Patrimonial Value Research Articles

Prediction of environmental suitability for Haematoxylum campechianum: a proposal to promote reforestation in Mexico

Models of potential distribution and ecological niche allow to estimate priority areas for the management of species of interest, as well as to identify variables related to environmental suitability and predict the behavior of species in the face of anthropogenic disturbances. Logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) is a species that we consider a natural heritage in southeastern Mexico because of its ecological role and the current and historical use of its wood. This species is present in different vegetation types and even dominates in some ecosystems called "tintales", which have been exploited for dye extraction in past centuries. This, combined with changes in land use for livestock, agriculture, and other anthropogenic activities, has affected the Logwood´s distribution and connectivity of its populations. We modeled the potential distribution of H. campechianum and evaluated the feasibility of reforestation with this species in southeastern Mexico. For this purpose, we included 638 occurrence points and used the MaxEnt algorithm for modeling, analyzing different parameters. We used the potential distribution model, accessibility to the areas and water availability to calculate a feasibility index for reforestation. The environmental suitability for the species is more present in southeastern Mexico, conditioned by the aridity index, the maximum temperature of the coldest month and the warmest month. The greatest percentage of areas with high feasibility indexes for reforestation are found in Campeche, apparently a key state for the conservation and management of the species. This study can be the starting point for implementing reforestation programs with H. campechianum and can be used as an example to apply to other species with patrimonial value.

Headquarters of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova – heritage building of national value

The current headquarters of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM) was built in the years 1951–1955 according to the project of the renowned architect Valentin Mednec/Mednic and Aleksandr Vedenkin, being a remarkable example of "Stalinist" architecture, characterized by monumentalism, sober aesthetic appearance but also exuberance of decorative elements, perfectly fitted into the urban landscape, including as a starting point for the city's main artery. The present article is a synthesis of archival data that brings to the attention of researchers in the fields of history, architecture, and art the new or less known aspects about the ASM headquarters, as well as arguments in favor of its patrimonial value. The General Assembly of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova from March 22, 2023, unanimously supported the proposal of the general scientific secretary of ASM, dr. hab. Liliana Condraticova, to include this emblematic building from the center of Chisinau into the Register of monuments of the Republic of Moldova protected by the state, approved by the Decision of the Parliament no. 1531 of 1993 (with subsequent additions). There was drawn up a study regarding the history and architectural value of the building, accompanied by unpublished archival images and plans of the building, as well as recent photos, the respective file being submitted for examination to the Ministry of Culture. With the inclusion of the ASM building in the Register of Monuments, the monument classification activities will continue and it will be possible to initiate the inclusion of the entire Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt boulevard from Chisinau in the Register of Monuments of the Republic of Moldova thanks to the location of several heritage buildings along the main artery of the city.

Identifying global research and conservation priorities for Columbidae: a quantitative approach using random forest models

The family of Columbidae, including pigeons and doves, remains understudied despite their patrimonial value and high ecological and conservation relevance. Currently, 353 extant columbid species are listed in the IUCN red list, with about 20% of them being threatened with extinction. However, there has been little effort so far to synthetize the available information on factors influencing extinction risk and the allocation of research effort among columbid species. In this context, using random forest models, the present study aims at quantitatively assessing to what extent environmental, life history and socio-political factors may drive the extinction risk of pigeons and doves and explain differences in scientific attention among species. We found that high risk of extinction in columbids is associated with small historical range, exposure to invasive alien mammals and living in isolated islands and/or at low altitudes, while the probability of population decline is associated with species body size, surrounding human density and narrow habitat breadth. We also evidenced a large disparity between species or population extinction risk and scientific interest. Indeed, most of the studies on columbids have been conducted by scientists from North America and Western Europe on their local species, whereas species from biodiversity hotspots, which are more at risk of extinction, have comparatively received little attention. This unequal acquisition of knowledge creates gaps that deserve to be filled in order to have a good appreciation of extinction risk in columbids and associated threats, through fair transnational cooperation, academic training and regional coordination in conservation-oriented research on columbids.

