Future Restoration Work Research Articles

Multi-Sensor Geomatic Techniques for the 3D Documentation and Virtual Repositioning of Elements of the Church of S. Miguel (Jaén, Spain)

This study describes the methodology and main results obtained after applying several geomatic techniques, based on the fusion of data acquired by several sensors, to document the recovery works carried out in an abandoned church. A century ago, the façade was moved to a museum to ensure its preservation. In addition to documentary purposes, a secondary goal is the virtual repositioning of a model of this element on that of the church. The method takes advantage of the potential of each technique, considering the acquisition of geometry based mainly on laser scanning techniques and radiometry on photogrammetry. The results include 3D models and orthoimages, which are used to perform a stratigraphic study. The 3D model of the façade has been repositioned in the general one, considering common geometries previously fitted in both models and repeating part of the photogrammetric process, using masks to define the image areas related to the church and the façade. Therefore, we obtained a 3D model with the façade included in it. This procedure has demonstrated its feasibility despite the existence of different environmental conditions in both areas. Using these results, we have also developed a BIM to allow for the management of future restoration works.

Multiscale 3D Documentation of the Medieval Wall of Jaén (Spain) Based on Multi-Sensor Data Fusion

The medieval wall of Jaén is a historical monument that has suffered from the apathy of institutions in recent years, causing its calamitous current status. This study focuses on the previous geomatic tasks developed to obtain a 3D documentation of this site in order to manage future restoration works. The methodology included the integration of data obtained using several geomatic techniques, such as LiDAR and photogrammetry at three scale levels, from the general to the particular. Therefore, data fusion is the main aspect of this methodology, developed in an attempt to take advantage of the benefits of each technique. The application demonstrated the feasibility of using the methodology in order to obtain a complete documentation, including 3D models, orthoimages and DEMs, at several scales with different resolutions and point densities. In addition, we also considered the accuracy of data and products with respect to the project requirements. Another aspect to highlight is the reduction in acquisition time by minimizing the necessity of conducting classic surveying to obtain georeference data. The results show reliable products for supporting restoration tasks and allowing the development of a BIM application to manage them, but also for the dissemination of knowledge regarding this unknown monument.

Investigation and assessment of soil contaminated by organophosphorus pesticides using spot setting method

The contaminated soil caused by an organophosphorus pesticide production enterprise was evaluated, in order to provide constructive suggestions for the future remediation work. This study follows the basic technical route of sampling with the method of distribution, and combined with the relevant national laws and regulations and the actual situation of the site to evaluate and analyze, and finally find out whether the characteristic pollutants of the contaminated site exceed the standard and the environmental health risk. The results show that in the selected contaminated sites, the method can be implemented and obtained clear analysis results. The characteristic pollutants such as benzene, ethiophosphorus and parathion are far beyond the national standards, and seriously endanger the life and health of the surrounding residents. Conclusions:1) In the assessment of some contaminated sites, especially those contaminated by organophosphorus pesticides, the sampling method has the advantages of uniform, extensive, accurate and low sampling cost;2) The pollutants related to the polluted site, especially the volatile organic compounds such as benzene and parathion, are much higher than the limit value, and the peculiar smell is obvious, which seriously endangers the life and health of surrounding residents, causing the attention of relevant departments and providing guiding opinions for the future restoration work. In the future, the pollutants in the polluted site will be effectively removed through the restoration work. To ensure the life and health of neighboring residents, and promote China's ecological civilization construction.

Multi-analytical investigations on a tomb mural painting of the Yuan dynasty in Chongqing, China

In this study, we conducted diagnostic research on a precious Yuan dynasty tomb mural painting (A.D.1271–1368) excavated in Chongqing, 2005. To restore the painting, the painting technique and the artwork's preservation state were investigated through optical microscope (OM), portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF), micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-Raman), macro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (macro-FTIR), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses. During this process, the coarse ground, fine ground and painting layer were characterized and analyzed. Experimental results show that the compositions of coarse ground are calcite and soil, while fine ground mainly consists of calcite and a few amounts of silicate. We also investigated and identified the pigments and binders used for the painting layers, which revealed that carbon black was used for the black pigment, cinnabar, red ochre and small amounts of red lead were used for the red pigments. To further investigate the distribution of materials in cross-sections with special attention to trace presented organic material, a FPA detector was used for imaging coupled with a large radius germanium crystal equipped attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. It has been found that the protein may be used as the binder and organic additive in mural painting. Our work enhances the understanding of the mural painting technique of the Yuan dynasty and also provides a reference for the future restoration work of paintings.

