IR Thermography for the Restoration of Colonial Architecture in India—Case study of the British Residency in Hyderabad, Telangana

Abstract

Abstract Infrared Thermography (IRT) has been a non-destructive and economical method for identifying potential problems in buildings. Passive thermography tracks the thermal patterns in structures caused due to exposure to solar radiation. Interpretation of results for the Passive approach is highly dependent on understanding of the surrounding environmental conditions of the building being surveyed. However, existing literature and scientific research on the subject focuses on buildings in Europe and Northern America. These conditions have not yet been established for the Indian Sub-Continent as there have been no studies that identify the methodologies for this yet. There have been a few studies on the use of IRT for heritage buildings in India. Nevertheless, they do not explain the environmental conditions during the thermal survey, which might affect the interpretation of the thermal images produced. This project aims to elucidate more about the way IRT works in conditions that are sometimes less than optimal, through the case study of the Former British Residency in Hyderabad.