Preventive Conservation Of Cultural Heritage Research Articles

Risk Management and Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Karaman Hatuniye Madrasa and Karaman City Museum

Various methodologies have been developed to determine the risks of cultural properties that have been exposed to various risks since their construction and to make proposals for their preventive conservation. This study aims to protect the cultural, architectural, historical, and documentary values of historic buildings by identifying their threats and potential risks for risk management and preventive conservation studies and determining their risk levels considering the degree of vulnerability and frequency of occurrence in order to ensure their sustainability. Karaman Hatuniye Madrasa and Karaman City Museum were selected as case studies for cultural heritage risk management. The following standards were used to determine risk levels: the RE-ORG method for museum storage facilities, ICRROM’s (2016) “Guide to Risk Management of Cultural Heritage” and ISO 31000 (2018) for risk analysis, and UNI EN 16096 (2012) standard for current condition assessment, risk priority, urgency class, and recommendation classification. The hazards and potential risks were identified and classified through field observations, literature review, archival research, oral interviews, and data from national (AFAD) and international (EM-DAT) databases. The results showed that Karaman Museum has a medium risk level and RE-ORG is required in the building and collections only, on the other hand, Hatuniye Madrasa has a high-risk level. In particular, abandonment/underuse and faulty restoration works are the main factors that increase the risk level. The study is important for the protection and conservation of Hatuniye Madrasa and Karaman Museum and their collections through risk management and preventive conservation measures and is an example of systematic assessment of risks in cultural properties.

Digital microclimate simulation models to support innovative management and preventive conservation processes in cultural sites

Among the least investigated aspects in historical architecture, one is the microclimatic behaviour linked to the preventive conservation of cultural heritage. This aspect should be studied intensively since it is closely related to any deterioration phenomenon of materials and can have a crucial role in updating management systems of cultural sites. Today the sensors that monitor environmental parameters can transfer data in real time into a continuous monitoring logic (cloud platforms) and this, in addition to the development of software capable of modelling the thermo-hygrometric behaviour of buildings, opens up new lines of research. The authors believe that it represents one of the most promising areas of investigation and capable of offering greater results in terms of preventive and planned measures. This contribution collects an experience recently conducted, financed by the Ministry of University and Research, in one of the most prestigious Italian museums, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). The monitoring and modelling methodologies are illustrated, as well as the objectives of the intervention, with a view to a fruition that holds the psycho-physical well-being of staff and visitors and the conservation of heritage as close as possible. The results are closely linked to the pandemic experience, with the secondary objective of risk prevention for people and cultural heritage.

Improving Cultural Heritage conservation: LSTM neural networks to effectively processing end-user’s maintenance requests

Preventive conservation of cultural heritage can avoid or minimize future damage, deterioration, loss and consequently, any invasive intervention. Recently, Machine Learning methods were proposed to support preventive conservation and maintenance plans, based on their ability to predict the future state of the built heritage by collected data. Several data sources were used, such as structural data and images depicting the evolution of the deterioration state, but till now textual information, exchanged by people living or working in historical buildings to require maintenance interventions, was not used to support conservation programmes. This work proposes a method to support preventive conservation programs based on the analysis of data collected into CMMS (computer maintenance management software). In a Cultural Heritage building in Italy, hosting a University Campus, data about end-user’s maintenance requests collected for 34 months were analysed, and LSTM neural networks were trained to predict the category of each request. Results show a prediction accuracy of 96.6%, thus demonstrating the potentialities of this approach in dynamically adapting the maintenance program to emerging issues.

Improving Cultural Heritage conservation: LSTM neural networks to effectively processing end-user’s maintenance requests

Preventive conservation of cultural heritage can avoid or minimize future damage, deterioration, loss and consequently, any invasive intervention. Recently, Machine Learning methods were proposed to support preventive conservation and maintenance plans, based on their ability to predict the future state of the built heritage by collected data. Several data sources were used, such as structural data and images depicting the evolution of the deterioration state, but till now textual information, exchanged by people living or working in historical buildings to require maintenance interventions, was not used to support conservation programmes. This work proposes a method to support preventive conservation programs based on the analysis of data collected into CMMS (computer maintenance management software). In a Cultural Heritage building in Italy, hosting a University Campus, data about end-user’s maintenance requests collected for 34 months were analysed, and LSTM neural networks were trained to predict the category of each request. Results show a prediction accuracy of 96.6%, thus demonstrating the potentialities of this approach in dynamically adapting the maintenance program to emerging issues.