Years After a Fire, Biocrust Microbial Communities are Similar to Unburned Communities in a Coastal Grassland

Microbial communities are integral for ecosystem processes and their taxonomic composition and function may be altered by a disturbance such as fire. Biocrusts are composed of macroscopic and microscopic organisms and are important for a variety of ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling and erosion control. We sought to understand if biocrust community composition and function were altered 1 year after a prescribed fire and 6 years after a wildfire in a coastal California grassland on San Clemente Island. We used shotgun metagenomic sequencing and measurements of chlorophyll content, exopolysaccharide production related to soil stability, and nitrogen fixation. There were no differences in the community composition between unburned samples and the samples burned in the prescribed fire and wildfire. Chlorophyll content differed between the prescribed fire and the controls; however, there were no measured differences in exopolysaccharide production, and nitrogen fixation. However, the wildfire and their respective unburned samples had different functions based on the gene annotations. We compiled one Actinobacteria metagenome-assembled genome from the shotgun sequences which had genes for oxidative and heat stress tolerance. These results suggest that the biocrust community can reach a community composition and function similar to the unburned biocrusts within a year after a prescribed burn and 6 years after a wildfire. However, legacy effects of the wildfire may present themselves in the differences between functional gene sequences. Due to their ability to match the undisturbed community composition and function within years and without intervention, future restoration work should consider the biocrusts in their restoration plans as they may provide valuable ecosystem functions after a disturbance.

Weathering phenomena, rock physical properties and long-term restoration intervention: a case study from the St. Johannis Chapel of Lütgenrode (Lower Saxony, Germany)

Small historical churches in rural villages are mainly functional buildings, lacking spectacular architectural or ornamental features. This is also true for the St. Johannis Chapel Lütgenrode near Göttingen (Lower Saxony, Germany), which dates back to the 13th century. The use of ca. 10 different natural building stones (Triassic sandstone and limestone, Holocene fresh water carbonate), scattered roof tiles and bricks result in a highly heterogeneous character of the chapel’s ascending walls. In addition, various repairs over the last centuries, using inadequate materials, amplified damages and produced critical stability problems, in particular at the southern wall. Here, the suitability of the dimensional stones are evaluated for construction and replacement purposes. A semi-quantitative distribution of lithotypes was performed, and weathering forms were mapped in detail. On-site analyses (micro-drilling resistance, the Schmidt hammer rebound test, capillary water absorption) provide data on the deterioration state of the main lithologies. The petrophysical data show that stratigraphically comparable building stones exhibit different technical characteristics and weathering behavior. All data serve to characterize the state of weathering and provide the data set to plan for future restoration work. The amount needed for restoration work has been estimated to be approximately 435,000–550,000 EUR. Because the local church authorities evaluate the significance of a church based on the frequency of its use, a secular use would be able to save the Lütgenrode chapel, but then the church political leaders would have to act quickly.

Raman study of the ageing test of natural hydraulic lime under the influence of industrial port activities