Priority tree and shrubs for use in Landscape Architecture based on the dynamic states of native vegetation with the highest ecological value in mainland Portugal

The reduction of the native forests coverage in mainland Portugal increased in the past centuries, leading to a marked decrease in biodiversity in general, especially on typical species of mature forest environments. However, urban biodiversity seems to resist more effectively than rural to disturbances due to the lower incidence of fires, as well as to agriculture expansion. Thus, in this work, we analyzed the dynamics of the natural vegetation potential in each biogeographic sector, and selected, based on the evolutionary stages of the vegetation, a set of priority taxa for conservation. The criteria used are intended to highlight plants with ornamental value, but at the same time, some of them have high patrimonial value, belonging to the Red List of Vascular Flora of Mainland Portugal or protected by Annexes II, IV and V of the Sectorial Plan of the Natura 2000 Network at the European level. Our analysis resulted in the identification of 62 plants that can be increased in public spaces in order to improve their conservation status. For each biogeographic sector, the plants best adapted to the local edaphoclimatic conditions are presented. Forest habitats can now, through micro-reserves in urban areas, ensure their long-term conservation and greater awareness among the population. An integrated planning, where the socio-ecological strategy is designed for the long term, will benefit the quality of life of citizens in an urban environment. Furthermore, the creation of micro-reserves in urban parks (gardens) can prevent the extinction of many botanical values in the landscapes of the western Mediterranean Basin.

HBIM Applied in Structural Project in the Refurbishing of an Antique Building

The Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology have been applied in distinct domain of the construction activity. A recent perspective concerning Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) supports of the conservation, rehabilitation or refurbishing of buildings of patrimonial value. As the main fundament of BIM is the generation of virtual parametric models, representing the building project or the existing building with the required accuracy in configuration and mechanical properties, to generate a HBIM model it is necessary to create a library with specific parametric objects

Checklist of the native tree flora of Algeria: diversity, distribution, and conservation

Background and aims – Trees represent an important component of many ecosystems of the world. The knowledge of their diversity and geographic distribution is of great theoretical and practical importance. This paper aims to provide the first comprehensive checklist of native tree taxa in Algeria. Material and methods – The checklist was based on the analysis of published data and has been improved with own field observations. Statistical analysis has been performed on the taxonomic richness, life forms, and chorological spectra in terms of diversity, endemism, habitats, and distribution of the tree flora in Algeria. The conservation status following IUCN and the protection status at national level have been presented.Key results – The checklist comprises 120 native tree taxa currently known in Algeria, including 106 species, one hybrid species, and 13 subspecies, belonging to 63 genera and 35 families. The four most species-rich families are Rosaceae (13 spp.), Fabaceae (12 spp.), Salicaceae (9 spp.), and Tamaricaceae (9 spp.). The richest genus is Tamarix (9 spp.), followed by Quercus (7 taxa in 6 spp.). We found that trees are more often single-stemmed (45%), and are small or medium-sized. Mediterranean element is dominant (46%), followed by Saharo-arabic (17%), wide distribution element (15%), and European elements (12%). Furthermore, 11% of all tree taxa are endemics or subendemics. The highest number of taxa (71%) is found in the Tellian area, whereas the lowest number (36%) occurs in the Saharan area. Only nine taxa are considered to be threatened or near threatened, while 36 taxa are yet not assessed. This analysis highlights 33 taxa with patrimonial value, both endemics and range-restricted. Out of these taxa, only 18 are protected by national legislation. Conclusion – This work shows that a relatively rich tree flora is found in Algeria. It aims to be used as a tool for managing tree species diversity. Some of the tree taxa need appropriate measures for their in situ conservation, a challenging but worth pursuing target.

