaral, C., and Figueiredo, R.P. (July, January 28). On Mechanism for Failure of Some Rock Slopes in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: Thermal Fatigue?. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Landslides, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/S0169-555X(99)00072-0","article-title":"The role of thermal stress fatigue in the breakdown of rock in cold regions","volume":"31","author":"Hall","year":"1999","journal-title":"Geomorphology"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"1","article-title":"Thermomechanical forcing of deep rock slope deformation: 1. Conceptual study of a simplified slope","volume":"116","author":"Gischig","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"1","article-title":"Thermomechanical forcing of deep rock slope deformation: 2. the Randa rock slope instability","volume":"116","author":"Gischig","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1007\/s00603-012-0247-9","article-title":"On the effect of thermally induced stresses in failures of some rock slopes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil","volume":"46","author":"Vargas","year":"2013","journal-title":"Rock Mech. Rock Eng."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.1680\/jgele.15.00072","article-title":"Physical and numerical modelling of the thermally induced wedging mechanism","volume":"5","author":"Pasten","year":"2015","journal-title":"Geotech. Lett."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-05050-8_8","article-title":"Physical Model of the Mechanism for Thermal Wedging Failure in Rocks","volume":"2","author":"Greif","year":"2014","journal-title":"Landslide Sci. Safer Geoenviron."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijrmms.2013.03.005","article-title":"Thermally vs. seismically induced block displacements in Masada rock slopes","volume":"61","author":"Hatzor","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Rock Mech. Ming"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1577","DOI":"10.1002\/esp.2167","article-title":"Near-surface temperatures and heat balance of bare outcrops exposed to solar radiation","volume":"36","author":"Gunzburger","year":"2011","journal-title":"Earth Surf. Process. Landf."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3027","DOI":"10.1007\/s00603-016-0992-2","article-title":"The Use of Infrared Thermography for Porosity Assessment of Intact Rock","volume":"49","author":"Mineo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rock Mech. Rock Eng."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-04996-0_55","article-title":"Deformations Dynamics in Response to Seasonal Temperature Oscillations: An Example from Pravcicka Brana Rock Arch (Czech Republic)","volume":"3","author":"Vlcko","year":"2014","journal-title":"Landslide Sci. Safer Geoenviron."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1007\/s10346-005-0013-0","article-title":"Failure mechanism in an extremely slow rock slide at Bitchu-Matsuyama castle site (Japan)","volume":"3","author":"Greif","year":"2006","journal-title":"Landslides"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1727","DOI":"10.1007\/s00254-008-1672-7","article-title":"Rock displacement and thermal expansion study at historic heritage sites in Slovakia","volume":"58","author":"Vlcko","year":"2009","journal-title":"Environ. Geol."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Greif, V., Brcek, M., Vlcko, J., Varilova, Z., and Zvelebil, J. (2016). Thermomechanical behavior of Pravcicka Brana Rock Arch (Czech Republic). Landslides.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10346-016-0784-5"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1016\/j.proeng.2017.05.171","article-title":"Investigating Rock Mass Failure Precursors Using a Multi-Sensor Monitoring System: Preliminary Results from a Test-Site (Acuto, Italy)","volume":"191","author":"Fantini","year":"2017","journal-title":"Procedia Eng."},{"key":"ref_56","first-page":"263","article-title":"Experimental evidences of thermo-mechanical induced effects on jointed rock masses through infrared thermography and stress-strain monitoring","volume":"Volume 1","author":"Litvinenko","year":"2018","journal-title":"Geomechanics and Geodynamics of Rock Masses"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"DeWitt, N. (1988). Theory and Practice of Radiation Thermometry, Wiley.","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470172575"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"R27","DOI":"10.1088\/0957-0233\/15\/9\/R01","article-title":"Recent advances in the use of infrared thermography","volume":"15","author":"Meola","year":"2004","journal-title":"Meas. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_59","unstructured":"Carslaw, H.S., and Jaeger, J.C. (1959). Conduction of Heat in Solids, Clarendon Press. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"B11203","DOI":"10.1029\/2005JB003829","article-title":"Factors affecting the accuracy of thermal imaging cameras in volcanology","volume":"111","author":"Ball","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3931","DOI":"10.1364\/AO.38.003931","article-title":"Angular variation of thermal infrared emissivity for some natural surfaces from experimental measurements","volume":"38","author":"Sobrino","year":"1999","journal-title":"Appl. Opt."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Huy Tran, Q., Han, D., Kang, C., Haldar, A., and Huh, J. (2017). Effects of Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity on Subsurface Defect Detection in Concrete Structures by Active Thermal Imaging. Sensors, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/s17081718"}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/18\/7\/2221\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T15:11:27Z","timestamp":1760195487000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/18\/7\/2221"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,10]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,7]]}},"alternative-id":["s18072221"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s18072221","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,10]]}}}