AbstractRaman spectroscopy was applied for the diagnostic study of some commercial mortars applied to the outside of Punta Begoña Galleries, a historical building located in a coastal environment (Basque Country, Northern Spain) with industrial activities. Molecular analyses were carried out to study the conservation state of commercial materials exposed to the environmental stressors with the aim of being used for future restoration works of the Galleries and to assess in this way their stability when exposed to aggressive agents. The presence of the degradation compounds was studied considering the orientation of the walls where the commercial mortars were placed. Among the decay products, gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) was identified in a higher number of samples together with sodium nitrate (nitratine, NaNO3) in a minor amount. The presence of magnesium‐based secondary products, nitromagnesite (Mg(NO3)2) and dypingite [Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·5(H2O)], was also found formed by the degradation of original magnesium compounds of the mortars. Raman analyses showed in almost all the samples the presence of the xanthophyll carotenoid astaxanthin, which is considered as a bioindicator of pollution level because it appears as the first xanthophyll in highly contaminated areas. The presence of calcium oxalates whewellite (СаС2О4·Н2О) and wedellite (СаС2О4·2Н2О), formed probably as a result of secretion of microorganisms, was detected. However, these compounds were only identified in samples from the south‐west orientation, which is most affected by the influence of the harbour activity, indicating a higher anthropic impact in the materials in that area. Therefore, the choice of materials for restoration will have to be made considering the different environmental impacts. The obtained results were very useful to understand the deterioration processes on commercial mortars in order to study the atmospheric impact that these aggressive environments have on modern material in a relatively short period after their application.

Spanish Colonial Period Bricks from Churches in Laguna, Philippines: A Preliminary Chemical Characterisation Using X-ray Diffraction, Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence and Fourier Transform Infrared

Spanish Colonial Period brick samples dating to the 19th century from the Municipalities of Liliw and Pagsanjan in Laguna, Philippines was investigated. These samples were obtained from two church structures, a church bell tower from Liliw and a church convent from Pagsanjan. Combined X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy allowed the determination of chemical elements and minerals attributed to clay and sand, such as montmorillonite, quartz, corundum, hematite and calcite. On the basis of these compositions, the possible kilning conditions employed to fire the bricks during manufacture was also proposed. MATLAB™ programme was utilised in this study to interpret the data from XRD and FTIR to rationalise the overlapping peaks in the spectrum. Results show that both brick samples were made of clay material that is non-calcareous with low refractory. The firing was performed in an oxidising atmosphere or an open-air environment at an estimated temperature of between 650°C and 850°C. This preliminary study provides a baseline chemical characterisation data of colonial period bricks in the Philippines which will be useful for future conservation and restoration work not only locally but also within the Southeast Asian region.

İŞĞALDAN AZAD OLUNAN RAYONLARIMIZIN COĞRAFİYASI VƏ BU RAYONLARA BÖYÜK QAYIDIŞ

2020 was a difficult period for all countries of the world. Pandemic world the economic crisis has had a serious impact on the economies of most countries. The state and people of Azerbaijan, in spite of all the economic and social damage and the material damage caused by the war, shielded the aggression against them and launched a counter-operation to liberate the lands. If we pay attention to the main parameters of the economic potential of the occupied territories, we can see that Karabakh and its environs Lachin, Kalbajar, Gubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Aghdam, Fuzuli were occupied by Armenia in 1989 and 1993, and the infrastructure of the regions was destroyed. For this reason, future restoration work began with the construction of general infrastructure and primary settlements, and at a later stage should be transferred to economic development projects. Our liberated territories cover two economic geographycal regions. Kalbajar-Lachin and Upper Karabakh. During the occupation of our lands, all buildings were destroyed, forests, reserves, monuments, parks, museums were destroyed. In addition, industrial and agricultural areas, power lines, mineral deposits, transport hubs were severely damaged. After a historic victory in 2020, which resulted in the liberation of the occupied territories of our country, Azerbaijan enters a new stage. The geography of reviving Karabakh must be studied by every citizen. There is a need to restore the landscape of this areas, mineral deposits, industry, electrical systems, roads, tourists sites Key words: Nagorno Karabakh, Natural landscape, tourism, economy, mineral waters, industry, minerals, electric power, priority, great return

Determination of Stress and Deformation Zones of Historical Mus Murat Bridge

This study was carried out to determine the strength of long span stone bridges and stress areas of a historical bridge by using finite element method during earthquakes, floods, and vehicle traffic. The possible earthquake impact of the region and the behavior of the bridge under the effect of the 2011 Van earthquake were investigated. The stresses that will be caused by hydrostatic and vehicle loading applied to the bridge are dwelled on. This study aimed to shed light on future restoration work. As a result of the vehicle, hydrostatic load and dead load analysis, the biggest deformation occurred in the arch K9, which has the largest arch span. According to the results of the earthquake analysis, maximum deformation occurred in the K10 arch, which is one of the arches with the largest arch span of the bridge. In addition, inearthquakes affected in the X and Z direction, it was observed that the arches and piers in the middle of the bridge, that is, these relatively higher structural elements were subjected to more stress. It has been determined that the A11 pier of the bridge is the structural element exposed to the most pressure.

