3,671 research outputs found
In situ assessment of the stone conservation state by its water absorbing behaviour : a hands-on methodology
This paper describes the use of the water absorbing behaviour (WAB) for assessment of the conservation state of stone in situ. A test methodology, consisting of a combination of techniques for in situ measurement of the WAB, was applied in a case study on Lede stone, a sandy limestone, used in a medieval facade in Ghent, Belgium. The methods used were the contact sponge method (CSM), the Karsten tube (KT) and the droplet method (DM). Additionally, the residual hardness of the stone was measured by Schmidt hammer (SH). After careful selection of representative measuring points, a qualitative analysis of the stoneâs condition could be made, based on its WAB, residual hardness, reference data from laboratory experiments and thorough visual observations. From this analysis it could be concluded that CSM, KT and SH generated coherent and compatible results; that DM could indicate superficial alterations which were not necessarily representative for the subsuperficial WAB and that this methodology could give an insight on the conservation state, beyond visual observations, when combined with reference data
Ambienti umidi effimeri e naturalitĂ del paesaggio in Sicilia
This paper analyzes the relationship between vegetal communities conservation state and surrounding landscape naturalness. Expert-based assessment, based on phytosociological releves, has been used to define the qualitative condition of vegetal coenoses. Landscape naturalness has been assessed using Naturalness Evaluation Index (NEI).
Analysis showed strong correlation between landscape naturalness and assemblages conservation state. Ephemeral wetlands survival is tied to proper conservation of surrounding territory
Exposure-Tolerant Imaging Solution forCultural Heritage Monitoring
This paper describes a simple and cheap solution specifically designed for monitoring the degradation of thin coatings employed for metal protection. The proposed solution employs a commercial photocamera and a frequency-domain-based approach that is capable of highlighting the surface uniformity changes due to initial corrosion. Even though the proposed solution is specifically designed to monitor the long-time performance of protective coatings employed for the restoration of silver artifacts, it can be successfully used also for assessing the conservation state of other ancient metallic works of art. The proposed solution is made tolerant to exposure changes by using a procedure for sensor nonlinearity identification and correction, does not require a precise lighting control, and employs only free open-source software, so that its overall cost is very low and can be used also by not specifically trained operator
The fluvial forests in Andorra: characterisation, mapping and conservation state
Entre els anys 1999 i 2001 vĂ rem dur a terme un estudi exhaustiu de la flora i vegetaciĂł de les riberes dâAndorra. Lâobjectiu principal del projecte era conĂšixer el seu estat de conservaciĂł i quines eren les zones de major interĂšs, tant des del punt de vista florĂstic com ecolĂČgic. Per aixĂČ vĂ rem cartografiar les comunitats i formacions vegetals a una escala detallada, apta per a la gestiĂł del territori. A partir de 24 codis bĂ sics de vegetaciĂł vĂ rem obtenir un mapa amb 345 combinacions de codis diferents, a cadascuna de les quals es va assignar un nivell de qualitat o estat de conservaciĂł. Totes les dades es van integrar en un Sistema dâInformaciĂł GeogrĂ fica.
Entre els resultats destaca la detecciĂł dâonze tĂ xons nous per a la flora andorrana, que sĂłn: Bromus ramosus Huds subsp. ramosus, Crepis paludosa (L) Moench, Humulus lupulus L, Impatiens balfourii Hook, Luzula sylvatica (Huds) Gaud subsp. sylvatica, Lysimachia nemorum L, L. ephemerum L, Mentha suaveolens Ehrh, Sanicula europaea L, Silene dioica (L) Clairv i Thalictrum flavum L. En canvi, des del punt de vista de les comunitats vegetals existeix una bona correspondĂšncia amb aquelles descrites per a contrades pirinenques veĂŻnes. Les formacions vegetals mĂ©s singulars sĂłn les salzedes amb megafĂČrbies (Veratro-Salicetum bicoloris) i els poblaments altimontans de Salix cinerea i Betula sp. pl..
La vegetaciĂł de ribera actual ocupa una superfĂcie corresponent nomĂ©s a un 28,5 % del seu domini potencial, mentre que un 57 % de trams fluvials presenten un nivell dâalteraciĂł important. El corredor ripari del fons de les valls principals ha perdut la continuĂŻtat, mentre que als cursos dâaigua secundaris els boscos de ribera mantenen encara una gran naturalitat. Aquesta situaciĂł compromet de forma notable importants funcions ecolĂČgiques de les riberes, com ara la connectivitat ecolĂČgica o la laminaciĂł dâavingudes.
Per garantir la conservaciĂł de la biodiversitat i ecologia dels rius andorrans Ă©s necessari emprendre mesures de protecciĂł i gestiĂł de les riberes, les quals han de tenir en compte lâexistĂšncia de trams fluvials dâespecial interĂšs.Between 1999 and 2001 an exhaustive study of the flora and vegetation of fluvial habitats in Andorra was carried out. The principal aim of the survey was to analyse the state of conservation of these habitats and to identify areas of greatest interest, from both a floristic and an ecological standpoint. Thus, plant communities and formations were mapped in detail for use as a tool in territorial management. Using 24 basic vegetation codes, a map was produced with 345 combinations of different codes, and a degree of quality or state of conservation was assigned to each of which. All the data was integrated into a Geographical Information System.