Environmentally friendly ZnO/Castor oil polyurethane composites for the gas-phase adsorption of acetic acid

HypothesisAcetic acid, a common pollutant present in museums and art galleries, can irreversibly damage works of art. Herein, a sustainable and scalable synthesis of zinc oxide-castor oil polyurethane hybrids (ZnO/COPs), to be used as acetic acid removers in the preventive conservation of Cultural Heritage, is reported. ExperimentsThe adsorption capacities of ZnO/COPs were studied in saturated acetic acid atmosphere, at low acetic acid gas concentration, and inside a wooden crate (naturally emitting acetic acid) representative of those used in the storage deposits of museums and art collections. FindingsUpon exposure, acetic acid interacts with the castor oil polyurethane and diffuses to the surface of ZnO particles where is stably fixed as zinc acetate crystals. Zinc acetate domains form homogeneously on the surface and are distributed evenly within the ZnO/COPs, thanks to weak interactions between the polyurethane matrix and acetic acid that favour the transport of the acid up to reach the zinc oxide surfaces, resulting in a synergistic effect. The ZnO/COPs composites showed significantly enhanced adsorption capacities of acetic acid surpassing those of the activated carbon benchmark, with the advantage of being easily handled and movable, without the health issues and risks associated to the use of non-confined micro/nano-powders.

Assessment of the Robustness of a Color Monitoring Chart Calibration Method for Crowdsourcing-Based Preventive Conservation

Monitoring environmental factors such as pollutants, relative humidity, light, etc. is needed to ensure a proper preventive conservation of cultural heritage. Since existing systems are expensive and difficult to maintain, we propose as a sustainable alternative the use crowdsourced photographs taken by visitors using their cell phones. These images of a tailor made panel, including sensitive materials and a calibration color chart, are calibrated and colorimetric information extracted from them. The aim of this paper is assessing the robustness of the color chart and the calibration method used, and evaluating how the ageing of the materials of the chart can affect the accuracy of the calibration process. A choice is made between four candidate materials and a set of industrial inks. Several tests have been performed and mathematical metrics extracted, so the most suitable material is adequately selected. It has been checked how the image calibration process, employed for homogenizing information from the crowdsourced pictures, performs with real-life materials and colors to assess the possible degradation that may happen. This work is a part of a bigger project with the aim of building a crowdsourcing-based monitoring system for preventive conservation of cultural heritage.

Development and Demonstration of an HBIM Framework for the Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage

ABSTRACT Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology is becoming widespread with many potential uses, such as facility and asset management for new buildings. Recently, it has also been applied for the maintenance of built heritage, within the so-called Historical BIM (HBIM) field. A BIM model, empowered by detailed embedded information, is an excellent tool to monitor and infer on the behaviour, performance and deterioration of heritage buildings, collecting and classifying diverse data that can co-exist in an asset model. However, three main issues must be tackled: lack of standardization, insufficient interoperability and inherent complexity of the information. It is essential to balance model’s geometrical and non-geometrical features, such as the level of detail accuracy and the quantity of linked information, to make the methodology cost-effective and hence more attractive for end-users. The present work focuses on the development of easy-to-implement strategy to report and monitor damage evolution over time. Standardization and simplification of the procedures are pursued by using Product Data Templates (PDTs) and focusing on interoperability of information through specific provisions of export/import definitions for Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The developed methodology is tested on the Ducal Palace in Guimarães, Portugal, one of the most prominent monuments of the country.

Determination of the technical suitability of shelters for archaeological sites using fuzzy logic

Abstract The fuzzy logic method has been applied to the area of Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Particularly, this system focuses for the first time on the evaluation of the technical suitability of shelters for the preservation of archaeological remains, taken into account the specific characteristics of each site. It has been corroborated that shelters, traditionally considered preventive conservation strategies, may introduce new decay factors into the site or that their level of protection may be insufficient. However, there is a lack of technical studies that could help site managers with the decision of sheltering. Fuzzy logic is a mathematical methodology capable of considering the uncertainty processes associated with a set of variables. This work has developed a fuzzy logic model which allows a systematic classification of shelters and their efficacy based on the design characteristics of the shelter itself and the environmental conditions inside and outside the cover. This novel method has been used to assess three different types of shelters, located in Malta, the United Kingdom and Spain, in order to determine which is the best option for the preservation of the remains. In this sense, it has been possible to conclude that semi-closed covers, with lateral claddings, present an optimal protection. These results are also closely associated with the aggressiveness of the climate where the archaeological sites are and the materiality of the heritage site. The proposed fuzzy system, which is able to model information with uncertainties degrees, should be regarded as a new support for the decision-making process in relation to shelters at archaeological sites in Europe.