Richness and community structure of sand dunes (restinga) in Santa Catarina: subsidies for ecological restoration

The coast of Balneario Piçarras city (Santa Catarina) is being constantly degraded by human action. This study aimed to characterize the richness and vegetation structure of two areas of herbaceous restinga (preserved and degraded) of the coastal plain of this city. The flora was mapped by using the patrolling method. Identification was done by comparative morphology and specialized bibliography. The phytosociology was based on the plot method with allocation oriented parallel to the coast line. There were 48 species, 44 genera and 22 families identified. Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae are the richest families. The H’ index was 3.9 in the preserved area and 2.1 in the degraded area. The community structure was represented by eight and 16 species in the degraded and preserved areas, respectively. In degraded areas, species as Spartina ciliata, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Sphagneticola trilobata and Paspalum vaginatum have the greater importance of coverage, structuring the community. In the preserved area, the organization structure of the community is given by Canavalia rosea, Remirea maritima, Stenotaphrum secundatum, Spartina ciliata and Acicarpha spathulata species. These species are considered pioneers and with a great potential of fixing dunes, which reflects their importance to the achievement of a future restoration work of the damaged area of the restinga in question.

Decay processes in buildings close to the sea induced by marine aerosol: Salt depositions inside construction materials

Buildings close to the sea experience different kinds of decay processes related with the influence of marine aerosol. This sea spray is a chemically complex system formed by inorganic salts (sulfates, nitrates and mainly chlorides) and organic matter, together even with airborne particulate matter from the surrounding environment. Buildings close to the sea, erected using different materials such as bricks, plasters, limestones and sandstones, can experience many kinds of chemical reactions promoted by the impact of this sea spray, which favour the formation of salt crystallizations. In this work, a study of salts crystallizing in different kinds of building materials of a construction close to the Bay of Biscay (Villa Belza, Biarritz, France) has been studied in order to evaluate the state of conservation of the materials under study. The construction materials affected by salts were analyzed by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and μ-Raman spectroscopy (μ-RS) for molecular analyses, Energy dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry (μ-ED-XRF) for elemental analyses and soluble salts tests by means of ion chromatography. These analyses revealed different levels of chlorides, nitrates and sulfates. Moreover, using this methodology, some specific chemical reactions that take place in the Villa Belza were understood. This knowledge can help to lay the foundations for possible future restoration works.

Impact of vegetation on erosion: Insights from the calibration and test of a landscape evolution model in alpine badland catchments

AbstractWhile it is well recognized that vegetation can affect erosion, sediment yield and, over longer timescales, landform evolution, the nature of this interaction and how it should be modeled is not obvious and may depend on the study site. In order to develop quantitative insight into the magnitude and nature of the influence of vegetation on catchment erosion, we build a landscape evolution model to simulate erosion in badlands, then calibrate and evaluate it against sediment yield data for two catchments with contrasting vegetation cover. The model couples hillslope gravitational transport and stream alluvium transport. Results indicate that hillslope transport processes depend strongly on the vegetation cover, whereas stream transport processes do not seem to be affected by the presence of vegetation. The model performance in prediction is found to be higher for the denuded catchment than for the reforested one. Moreover, we find that vegetation acts on erosion mostly by reducing soil erodibility rather than by reducing surface runoff. Finally, the methodology we propose can be a useful tool to evaluate the efficiency of previous revegetation operations and to provide guidance for future restoration work. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In situ diagnostic analysis of the XVIII century Madonna della Lettera panel painting (Messina, Italy).

