Simplified parametric structural model for masonry porticoes and bridges

This paper introduces a simplified parametric model to reproduce the vertical displacement behavior of masonry arcades as bridge and portico structures using only satellite-derived environmental and displacement data. The model captures the dominant physical mechanisms affecting deformation, including thermal and humidity-driven expansion, and static soil-structure interaction influenced by the soil moisture content. Without requiring detailed geometric or material information, the model simulates the vertical displacement response of structural elements such as pillars, arches, and infill walls through a set of linear expressions driven by environmental variables. Calibration of the model is performed using persistent scatterer displacements from Sentinel-1 InSAR data applied to the case study of the Portico di San Luca in Bologna, Italy. The results demonstrate a good agreement between modeled and observed displacements, with root mean square errors below 5 mm. This approach lays the groundwork for scalable, simplified models usable to train or test structural monitoring methods based on satellite remote sensing.