Accidents on water supply networks have the most significant negative consequences on the state of the historical and architectural heritage, which was formed over many centuries. The paper analyzes the cause-and-effect relationship between accidents of water-carrying networks and the conditions of architectural heritage preservation using the example of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The results of determining waterlogging zones and their factors by non-destructive monitoring methods on the territory of the Metropolitan Garden of the Upper Lavra are given. This area combines complex engineering and geological conditions and technogenic mastering, creating conditions for developing dangerous engineering and geological processes and emergency situations. In terms of danger, the garden’s territory belongs to unstable areas for preserving historical monuments of the UNESCO world heritage. The last accident on the water supply networks occurred in October 2022. It caused sinkholes on the surface, rising groundwater levels, significant destruction of an underground structure of historical importance – the Metropolitan Cellar. The research was carried out using the methods of electrotomography and natural electric field. The results of electrotomography were interpreted using two- and three-dimensional models. The existence of an anomalous dome (soils of low resistance), which is observed in the central part of the site, is probably the focus of waterlogging of the soil massif as a result of an accident on the heating network. The analysis of the adapted 3D model based on the results of non-destructive methods of monitoring the geological environment made it possible to indirectly establish the places of unsatisfactory technical condition of engineering networks (cold water supply), where a wetted section with low values of apparent resistance was recorded. Research has confirmed the presence of an inflow of man-made waters (leaks) from main water supply networks in the western part of all profiles as a constant source and factor of waterlogging of the array of soil bases of architectural monuments – Monastyrski walls, Kushnyka tower, etc. Based on the research results, the need to develop compensatory measures to strengthen part of the fortress walls was proposed, and a safe distance for moving networks from historical objects was substantiated to preserve them.

The historical monuments of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” play an important role in the context of preserving the UNESCO World Heritage. The scientific understanding of the buildings and structures safety management the priority of conducting repair and restoration works, the organization of their technical condition monitoring, and changes in the components of the geological environment in their locations is crucial. The purpose of this study is to identify potentially hazardous areas on the territory of the Lavra for the operation of structures by conducting a point-based integral assessment of the stability potential of the natural and technogenic system with the integration of geospatial methods and to rank the structures using the analytical hierarchy process. According to the modeling results by 17 stability factors and using ArcGIS, 37% (8.7 ha) of the Lavra territory is located in the zone of moderate hazard, 23% (5.4 ha) in the zone of potential hazard, where the manifestation and conditions of more than five dangerous engineering and geological processes intersect, and 40% (9.4 ha) in the zone of relative safety. In each zone, 10 representative structures were selected for ranking according to the stability of natural and technogenic operating conditions and their current technical condition, which is determined by nine criteria. The analysis using two methods identified the areas most at risk from seasonal fluctuations and possible military impacts and allowed us to scientifically substantiate the priority of repair and restoration work and the possibility of properly planning management measures for the selected structures, as well as to offer recommendations for improving the monitoring of the geological environment of the Lavra.

The architectural ensemble of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery located in the city of Kyiv on the Right Bank of the Dnipro River, which represents historical and cultural heritage of world significance, suffers from a wide range of hazardous geological processes. The review and analysis of data of the long-term (since the 1990s) groundwater monitoring studies of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra shows that hydrogeological hazards caused by a complex combination of natural and anthropogenic factors (as well as sometimes by engineering miscalculations) have led to a significant number of emergency situations that threaten the heritage architectural monuments. Monitoring data illustrate a wide range of hydrogeological hazards (flooding, subsidence, landslides, suffusion), and emphasize the importance of consideration of hydrogeological aspects for safeguarding architectural monuments in the urbanized context. The paper also summarizes experience in engineering measures aimed at mitigating of hydrogeological hazards and discusses the pending research tasks

In Europe, many countries have territories with the seismotectonic active areas – Italy, Greece, Romania etc. As we know, the special government and commercial organizations made many attempts to solve the seismic risk assessment problems in these countries using many different devices for solving these problems by estimating the seismic risk. All popular in all European countries specific devices are divided into two basic groups for solving the seismic risk assessment – accelerometers and velocimeters. For solving scientifically important tasks of the seismic risk assessment, there are no other high sensitivity devices for measurement of the displacements in countries with high level of the seismicity. These problems are based on difficulty for business to produce effective devices for measuring the displacement. These problems are based on influences of the temperature on mechanical and electronics instabilities of systems for measurement of the displacement. The cost of devices for measurement of the displacement with temperature stabilization may be higher than for devices of measurement of velocity or acceleration. Broadband seismometers with very high exactness of measurements of seismic events of any type can be afforded by the countries with high financial achievements only. However, there are other more important problems for measurements of the displacement beside acceleration or velocity for any places where there are seismic active zones.

This paper presents the results of engineering-geological, microclimatic, and geotechnical investigations of the St. Anthony’s Caves complex, located within the landslide-prone slope of Boldyna Hill in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Together with St. Elijah Church, the St. Anthony’s Caves represent a key monument of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv” and are highly vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic impacts. Field surveys conducted on 9 July 2025 revealed active geohazards: soil collapses, delamination and spalling, condensation-induced wetting, and extensive mold growth. These processes are caused primarily by precipitation infiltration and insufficient ventilation. Instrumental measurements (SM150T – soil volumetric moisture, TESTO 606-2 – plaster moisture, MV-4M – psychrometer) recorded relative air humidity up to 96.7 % and soil volumetric moisture up to 27.8 %, significantly exceeding background values and indicating a high degree of water saturation. Spatial analysis performed in ArcGIS confirmed the influence of geomorphological conditions and the properties of loess-like deposits with high filtration capacity on the formation of unstable zones. Analysis of the seasonal dynamics of dew-point temperature and condensation conditions on the cave walls made it possible, for the first time, to identify risk levels for additional moisture accumulation on soil walls and to assess potential consequences for the technical condition of the complex. Numerical modelling of the stress–strain state of soils in the near-cave space showed a potential decrease in their structural strength and an increased risk of local rock falls during periods of active condensation on the cave walls. Based on the obtained data, a comprehensive set of measures is proposed: systematic monitoring, microclimate normalization, waterproofing protection, and slope stabilization. The research results provide a scientifically grounded basis for developing a comprehensive roadmap for the long-term preservation strategy of this underground historical and architectural complex. The integrated approach presented in the paper ensures an improved level of preservation of this unique hypogean monument and can be applied to other underground cultural heritage sites situated in similar geological settings.