Monitoring and Conservation plans for monumental stone buildings. The case study of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte in Pistoia

In preventive conservation of cultural heritage, regrettably, only a few concrete examples of conservation and maintenance plans for monumental assets are available. This is attributable both to the particularity of each case, which makes it difficult to draw up a standard conservation plan and to the difficulty of finding specific data to program the cyclicity of the interventions, which requires us to resort almost exclusively to continuous monitoring of monuments. On the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte in Pistoia, after a major restoration carried out on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2000, a series of conservation interventions on various fronts have been repeated from 2000 to today. This case was deemed particularly interesting precisely because of this peculiar palimpsest of documented interventions and has, therefore, become the subject of a doctoral research (conducted in collaboration between the University of Florence and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape), focused on the in situ evaluation of the durability of water-repellent treatments on stone. Starting from the results already obtained with the tests of 2108, and collected in the doctoral thesis, was organized a monitoring plan of water repellent treatments commonly used on white marble, serpentine and Tuscan grey sandstone. The monitoring data should thus merge into the assessments on which the Monument Conservation Plan is founded. This essay presents the choice of the monitoring plan, the designing of test points, the performed treatments, and the planning of the monitoring; it also shows the expected results and how datasets will converge into the drafting and management of the conservation plan. As a result, the study provides useful promptings for implementing a ‘final scientific report’ and a Conservation Plan and, in general, it deepens knowledge on preventive conservation and contributes to the systematization of data for real usefulness for the maintenance of monuments.

Investigation on the use of hygrothermal modelling for paper collections

Dynamic simulation is increasingly adopted in the preventive conservation of cultural heritage as an advanced method to investigate strategies for mitigating the climate-induced degradation. The conservation of paper collections is strongly interrelated with the relative humidity of the air, as organic-hygroscopic materials act as buffers on relative humidity fluctuations while being vulnerable to moisture-induced damage. In the dynamic simulation of the microclimate within library and archival storage facilities, it is thus fundamental to include the hygrothermal interaction between the building and its hygroscopic content. The hygroscopic behaviour of paper collections can be modelled by hygrothermal tools such as those of the HAM-family (Heat, Air and Moisture), used to simulate simultaneous heat and mass transfers through porous envelope materials. This research aims at investigating the use of the HMWall model coupled with the software IDA ICE (Indoor Climate and Energy) to simulate of the 1-D heat and moisture transfer through a single wall made of paper. A literature survey was carried out to collect the available hygrothermal properties of modern and historical papers. Sensitivity analysis was used to identify the most relevant hygrothermal parameters in the simulation of moisture gradients across the paper wall. Moreover, the number of sub-layers in the paper wall model was found to significantly affect the internal distribution of moisture gradients. The use of the HMWall model was then tested in the simulation of the hygroscopic behaviour of a single paper wall in both steady-state and transient conditions. Finally, a simplified model able to preserve the accuracy of the results was proposed with the purpose of reducing the computation effort that a high-resolution model could involve if implemented in whole buildings. This study represents the first step towards the application of the HMWall model for the simulation of the indoor climate of library repositories.

The Alhambra master plan (2007-2020) as a strategic model of preventive conservation of cultural heritage

<p>The preventive conservation of cultural assets involves a strategy to analyse and control the factors which cause their deterioration. The main aim is to guarantee their stability and the sustainable maintenance. The Alhambra and Generalife Site has been exposed to numerous risk factors over time which have left their mark on its fabric. On some occasions these have had serious effects which now present significant challenges for the comprehensive conservation of assets at the Site. During the twentieth century the Alhambra became a preserve for which a set of conservation and maintenance plans were developed, the first of which was the Special Protection and Interior Reform Plan for the Alhambra and Alijares (1987). Subsequently, the current Alhambra Master Plan (2007-2020) was instigated.</p><p>This paper examines the plan´s innovative methodological approach and its proposals regarding preventive conservation in circumstances under which its location precipitates natural and anthropic risks, and which are specific to its history and physical condition, its fragile materials and increased pressures on it from mass tourism.</p>

