Multitemporal Thermal Imagery Acquisition and Data Processing on Historical Masonry: Experimental Application on a Case Study

The recent improvement of infrared image quality has increased the use thermography as a non-destructive diagnostic technique. Amongst other applications, can be used to monitor historic buildings. present work was carried out within framework Horizon 2020 European project SHELTER, which aims create management plan for cultural heritage subject environmental and anthropogenic risk. Among chosen case studies is Santa Croce Complex in Ravenna (Italy), exposed different hazards, including flooding. church peculiar architecture that develops below street level, so internal walls are affected by deterioration caused rising humidity. In such advanced degradation, passive cannot its full potential. For this reason, an innovative methodology involving active first developed validated with laboratory tests. Secondly, we conducted application real study. With purpose, survey forced ventilation enhance stages material degradation means automatic classification multitemporal data. These experiments have resulted method using thermal high moisture content environment detect masonry degradation.