Caracterização de revestimentos de imitação de pedra em stucco-marmo com vista à sua preservação

Stucco-marble is one of the most representative decorative techniques of the Baroque period in Europe. It intends to imitate stone architectural coatings. In Portugal, between the mid‑18th century and the mid‑20th century its use was much more frequent than previously thought. The lack of information regarding these coatings endangered their preservation. To fill this gap, a survey was made in the literature on the history and terminology related to stucco‑marble and buildings where it was used were identified. Samples were collected and the mineralogical composition using x‑ray diffraction (XRD) was determined. Physical and mechanical properties, namely capillary water absorption and dynamic modulus of elasticity, were also studied. In this paper, the results obtained are presented and discussed. They allowed concluding that most of the samples are made of gypsum‑anhydrite plaster, with physical and mechanical characteristics very similar to those of the materials they intend to imitate. Terminology issues are also debated. This study aims at contributing to the preservation of a decorative technique of outstanding patrimonial value.

Upper Pleistocene fauna from the Middle Palaeolithic site of Foz do Enxarrique (Vila Velha de Ródão, Naturtejo Unesco Global Geopark)

Foz do Enxarrique (FENX) is an open-air archaeological site from the end of the Middle Palaeolithic, with faunal remains and Mousterian industry, dated 44–32 Ka. The faunal accumulation shows evidence of human intervention. It can be seen as a paradigm for the interpretation of taphonomic processes typical of open-air sites and difficulties of interpretation. Foz do Enxarrique preserves a single archeological horizon accumulated in low energy conditions, as shown by the fragmentary bones, the predominance of remains of human-hunted animals and the presence of cut marks on some bones. The Municipality of Vila Velha de Rodao has been aware of the interest in the patrimonial value of this archaeological site. The local authorities implemented and developed a project of museology, becoming one of the few Portuguese open-air Palaeolithic sites with a musealization in situ.

Generation of an HBIM Library regarding a Palace of the 19th Century in Lisbon

The growing interest within the construction industry in the preservation, rehabilitation, and conversion of heritage-value buildings has led to the implementation of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) across all sectors. The rigorously accurate representation of old construction solutions for roofs, floors, and walls, and of the decorative details and finishes, commonly used in historic buildings of patrimonial value, requires specific geometric modelling processes in order to generate relevant libraries of parametric objects. This study addresses the generation of parametric families of representative architectural geometry in the context of the conversion of a building of patrimonial value. A collection of historical information and a detailed inspection in situ, recorded by means of digital images and sketches with annotative dimensions of the architectural forms, were first carried out to support the accurate representation of the building. Several families of objects were generated, namely, guillotine windows, glazed doors, ornamental stonework, staircases, and handrails, thus creating a reference library for use in further similar building projects. The study improves the potential of the BIM process for its application to buildings with distinctive architecture in the context of the preservation or conversion of heritage buildings.

Toward ecological intensification through the co-production of the floating macrophyte Azolla filiculoides and the giant gourami Osphronemus goramy Lacepède (1801) in Indonesian ponds

ABSTRACT The feasibility of the co-culture production of giant gourami Osphronemus goramy, an omnivorous with a herbivorous tendency fish, with high economic and patrimonial value in Indonesia, and floating macrophyte Azolla filiculoides was tested. A three months trial was carried out in an Indonesian small-scale fish farm from November 2017 to February 2018. Four earthen ponds (from 353 to 482 m2) were used. Two ponds were managed as conventional monoculture aquaculture; in the two others, 20% of the pond’s surface was dedicated to the production of A. filiculoides. The objective of this co-production was to replace partially the commercial pellets with fresh, unprocessed Azolla. All ponds were fertilized with chicken manure and stocked with juveniles of giant gourami (24–34 g) bought in the local live fish market at a density of 6 individuals per m2 under both management schemes. Production of Azolla was discontinuous, covering only 40 days over 90 days of the production cycle of Giant gourami. Azollawas harvested every three days producing 571 ± 359 g m−2 (mean ± SD) of biomass. This discontinuity might be attributed to insufficient phosphorous (P) fertilization and predation by other fish, aquatic snails, and insect larvae. In the co-cultured ponds, a total of 15% of commercial pellets were spared by their replacement with fresh Azolla. The specific growth rate (SGR) and the fish biomass gain were similar for both systems. Azolla did not influence water quality. Both production systems were negative economic net-benefice (−17% for conventional ponds and −4% for co-cultured ponds), mainly because of high costs for seeds and sub-optimal feed performance. We demonstrated that the co-production of A. filiculoides did not generate any significant extra cost. We discussed the benefits of ecological intensification with macrophytes in semi-intensive production systems in the tropics.

