Immersive virtual reality for damage visualization and risk management in heritage structures: workflow and application to Ponte Vecchio (Florence)

Risk mitigation for built heritage requires interdisciplinary workflows able to connect historical knowledge, survey-based modelling, structural assessment and conservation-oriented decision-making. However, structural analysis results are difficult to communicate beyond specialist audiences because they rely on technical representations. This paper proposes an integrated workflow that links reality-based geometry and nonlinear analysis to an immersive, web-accessible visualization, translating damage indicators into spatially explicit information supporting inspection planning and risk-management tasks. The methodology is demonstrated on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, a complex heritage bridge characterized by long-term architectural stratification, superstructures (shops and the Vasari Corridor), and multi-hazard exposure. Seismic analyses identify critical zones of vulnerability and damage localization, while a hydrodynamic loading scenario complements the assessment under extreme flood conditions. Structural analyses provide the basis for cracking visualization within the immersive environment. The results show the potential of immersive visualization to support damage interpretability, interdisciplinary discussion and monitoring- and prioritization-oriented conservation strategies.