The scientific investigation of the techniques employed by the artist, such as composition of the paints, color palette, and painting style represents a fundamental pre-requisite in order to develop proper conservation and restoration strategies. In this context, the combined use of non-destructive, non-invasive in situ image and chemical analyses was here successfully employed for the investigation of the XVIII century Madonna della Lettera panel painting from the ancient Basilian abbey of Santa Maria di Bordonaro in Messina (Italy). The used techniques were visible, infrared (IR) and false-color infrared (FCIR) photography, X-ray radiography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy. The goal was to obtain accurate information on materials and techniques originally used and possible later interventions, with particular regard to the nature of the painting materials. From the results, details of the artwork useful for restoration and conservation procedures were revealed. The identification of most of the artist's palette was also achieved: Prussian blue for blue color, lead white for white, umber for the brown, cinnabar for the red, and carbon black for the black color. The composition of different preparatory substrates was also investigated. The obtained results, other than constituting a crucial step for future restoration works, can be at the same time useful for the dating of the painting, that does not report the date and the artist's signature.

Comparison of ecological characteristics of Carex tussock under natural and artificial reco-very.

We compared the ecological characteristics of tussock individuals and populations undergoing natural and artificial restoration in Carex tussock wetlands in the Sun Island in Harbin and identified the relationships between the growth of Carex tussock and environmental factors. Results showed that there were obvious seasonal dynamics in morphological characteristics of C. appendiculata. Tussocks grew rapidly from May to June, peaked in June, and then decreased steadily from July to August. There were significant differences in ecological characteristics of Carex tussocks between natural and artificial restorations. The morphological characteristics of individual tussock, including leaf area, leaf width, fresh weight per ramet, dry weight per ramet, and the hummock shape indicators (hummock height, diameter, volume and surface area) in natural restored area were significantly higher than those in artificial transplanting area. For the Carex tussock community, tussock density, coverage and biomass in natural restoration area were significantly lower than those in artificial transplanting area. Soil water content, water depth and hummock spacing in natural restoration area were significantly higher than those in artificial restoration area, which facilitated the formation and development of individual tussock. Higher transplanting density was the main factor leading to higher density, coverage, and biomass in artificial restoration area. Our results suggested that the distribution characteristics of tussocks in natural restoration area should be taken into account in future restoration and protection works. Appropriate adjustment of the distance between hummock (54.22-117.89 cm) and population density (1.9-3.1 ind·m-2), as well as proper water recharge measures in spring in arid areas to regulate soil water content and water depth, would be conducive to promoting the growth and rapid recovery of Carex tussock, which would maintain the long-term health and stability of tussock wetland.

19. YY. VE 20. YY. KÜLTÜR MİRASININ BİRLİKTE KULLANIMI BAĞLAMINDA TALAS REŞADİYE (STEFANA) PANAGİA RUM KİLİSESİ VE ERCİYES İPLİK FABRİKASI

Kayseri, has an important non-Muslim population in Anatolia in the 19th century, still has many examples of monumental and civil architecture remaining from this period. At the beginning of the 20th century, due to the relocation and exchange of Armenians and Greeks from the region, especially the churches that were left without the congregation became vacant, and the deterioration process of the buildings was increased. Although some of the churches in the city center, districts and villages have not survived until the present day, most of them face structurally serious dangers due to improper use or being empty. The buildings, which are important parts of the cultural heritage of the city, should be documented in detail and integrated into city life with appropriate functions, and these are the first steps to be taken in terms of protection. One of the churches, Panagia Greek Orthodox Church, is located in Talas Resadiye neighborhood (Stefana Village) and was used as a Yarn Factory between 1938- 2000. The building is one of the important representatives of the industrial heritage in the city. Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to document these buildings which is under the threat of rapid extinction due to natural factors and vandalism and to create a base for future restoration works. K