Les périodes d’essaimage des fourmis parasites du sous-genre Chthonolasius observées dans la région Hauts-de-France (Hymenoptera : Formicidae : Formicinae)

Swarming periods of parasitic ants from the subgenus Chthonolasius observed in the Hauts-de-France region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). - Swarming periods of parasitic ants from the subgenus Chthonolasius are studied in Northern France. This work, carried out between 2014 and 2020, improves our understanding of their strategy for parasitising host species. The role of insect traps for the study of this group of insects is underlined, especially the light traps which seems to be the most effective technique for detecting individuals belonging to this subgenus. The data collected also makes possible to question the patrimonial value of these species.

Analysis of BIM Methodology Applied to Practical Cases in the Preservation of Heritage Buildings

The methodology and technology associated with building information modeling (BIM) provide architects, engineers, and historians with concepts and tools that support the development of heritage projects. However, this specific form of BIM orientated towards buildings of patrimonial value—known as historic building information modeling (HBIM)—requires a distinct and additional view, accounting for aspects which are normally not attended to on projects involving new buildings. In an HBIM context, the parametric modeling process, the basis of any BIM procedure, involves the study of shapes, patterns, or standards for the establishment of particular collections of parametric objects, as well as the record of the available technology used to capture digital geometric data. In addition, all the information collected and generated through an HBIM process must be adequately managed, maintained, and archived. In the present study, we intend to list the most recent features of HBIM, based on a bibliographic review, encompassing distinct building situations (preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and structural assessment); different technical equipment (drones, scanners, and photogrammetry); as well as diverse forms of geometric characterization (patterns, geometric rules, or curve generation) and ways of archiving data (stratigraphy, old drawings folders, or as-built models). With the aim of identifying, as an overview, we have presented the principal modeling strategies, technologic devices, and archive procedures, as a contribution to systematizing and organizing the dispersed practical and theorical studies related with HBIM.

O Espólio Literário de Almeida Garrett

Preparado no âmbito da edição crítica em curso do Romanceiro de Almeida Garrett (1799-1854), este trabalho estuda um importante legado documental do eminente escritor português. Referimo-nos aos Documentos 59 a 63 do Espólio Literário de Almeida Garrett, que se encontram depositados na Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra e que abarcam manuscritos autógrafos e originais de imprensa do autor com vista sobretudo à publicação de Garrett (1843), bem como à Coleção Futscher Pereira. Partindo do facto de que o núcleo documental coimbrão se apresenta como uma verdadeira miscelânea, o que perturba o reconhecimento do seu importante valor cultural e patrimonial, propomo- nos contribuir para o reposicionamento destes materiais a partir de uma abordagem essencialmente material e filológica. Discutir-se-ão, assim, algumas das características do espólio, as quais espelham as práticas (por vezes questionáveis) que nortearam a organização destes materiais no passado.

Development of Thermal Principles for the Automation of the Thermographic Monitoring of Cultural Heritage.