Astronomical collections in Observatories: promoting preventive conservation

AbstractThe practice of preventive conservation of cultural heritage consists of “all measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimizing future deterioration or loss” of it (ICOM-CC, 2008). Unlike conservation treatments, preventive conservation deals with entire collections and their surrounding environment. It is known that exposing historical objects to the environment has a significant impact on their degradation process. Studying and managing risk factors is an indispensable practice within the management policies of any cultural institution. The National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) holds some valuable historical collections, heritage derived from the Italian contribution to astronomy over the centuries. The management and protection of these collections faces many challenges. A preventive conservation plan, aimed at assessing and managing risks that threaten the collections, may offer many long-term benefits, allowing us to use available resources in the best possible way. In the past few years INAF-Astronomical Observatory “G.S.Vaiana” of Palermo has been working on the development of preventive conservation projects for its archival, bibliographic and scientific heritage. The present contribution reports on these ongoing experiences and intends to stimulate a discussion within the scientific community in order to individuate the problems we are called to respond to in Astronomical Observatories.

A Digital-based Integrated Methodology for the Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage: The Experience of HeritageCare Project

ABSTRACT A sustainable conservation strategy for cultural heritage protection is not feasible without a systematic documentation, registration and management of the information. The adoption of integrated inspection protocols and regular tracking processes, based on standardized procedures and uniform criteria, are the basis to successfully replace actual curative strategies with proactive conservation approaches. The opportunities brought by the digital tools can offer tremendous advantages in this regard. This paper explores the leading role that digitization is assuming in the context of heritage conservation through the experience of the HeritageCare project — Monitoring and preventive conservation of historic and cultural heritage” (SOE1/P5/P0258). The project has developed a digital-based integrated methodology aimed at providing enhanced tools and services to properly document cultural heritage buildings and engage directly owners in the conservation process of their legacy. The structured digital workflow on which the HeritageCare protocol relies is described in detail, encompassing different levels of information. Finally, the full application of the protocol is presented with reference to one of the most emblematic case studies of the project, the Ducal Palace of Guimarães, Portugal.

Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage: Biodeteriogens Control by Aerobiological Monitoring.

Artefact conditions need to be continuously monitored to avoid degradation effects naturally caused by time and public exploitation in order to increase the value of cultural assets. In this way, the atmospheric analysis of both biological and chemical pollutants potentially present inside conservation environments represents valid support for the adoption of preventive conservation actions by evaluating periodically the presence of risk for the same artefacts. The aim of the present study was to analyze the fungal particles, potentially biodeteriogen, through aerobiological volumetric monitoring, particularly inside valuable historical, artistic, and cultural sites. Different exposition and conservation typologies of the artefacts with different flows of visitors were considered. The applied methodologies have furnished a reliable description of biological air pollution due to the presence of fungal spores—moreover, they have allowed for the prevention of risk situations and the measurement of their evolution in order to limit degradation processes. Through aerobiological monitoring, it was possible to provide important indications for interventions of prevention, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage in indoor environments.

Aerobiology applied to the preventive conservation of cultural heritage

This work aims to provide an historical overview on aerobiology applied to the preventive conservation of cultural heritage. Bioaerosol represents a potential risk to cultural artifacts since in favorable nutritional and microclimatic conditions the settled biological particulate matter can develop and grow, thus triggering the biodeterioration. Aerobiology has become an important discipline for developing prevention and control strategies for the biological deterioration of cultural heritage. The most used equipment and methods for sampling in both indoor and outdoor environments (passive-sedimentation plates and active impactor for air, contact plates and membranes for surfaces) will be described. The aerobiological monitoring, always combined with microclimatic monitoring, along with information on the artifact and its conservation status, allows to defining situations of potential biologic risk. All the information and data gathered create the baseline for setting up management protocols, defining tailored corrective strategies aimed at preventing damage to cultural heritage and reducing risks to the health of operators and users. New perspectives for this discipline could arise thanks to (a) the development of user-friendly technologies and instrumentations for aerobiological monitoring and sampling of surfaces; (b) the definition of threshold levels of biological risk to the different types of cultural heritage; (c) the creation of a card of “biodeterioration risk” (international database).

An energy-efficient internet of things (IoT) architecture for preventive conservation of cultural heritage

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can facilitate the preventive conservation of cultural heritage (CH) by enabling the management of data collected from electronic sensors. This work presents an IoT architecture for this purpose. Firstly, we discuss the requirements from the artwork standpoint, data acquisition, cloud processing and data visualization to the end user. The results presented in this work focuses on the most critical aspect of the architecture, which are the sensor nodes. We designed a solution based on LoRa and Sigfox technologies to produce the minimum impact in the artwork, achieving a lifespan of more than 10 years. The solution will be capable of scaling the processing and storage resources, deployed either in a public or on-premise cloud, embedding complex predictive models. This combination of technologies can cope with different types of cultural heritage environments.