Harnessing Positive Species Interactions to Enhance Coastal Wetland Restoration

Coastal wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They generate critical services for humans including shoreline protection, carbon storage, pollution mitigation, and fisheries production. Restoration of coastal wetlands has historically been viewed as a secondary conservation strategy, but recently—given the continued loss of wetlands worldwide—many non-governmental and governmental organizations have elevated habitat restoration to be a primary method for wetland conservation. The long-held paradigm in coastal wetland restoration has been to restore target habitats by reducing physical stressors and avoiding competition among outplants, such as mangrove saplings or Spartina plugs. Recent ecological research, however, reveals that positive species interactions, such as facilitation, are critical to wetland recovery after disturbance. Here, we review the scientific evidence for the importance of positive species interactions in the recovery of salt-marsh and mangrove ecosystems and assess the extent to which they have been integrated into restoration studies. We found that only a small proportion of studies of marsh and mangrove restoration examined the effects of positive species interactions, despite the important role they play in the regrowth of coastal wetlands. We outline how positive species interactions can be systematically incorporated into future restoration work and discuss how this incorporation can help the reestablishment of coastal wetland biota through: (1) trophic facilitation, (2) stress reduction, and (3) associational defenses. The absence of positive interactions in restoration designs may partially explain the significant disparities between the functioning of natural and restored coastal plant ecosystems.

Herodian Machaerus Fortress (Jordan): Investigation of Mortars Belonging to the Hydraulic Constructions

ABSTRACTMachaerus Fortress, overlooking on a hilltop the Transjordan side of the Dead Sea, represents an important example of the Herodian defence structures. It was a model of engineering, considering both its military function and the offered quality-of-life. In fact, this site hosted hydraulic constructions with an estimated capacity of the reservoirs of 3000 m3 (3.000.000 l) per year, allowing people to have supply of potable water and for all the human activities. Given the unquestionable significance of this archaeological site, a comprehensive characterization of the mortars utilized, especially in the hydraulic structures, is here discussed. Therefore, the present work provides hints for new insights on the construction techniques utilized in this area, interesting both from the historical and from the engineering point of view. Moreover, the results here illustrated constitute a valid support in the decision making of compatible materials to be employed in future restoration works.

Geophysical surveys for the dynamic characterization of a cultural heritage building and its subsoil: The S. Michele Arcangelo Church (Acireale, eastern Sicily)

Abstract Geophysical surveys are useful tools to characterize the buildings making up the cultural heritage and to monitor the subsoil features on which they are constructed. The information obtained is necessary for planning future restoration work. The aim of this study is to characterize the dynamic features of both the San Michele Arcangelo Church and of the area where it is located. Non-invasive geophysical surveys, including electromagnetic and seismic surveys, were performed to acquire this information. Such techniques enabled us to highlight the seismic wave velocity distribution in the subsoil, and the presence of electromagnetic reflectors probably linked to the existence of remains belonging to the old edifice. The comparison and integration of different methods allowed us to validate the results. Moreover, ambient seismic noise measurements were carried out outside and inside the church to obtain information on the site resonance frequency and to assess the vibration frequencies of the church. The results do not point out any site amplifications in the vibration frequency range of the church. It is therefore unlikely that soil-to-structure resonance phenomena can take place.

New compositional data on ancient mortars and plasters from Pompeii (Campania – Southern Italy): Archaeometric results and considerations about their time evolution

Twenty-six samples of mortar used for various construction applications (joint mortars, floor mortars, filling mortars and plasters) were collected from different areas of the archaeological site of Pompeii (Campania - Sothern Italy). The mortar samples belong to various historical periods covering approximately 2000 years, from the 2nd century BC to the post excavation period (18–19th century). The samples were characterized employing Optical Microscopy (OM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) and Raman Spectroscopy. Moreover, image analysis was carried out using JMicroVision software in order to determine the percentages of binder, macropores and aggregate, in terms of crushed ceramic fragments (cocciopesto), rock fragments and monocrystals.The application of these techniques allowed obtaining a complete chemical and minero-petrographic characterization of the samples, which may prove useful for preparing compatible repair mortars for future restoration works. The archaeometric study provided new data on the production technology of the mortars and the analogies and differences observed among the samples, enabled us to distinguish different constructive phases, thus confirming or rebutting the archaeological hypothesis on the dating of some samples. By combining compositional variables through the discriminant analysis, it was also possible to analyse the time evolution of the materials and to construct preliminary multivariate statistical models, helpful to identify the various typologies of mortars used in the different historical periods.