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The greatest factor that threatens the integrity of stone monuments, which are the shared heritage of humanity, is the effects of weathering. This process causes different forms and degrees of deterioration, sometimes in the internal structure of the building stones (crack formation from stress or gap structures after weathering) and sometimes on the visible surface. The accurate definition of the origins, types, and levels of weathering influences and classifications to be created can prevent erroneous intervention in conservation practices. This study creates an integrated weathering classification (IWC) to identify the levels of weathering that are and/or are not seen with the naked eye in building stones. For this purpose, two different weathering classifications are produced with visual analysis and P-wave velocity data, which are methods of non-destructive examination that have been frequently used, particularly in recent years. The IWC is created with the help of the Mamdani fuzzy inference system, which facilitates collective evaluation by eliminating the definitive boundary limits in these classifications. The recommended model is tested at the Ates Baz-i Veli Mausoleum. Among the 146 block stones in the structure, 91 were in the “very slight” weathering category, 72 were in the “slight” category, 32 were in the “high” category, and six were in the “very high” category. This IWC is presented as an innovative methodology that can produce swift and repeatable results without damaging monuments and serve as an integrated approach in the weathering classification of building stones (internal and external levels of weathering).

This work describes the integrated multidisciplinary approach taken in the study of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum. Measurements of temperature, relative humidity (RH) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were analysed and cross-compared to identify common trends. In the process, the environmental variables were treated as passive transport scalars in order to identify flow patterns. Subsequently, the measurements were used to set up a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of the site. Comparisons between simulated results and measured data allowed not only the identification of the limits of the simulations but also revealed flow patterns that would be hard to recognise otherwise.

This paper reports the conservation procedure applied to a wooden sculpture representing Saint Joseph attributed to the workshop of Ignaz Gunther (1727–1775). The component material of the wooden sculpture was identified by observing the thin sections under an optical microscope; the materials layered on the surface were analyzed by optical microscopy, micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The laser cleaning tests were carried out with a Q-switched Nd:YAG system. The surface was examined before and after the cleaning with the aid of a video-microscope, reflectance spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscopy. The steps of the work were documented on a digital tri-dimensional model of the sculpture created by a close range image system in order to carefully register scientific, technical, conservative, and material aspects. The microscopic observation of wood thin sections allows identifying it as lime tree. The analysis of the surface materials highlighted the presence of lead white applied by a siccative oil and barium sulphate. The infrared spectroscopic analysis of the brown surface layer revealed the presence of shellac. The laser cleaning proved an effective method to remove the surface dirt and to reduce the aged protective layer without affecting negatively the wood. The diagnostic analysis carried out prior and during the cleaning process was fundamental to verify the applicability of the laser to the wood surface in order to obtain an efficient cleaning action without secondary damaging effects. In addition, considering the reduced number of laser cleaning examples applied to wooden material available in literature, the documentation of the adopted working process could be a useful reference for the divulgation and sharing of the obtained data.

The painting "Madonna with Child", attributed to Pietro Lorenzetti (14th century) and reworked around the middle of the 16th century, was studied by several techniques in order to characterize the materials used in the original and in the repainted areas. FORS, light microscopy, ESEM-EDX, ToF-SIMS and GC-MS were used. Red ochre and raw sienna earth were identified by FORS in the original parts of the painting. On the repainted parts of the panel, cinnabar, ultramarine blue and lead white were found. By means of GC-MS and ToF-SIMS measurements it was possible to identify the organic binding media used in the preparatory and painted layers. © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS.

Taking into account the general suggestions and European standards in the field of education in conservation, at the Faculty of Architecture University of Belgrade in the recent years a series of students’ projects has been carried out in order to investigate possibilities of protection, presentation and utilisation of historic sites. The idea was to broaden the students’ knowledge and to educate them so that they could be able to solve complex issues while investigating, evaluating and renewing historic areas. This paper presents a one-semester work with students investigating renewal and modern utilisation potentials of the medieval Ottoman fortress Ram on the Danube bank (Serbia). The project empowered the students to be informed about: general methodology of the site condition valorisation; its character, significance and values; the destroyed buildings restoration and regeneration potentials; and 3D models implementation in assessing and comparing approaches to the protection and presentation. The historic and architectural analysis included several research stages of the origin and development of the fortress and data collection from various sources, archives and institutes. Conducting such research, the students were able to find out tangible and intangible characteristics and the basic architectural elements of the fortress and the surrounding buildings. Theory, investigation and education were complementary within the project, promoting an integrated approach in order to finding the most effective form of the historic site and its active inclusion in everyday life.

The need of inspecting a masterpiece of fine art without affecting it led to develop non destructive methods of investigation. In the field of art conservation, several diagnostic techniques are being widely used to inspect works of art, giving different but complementary results. The present work deals with two of these methods, reflectography and thermography, both techniques examining objects in the infrared spectrum but in different wavelength bands. Their integrated data potentially provide a powerful tool for mapping hidden features and alterations of artworks. This was confirmed during the inspections of a 13th century panel painting under restoration at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure laboratories (Florence, Italy). A graphical user interface was also designed to aid operators in the field of conservation dealing with the results of the two IR methods. Many options such as image adjustment, comparison, overlaying and transparency variation, in addition to thermographic elaborations, have been made available to users. Imaging data integration provides a multi-layered and multi-spectral representation of the painting that yields a comprehensive diagnosis confirms the anomalies individuation and reduces the ambiguities of information coming from a single diagnostic method.

This paper describes the use of integrated methods for the creation of three-dimensional models using laser scanning techniques, digital photogrammetry, 3D photomodelling and direct surveying. The three-dimensional models established using these methods constitute the basis for the construction of advanced information platform, able to represent the buildings under study with great accuracy at various scales, including both detailed elements and the monumental arrangement as a whole, as well as the textural features of the internal and external surfaces. The main aim of our studies is to enable the public to enjoy the results of archaeological and historical researches, via the web or stand-alone products, and to “virtually visit” the monuments using RealTime 3D visiting systems. As well as showing the current state of the monuments, the visit includes reconstructions of previous phases in their history and examples of virtual restorations of the wall paintings. All the textures were obtained by processes of photomodelling and were applied to the geometrical forms in accordance with the radiosity algorithm, with lights and shadows of the ‘area’ type. The result of this integrated approach is extremely life-like, almost indistinguishable from reality.

The most frequent dating methods of wooden artefacts are briefly introduced and discussed. Each of them shows merits and shortcomings. Therefore, an integrated approach of different techniques sometimes allows overcoming specific difficulties. The dating of a wooden support of a precious panel painting through a detailed xylological analysis and the joint use of dendrochronological and radiocarbon dating techniques is proposed. While any single dating technique demonstrated ineffective, the simultaneous use of several approaches in the study of the artefact led to excellent results in terms of both reliability and resolution, thus contributing to the inclusion of this painting in a specific historical period. On the basis of the performed dating, supported by the features of the panel and by a chemical-stratigraphic analysis of paint fragments, the artwork cannot be attributed to Cesare da Sesto.