Experimental ultrasonic characterization of polyester-based materials for cultural heritage applications

For several years, the Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand-Palais has produced polyester resin reproductions in order to replace marble sculptures that have weakened by outdoor exposure. These objects are made of a complex multilayered polyester composite material including reinforcements to ensure the mechanical strength of the final structure and mineral fillers that allow to imitate the original aesthetics. However, the final structure also weakens because of constant outdoor exposure and ageing. This observation leads today to conduct research related to the structural health monitoring of reproductions for preventive conservation of cultural heritage. This paper presents a nondestructive technique to study the properties of the composite material used to produce reproductions of marble sculptures. Firstly, classical ultrasonic contact measurements were performed to estimate bulk properties and Rayleigh wave velocity. Secondly, experimental Rayleigh wave was measured using contact and laser vibrometry methods. The results show the potential of using ultrasonic surface wave propagation and laser vibrometry method to develop a minimum contact technique to study these polyester-based materials. The maximum relative uncertainty with respect to the expected theoretical Rayleigh wave velocity was close to 12%.

Vulnerability Index: A New Approach for Preventive Conservation of Monuments

ABSTRACTA new approach is developed for vulnerability analysis of monuments based on a matrix model and the relationships with static and structural factors, climatic conditions, air quality, urban planning and social agents for preventive conservation of cultural heritage in urban centers.The objective is to provide tools for decision-makers in the current recession to allow them to prioritize strategies for cultural heritage preservation in a town, where territorial policies are applied and regions where restoration budget is distributed. This new tool allows to classify monuments in order to prioritize restoration and is useful in deeper analysis associated to risks assessment.The degradation of building materials and structures is mainly due to deterioration caused by structural instability, weathering, pollution, and anthropogenic damage. The vulnerability approach of each monument (vulnerability indexes) was calculated, based on a Leopold matrix that depends on intrinsic variables and the life of the monuments. For the very first time, the influence of different deterioration agents has been balanced with a Delphi forecast based on architects’ opinions.The result is a new pre-Artificial Intelligence tool that enables users to reproduce human reasoning to study relations between vulnerability factors, risk factors, and the historical parameters of the monuments.

Effect of water vapour condensation on the radon content in subsurface air in a hypogeal inactive-volcanic environment in Galdar cave, Spain

Fluctuations of trace gas activity as a response to variations in weather and microclimate conditions were monitored over a year in a shallow volcanic cave (Painted Cave, Galdar, Canary Islands, Spain). 222Rn concentration was used due to its greater sensitivity to hygrothermal variations than CO2 concentration. Radon concentration in the cave increases as effective vapour condensation within the porous system of the rock surfaces inside the cave increases due to humidity levels of more than 70%. Condensed water content in pores was assessed and linked to a reduction in the direct passage of trace gases. Fluctuations in radon activity as a response to variations in weather and microclimate conditions were statistically identified by clustering entropy changes on the radon signal and parameterised to predict radon concentration anomalies. This raises important implications for other research fields, including the surveillance of shallow volcanic and seismic activity, preventive conservation of cultural heritage in indoor spaces, indoor air quality control and studies to improve understanding of the role of subterranean terrestrial ecosystems as reservoirs and/or temporary sources of trace gases.

Software for Storage and Management of Microclimatic Data for Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage preventive conservation requires the monitoring of the parameters involved in the process of deterioration of artworks. Thus, both long-term monitoring of the environmental parameters as well as further analysis of the recorded data are necessary. The long-term monitoring at frequencies higher than 1 data point/day generates large volumes of data that are difficult to store, manage and analyze. This paper presents software which uses a free open source database engine that allows managing and interacting with huge amounts of data from environmental monitoring of cultural heritage sites. It is of simple operation and offers multiple capabilities, such as detection of anomalous data, inquiries, graph plotting and mean trajectories. It is also possible to export the data to a spreadsheet for analyses with more advanced statistical methods (principal component analysis, ANOVA, linear regression, etc.). This paper also deals with a practical application developed for the Renaissance frescoes of the Cathedral of Valencia. The results suggest infiltration of rainwater in the vault and weekly relative humidity changes related with the religious service schedules.