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This article focuses on the problem of local communities’ awareness of heritage values in terms of urbanism, architecture, and construction and the traditions of place within a historic town. To study this problem, the authors conducted qualitative and quantitative research using the questionnaire method. They were carried out in the area of two selected small historic towns located in southern Poland in the Małopolska region: Muszyna and Piwniczna-Zdrój. Their aim was to determine the level of awareness of the cultural heritage values of both towns among their inhabitants. The results of the research are expected to identify areas of real educational needs in terms of the knowledge and a sense of value of local monuments. The authors believe that social participation and involvement of local communities is essential in the process of protecting and caring for monuments of indigenous cultural heritage.

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a multi-method approach for the restoration of a historic building (train station) in Poland. The project employed field investigations, laboratory analyses, and close-range photogrammetry to create a Historic Building Information Model (HBIM). This comprehensive data set informed the development of targeted conservation strategies that addressed the station's specific needs while respecting its historical significance. Interventions prioritized the use of locally sourced and sustainable materials, minimized the visual impact on the exterior, and achieved net-zero emissions through improvements to the building envelope and a switch to a heat pump heating system. Additionally, an intelligent monitoring system was implemented to continuously collect data on environmental conditions and structural displacement. These data will be used to develop a predictive model for future maintenance needs, allowing for a preventative approach to conservation and minimizing resource consumption. Overall, this project serves as a model for integrating advanced technologies in historical building conservation, promoting sustainable practices, and ensuring the longevity of irreplaceable cultural landmarks. The key findings derived from this approach encompass a comprehensive assessment of the station's condition, optimized conservation strategies, insights from HBIM modeling, and the ongoing benefits of the intelligent monitoring system. Field investigations revealed several areas of concern, such as structural cracks, material deterioration, moisture infiltration, and significant heat loss through the building envelope. This information was crucial for developing targeted conservation strategies. The use of internal thermal insulation systems, particularly capillary active mineral blocks, significantly improved thermal performance. Moisture management interventions, including the restoration of the rainwater drainage system and the application of moisture-proof insulation, reduced reliance on the municipal water supply. The intelligent monitoring system, with sensors measuring temperature, humidity, and structural displacement, plays a crucial role in ongoing conservation efforts. This system allows for continuous monitoring and the development of predictive models, ensuring targeted and preventative maintenance, reducing resource consumption, and extending the lifespan of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the role of photographic documentation in conservation efforts. Using the example of Islamic sites in Libya, historic inn buildings located in Ukraine and Poland, the centres of Polish historic cities destroyed during World War II, and the monuments of Ukraine destroyed during the period of "militant atheism," World War II, and the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, it is proven that often photographic documentation of objects becomes the main source of information about destroyed or damaged objects. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the value of photographic documentation for conservation and preservation efforts. The authors point out that it can also be used for eye-tracking studies of visual perception of conservation objects, both by local communities, i.e., nonprofessionals in the field of architecture, as well as perception by architects and conservators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the issue of researching one of Banksy's murals, which was created in the city of Borodyanka, Ukraine. This mural, like the artist's other works, carries a deeper message. This time it is a message related to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the authors note that the mural is a work of art and an important 'witness' for the local community to the tragic events in Borodyanka. In the current situation, where as a result of the war, the building substance is destroyed to a greater or lesser extent, it is important to consider how to protect, preserve, and restore works of street art, especially works as valuable as the Banksy mural under analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses issues related to operation of environment protection facilities in immediate vicinity of natural water reservoirs, including fresh water reservoirs, located above and below ground. The subject of this study is a municipal solid waste landfill located in southwestern Poland and its related facilities included in the technological processes of waste disposal, treatment, and recycling. The paper briefly discusses the construction process stage and the first stage of operation of the studied facility in respect of their future impact on the environment. At the present time, waste is used to obtain landfill gas for electricity generation and materials to be reincorporated or disposed of, i.e. construction debris (brick, concrete), structural steel, firewood, and plastics. The range of topics presented in the paper is in accord with the sustainable development tendency and the paper specifically focuses on potential hazards arising from presence and operation of facilities of this type (built at a time when environment protection regulations were less restrictive as to their location). Continuity and effectiveness of insulation membranes of landfills are important inasmuch as once such landfills are filled with waste and then closed and reclaimed at the final stage, it will be extremely difficult to identify sites of potential leaks of basins, whose expected lifespan is several decades or a few hundred years. If such leaks are found within this period, it will be necessary to remove reclamation layers and strongly thickened waste in order to reach them [12]. Then, new damage resulting from operation of heavy equipment might occur. Therefore, apart from standard protection solutions of landfills, additional warning systems should be applied for maximum elimination of environmental pollution hazards, the range of which can be supralocal or even supraregional. Such systems should precisely indicate the location of probable places of hazards. It is not about damage to facilities, including cells, but about safety of their surroundings. Due to the vastness of the topic referred to herein, the paper has been narrowed down to include only one issue, i.e. tightness of cells intended for non-hazardous and non-inert waste.

The main objective of this work is to present the results of seismic numerical investigation which was conducted for a masonry arch viaduct. The viaduct which was chosen as a case study, was subjected to foreshock-mainshock sequence. For the numerical evaluation a 3D finite element model (FEM) of the structure was assembled with the ABAQUS/Standard software program. In the numerical simulations a Barcelona Model (BM) was applied as a constitutive material model to represent nonlinear behaviour of the masonry arches of the investigated viaduct under the seismic actions. Taken into consideration the results of calculations the evident nonlinear behaviour of the masonry arches was detected under the earthquakes. The plastic strains as well as the cracking were achieved in some areas of the arches of the viaduct after seismic foreshock-mainshock sequence. Also proposed methodology for strengthening and monitoring of the structure of the viaduct in the future.

The article deals with the issue of restitution of destroyed architectural monuments that remains disputable. Based on compliance with the world practice of restitution that is recognized at the legislative level, an example of restitution of a unique object of Ukraine is described – St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv, destroyed in the period of the militant atheism of the 1930s. Specialists of the Ukrrestavratsiia Corporation completely reconstructed the volume of the destroyed St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral and St. Michael's bell tower. The work focuses on one of the aspects of the accomplished rehabilitation activities – state-of-the-art technologies for performing mural paintings that imitate ancient Rus frescoes and baroque mural paintings. Reproducing the image-bearing concept of mural painting was one of the most challenging tasks, taking into consideration that photographic materials and evidence of interior decoration were not sufficient on the one hand, and the fact that the cathedral and monastery are functional – on the other, that imparted its peculiarity and called for painting the murals using up-to-date durable painting technologies. For these reasons, instead of the sophisticated and less durable technique of the ancient Rus frescoes, mural painting was used in the image-bearing system of frescoes, but in the state-of-the-art techniques of Keim’s process or mineral painting. The possibilities of strengthening and monitoring cracked masonry structures that are the base of reconstructed frescoes are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents tests of the 18th-century timber structural ceiling, reinforced with steel plate girders at the beginning of the 20th century, over the baroque Leopoldinum Auditorium in the Main Building of Wroclaw University (Wrocław, Poland). The tests included: material tests of the timber and the steel, moisture content tests, resistographic tests, and static and dynamic tests of the structure. A conservation program based on the results of the tests has been proposed. The presented research is part of extensive investigations aimed at developing a reliable and comprehensive conservation program. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]