Weathering Damage Analysis and Monitoring

Several operative limitations are involved in the quantitative evaluation of damage processes. To plan an intervention, the assessment of the state of conservation appears incomplete without a realistic estimation. Stone and brick and above all sculptured surfaces and paintings need characterization, quantification, interpretation and rating of the weathering. In this field the use of non destructive techniques, including the monitoring of decay processes, are requested to evaluate the damage. The ICAW technique (Integrated Computerized Analysis of Weathering) covers entirely the most critical aspects of monuments conservation and allows to monitor the evolution in time of decay processes as well as efficiency and limits of recovery treatment. The technique is able to detect objectively the weathering forms and the relative “buried structures” to assess the rate of weathering and to classify the decayed material. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of damage can be expressed by “damage categories”; the relative maps, indeed, that can be obtained, depict: i) the weathering forms, ii) the intensity of surface damage, iii) the assessment of damage in depth. The ICAW methodology, extended to laser cleaning control and colorimetry, is employable to assess the effectiveness in time of conservation treatment and to plan maintenance intervention.