Worth highlighting are the 11 taxa detected for the first time in Andorra: Bromus ramosus Huds subsp. ramosus, Crepis paludosa (L) Moench, Humulus lupulus L, Impatiens balfourii Hook, Luzula sylvatica (Huds) Gaud subsp. sylvatica, Lysimachia nemorum L, L. ephemerum L, Mentha suaveolens Ehrh, Sanicula europaea L, Silene dioica (L) Clairv. and Thalictrum flavum L. In general, however, in terms of the plant communities identified, we found a good correspondence with those described in neighbouring Pyrenean regions. The most singular plant formations were the mountain willow communities with forbs (Veratro-Salicetum bicoloris) and the high mountain populations of Salix cinerea and Betula sp. pl..
We calculated that fluvial vegetation only occupies 28.5 % of its potential surface area, whilst 57 % of rivers and streams showed important degrees of disturbance. The fluvial corridors of the valley bottoms are now very discontinuous, although those of secondary water courses are still largely intact. This situation affects the important ecological functions of riparian habitats, notably those concerning ecological connectivity and flood lamination.
In order to guarantee the conservation of the biodiversity and ecology of the water courses of Andorra measures must be undertaken to protect and manage fluvial habitats, taking into account the stretches of water-courses of greatest interest
Noninvasive Solution for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy on Metallic Works of Art
Metallic works of art of cultural relevance are continuously subjected to corrosion as the environment becomes increasingly polluted. A fast and simple method to in situ assess the conservation conditions is therefore required. This paper describes the development and performance of dry and gel-based electrodes which can be used to assess the surface conservation state without the need to move the artifacts and which do not cause any damage to them. The electrodes can be used with a portable electrochemical impedance spectroscopy system, without employing electrochemical cells. The proposed solution does not provide all the information that one can obtain using an electrochemical cell, but it can discriminate between protective coatings. It can be used to assess the protective capability of corrosion product layers and natural patinas, and it can therefore enable a noninvasive routine surface assessment to be conducted that could be extremely useful for people working in the field of conservation of cultural heritag
Los sabinares albares valencianos
Se estudian los sabinares albares meso y supramediterrĂĄneos valencianos, su distribuciĂłn, etapas seriales y estado de conservaciĂłn.A study of the valencian mesomediterranean and supramediterranean Juniperus thurifera forest, their distribution, their substitution stages and their conservation state
Integrated three-dimensional models for noninvasive monitoring and valorization of the Morgantina silver treasure (Sicily)
The Morgantina silver treasure belonging to the Archaeological Museum of Aidone (Sicily) was
involved in a three-dimensional (3-D) survey and diagnostics campaign for monitoring the collection over
time in anticipation of their temporary transfer to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for a period
of 4 years. Using a multidisciplinary approach, a scientific and methodological protocol based on noninvasive
techniques to achieve a complete and integrated knowledge of the precious items and their conservation state,
as well as to increase their valorization, has been developed. All acquired data, i.e., 3-D models, ultraviolet
fluorescence, x-ray images, and chemical information, will be made available, in an integrated way, within a
web-oriented platform, which will present an in-progress tool to deepen existing archaeological knowledge
and production technologies and to obtain referenced information of the conservation state before and after
moving of the collection from its exposure site
Distribuzione spaziale dei popolamenti a <i>Lithophyllum byssoides</i>, a <i>Patella ferruginea</i> e della frangia a <i>Cystoseira</i> sp. nell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena (Sardegna-Italia) = Spatial distribution of <i>Lithophyllum byssoides</i>, <i>Patella ferruginea</i> assemblage and <i>Cystoseira</i> sp. fringe in The Maddalena Archipelago (Sardinia-Italy)
A study on the distribution of Lithophyllum byssoides, Patella ferruginea and Cystoseira sp. fringe populations, has been carried out in the national Park of the La Maddalena archipelago. Those species has been protected from international conventions as rare species in danger of extinction. The results of the study shows a good conservation state of the examined islands
Strategies for building pathology reports in an urban rehabilitation process: Project of the Old City Centre of Coimbra
The increasing interest on architectural heritage associated to the recognised building value, at economic, social and cultural levels have stimulated, in the recent decades, the urban rehabilitation and renovation o several cities in Europe.
Despite the strategy or method adopted in a city renovation process, its efficiency depends mainly on: type of buildings (structural systems, construction techniques and materials); intervention level (singular buildings, groups of buildings, urban zones, etc.); and, project objective (risk assessment, decision making to support future rehabilitation projects, definition of council maintenance policies, etc.).
In what concerns large renovation programs of old city centres, choosing the most adequate approach for inspection, appraisal and diagnosis is a complex task that can determine the success or failure of the project purpose.
This paper describes the preparation phase of the inspection of 700 buildings located in the old city centre of Coimbra (Portugal), where a global renovation process is planned for the forthcoming years.
In the scope of the renovation and rehabilitation process, the city council contract a complete identification and inspection survey of the buildings, directed on three different domains: (a) architectural typologies, (b) constructive and pathological condition of buildings, and (c) socio-demographic characterisation, of this part of the city. It will be present the check-lists developed and some of the obtained results on point (b), related to roofing systems, and exterior façades.
This diagnosis procedure shows that the inspection results quality is quite dependent on the items surveyed for each construction element (roof, façade, internal members, installation efficiency), as well as on the possibility of their correlation for a single building. The adopted method has been applied on 70% of the buildings inspected within the project perimeter.
Further treatment of the inspection and appraisal data will allow the developing pathology reports and list repair actions, and estimating rehabilitation costs. It will also help to produce defect level diagrams and seismic building risk maps, but, most important, to improve and guide a renewal strategy and intervention methodology for old buildings
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