Combined use of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing and digital technologies: A model for long-term condition monitoring memorials in historic Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven

Abstract

Grove Street Cemetery (GSC) of New Haven is one of the 60 National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut; it is also the ninth such landmark in New Haven since 2000. Besides, the cemetery has an indispensable place in the daily life of New Haven community. The aim of the study is to develop an efficient, simple, and low-cost methodology for the assessment of the level of deterioration qualitatively of the stones of Grove Street Cemetery, which will serve as a model for long-term condition monitoring. The studies included the generation of 3D models of memorials, mapping of visual weathering forms on these 3D models according to the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Stone (ISCS) illustrated glossary on stone deterioration patterns, and evaluation of the level of deterioration by ultrasonic velocity measurements. The obtained results were combined in the open-source software Cultural Heritage-Object (CHER-Ob) for decision-making and monitoring studies. Making direct use of the 3D models for calibrated distance measurements for the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) measurements in situ with the help of CHER-Ob has been introduced for the first time as a facilitating element of the monitoring process.