The continuous deterioration of elements, with high patrimonial value over time, can only be mitigated or annulled through the application of techniques that facilitate the preventative detection of the possible agents of deterioration. InfraRed Thermography (IRT) is one of the most used techniques for this task. However, there are few IRT methodologies, which can automatically monitor the cultural heritage field, and are vitally important in eliminating the subjectivity in interpreting and accelerating the analysis process. In this work, a study is performed on a tessellatum layer of a mosaic to automatically: (i) Detect the first appearance of the thermal footprint of internal water, (ii) delimit the contours of the thermal footprint of internal water from its first appearance, and (iii) classify between harmful and non-harmful internal water. The study is based on the analysis of the temperature distribution of each thermal image. Five thermal images sequences are acquired during the simulation of different real situations, obtaining a set of promising results for the optimization of the thermographic inspection process, while discussing the following recommended steps to be taken in the study for future researches.

Physicochemical Characterization of Historical Coating Mortars – Case Studies in South Brazil

ABSTRACT The intervention process in historical buildings involves the application of a scientific methodology for the materials characterization. In Porto Alegre — RS, Brazil, several buildings with patrimonial value from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were preserved. This study presents the physicochemical analysis of mortar coating samples obtained from two buildings, the commercial and residential building “Frasca House” (1911) and the Metropolitan Curia of Porto Alegre (1888). The visual investigation and aspects of the color and morphology of the samples were determined with a stereoscopic microscope. Chemical analyses provided information on the binder:aggregate proportion and qualitative soluble salts, correlated with deterioration caused by efflorescence. Microstructural analysis allowed to determine the nature of the binders, aggregates and fine particulates. It is expected to contribute, in restoration interventions, to the choice and quantity of materials compatible with the original evaluated here, preserving it and, thus, extending the service life of the building.

Retrofit em obras tombadas de infraestrutura urbana: o caso do Viaduto sobre a Galeria dos Estados

A arquitetura monumental de Brasília, capital federal do Brasil, foi concebida pelos traços plásticos dos arquitetos Oscar Niemeyer e Lúcio Costa. Desde a sua fundação, a cidade atraiu o panorama arquitetônico internacional e foi designada, em 1987, como patrimônio cultural mundial pela UNESCO. O Retrofit representa uma pratica que garante a preservação de uma edificação, proporcionando uma nova reabilitação funcional. O presente trabalho aborda o caso do desabamento do Viaduto sobre a Galeria dos Estados, localizado no Eixo Rodoviário Sul - DF 002, uma das principais artérias viárias do plano piloto de Brasília. Analisadas as patologias e os mecanismos oriundos que levaram ao colapso estrutural parcial do antigo pilar e do tabuleiro protendido, foi avaliado o projeto de Retrofit que se deu por meio de pilares reestruturados com engrossamento do núcleo central e enrijecimento global da estrutura. Para entender o tipo de intervenção mais adequado para preservar o patrimônio, foram considerados os aspectos de desempenho e segurança estrutural, vida útil e linguagem arquitetônica, sem apresentação de modelos numéricos. O Retrofit adotado mostra como o valor patrimonial do viaduto foi respeitado sob uma ótica de acrescentar durabilidade à obra de arte e garantir a segurança dos utentes que o transitam.

Destino turístico inteligente e a experiência turística:

A experiência turística tornou-se um dos maiores termômetros de medição em um destino turístico, pois, a partir da experiência do visitante é possível compreender como a oferta turística tem promovido impactos positivos na percepção do mesmo sobre o conjunto de produtos e serviços ofertados. Desta forma, destinos turísticos inteligentes utilizam como premissa a identificação desta experiência e sua medição como forma de estar em permanente monitoramento do turista com fim a analisar os dados e informações para que o mesmo esteja em constante atualização e manter-se competitivo no contexto nacional e internacional. Portanto, objetiva-se no presente trabalho compreender a percepção dos turistas quanto à sua experiência durante sua estadia na cidade de São Luís (Maranhão) quanto à oferta turística. Como base metodológica utilizou-se material bibliográfico coletado nas principais bases de dados, e também das indicações do projeto espanhol ao qual este trabalho é resultado. Quanto ao caráter é descritivo e exploratório, e a caracteriza-se também como empírico, onde aplicou-se no campo entre os meses de janeiro a abril de 2017 o questionário com base nas orientações do projeto espanhol. A análise foi qualitativa com o uso de software SPSS. Os resultados apontam que os entrevistados percebem o alto valor patrimonial existente nas construções históricas presente no centro da cidade, assim como identificam que São Luís enquanto capital e destino indutor no estado do Maranhão possui boa infraestrutura em determinados aspectos quanto aos pilares de um destino turístico inteligente. Quanto à experiência turística destacaram que é boa, e, portanto, conclui-se que é fundamental a aplicação de diretrizes públicas e privadas em São Luís para que o destino esteja cada vez mais preparado para atender e superar as expectativas do visitante e também esteja de acordo com as orientações conceituais de desenvolvimento e evolução do destino com foco num modelo de destino turístico inteligente.

Methodological Proposal for the Development of Insurance Policies for Building Components

Insurance is a growing economic activity within the construction sector. Homes and buildings are perhaps the most important investment an individual makes in his/her lifetime. Nevertheless, the market for insurance coverage policies applied to the building envelope is in an embryonic stage, mainly due to the lack of knowledge in terms of risk and costs associated to the failure of these elements. This study provides an innovative and methodological approach to the development of an insurance product that targets the obsolescence of building components. In defining a structured approach to the design of insurance policies for buildings, the use of the service life prediction models proposed in this study allows establishing different types of insurance policies with different risk premiums and evaluating different losses and risks accepted by the owners, thus promoting the increase of the patrimonial value of the asset and reducing the risk of premature failure and the uncertainty of the costs of maintenance during its life cycle.

Methodological Proposal for the Development of Insurance Policies for Building Components

Insurance is a growing economic activity within the construction sector. Homes and buildings are perhaps the most important investment an individual makes in his/her lifetime. Nevertheless, the market for insurance coverage policies applied to the building envelope is in an embryonic stage, mainly due to the lack of knowledge in terms of risk and costs associated to the failure of these elements. This study provides an innovative and methodological approach to the development of an insurance product that targets the obsolescence of building components. In defining a structured approach to the design of insurance policies for buildings, the use of the service life prediction models proposed in this study allows establishing different types of insurance policies with different risk premiums and evaluating different losses and risks accepted by the owners, thus promoting the increase of the patrimonial value of the asset and reducing the risk of premature failure and the uncertainty of the costs of maintenance during its life cycle.

Arquitetura Art Déco: um estudo sobre o seu valor para a história e memória da cidade de Passo Fundo/RS, Brasil

O presente artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar e analisar as edificações com características Art Déco situadas na região central da cidade de Passo Fundo/RS, representativas de transformações socioespaciais modernizadoras. A sua valorização e reconhecimento como patrimônio cultural é de fundamental importância para que os fatos urbanos dessa cidade permaneçam como história e como memória. No Brasil, a arquitetura Art Déco marcou significativamente o cenário das cidades entre as décadas de 1930 e 1950, sendo uma expressão de modernidade acessível às diversas classes sociais da época. Por isso, há muitas perspectivas de análise para essa arquitetura, particularmente na sua difusão no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A cidade brasileira de Passo Fundo, situada na região norte desse estado, possui um significativo repertório de arquitetura Art Déco em sua área central, no entanto, essa arquitetura não se encontra circunscrita sob a legislação preservacionista do poder público municipal. Tal conjuntura, carece de um debate acerca do valor patrimonial desses artefatos para a cidade pelo motivo desse conjunto arquitetônico ainda não ter sido relacionado no cadastro municipal de bens de valor histórico patrimonial, o que evidencia uma falta de compreensão do valor dessa arquitetura como representativa de um momento histórico da cidade. Esse cadastro é uma lista onde estão relacionados os bens de valor patrimonial da cidade de Passo Fundo/RS.