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Advanced Technologies in Architectural Heritage Protection

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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 December 2022) | Viewed by 11982

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Roxana Radvan

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Guest Editor

Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 409 Atomistilor St. Magurele, Ilfov county, Romania
Interests: heritage science; restoration; conservation; optoelectronics; cultural heritage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The role of scientific research in the conservation and restoration of the built heritage is unquestionable. There, more than in other areas, we have evident and mandatory multidisciplinary contribution. The intelligent choice of the methods for analysis and diagnosis, the advantages of remote operation, the elimination of sampling and consumption of original material, and the characterization of the impact of environmental and microclimate factors in relation to the architectural features and even urban planning are topical issues in applicative research.

Identifying vulnerabilities of cultural assets and highlighting risk factors and dynamics of material behavior lie at the foundation of strategy development for good conservation, as well as for the prediction of behaviors or for the simulation and analysis of interventions.

The publication invites contributions that should reflect the most advanced concerns regarding the materials used in restoration, both traditional and new ones, and aspects related to the compatibility and behavior of materials in time. Mural paintings, decorative art in all its forms, polychromy, the particularities related to the organic or inorganic nature of materials, and the microclimate conditions are topics of interest.

The intelligent choice of analysis and diagnosis methods, the remote operation, the elimination of original material sampling, and the non-contact and non-invasive characterization of materials and multilayer structures, of fragile surfaces, and of accelerated degradations are also topics of interest.

The use of 3D digital models which include data delivered by complementary, imagistic, spectral, etc. methods are very important thanks to a better understanding of the problem.

The journal calls for the submission of relevant case studies directly linked to the application of new principles of investigation, with new methods, setups, and instruments. The validation of scientific research solutions through case studies is a valuable certification.

Dr. Roxana Radvan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

historical monuments
archaeological sites
in situ assessment
surface characterization
risk management
environmental impact
microstructural decay
material authenticity
materials compatibility
polymer-composites
graffiti removal
preservation strategies
3D documentation/digital heritage

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 5257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Analytical Investigations of the Medieval Turkish Bath from Golești Open Air Museum

by Monica Dinu, Lucian Cristian Ratoiu, Camelia Călin and Gerard Călin

Buildings 2023, 13(2), 321; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13020321 - 21 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1624

Abstract

The Golești Manor ensemble consists of architectural monuments dating back to the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, with ephemeral architecture roots from Phanariot times but also some pre- Brancovan influences. The Turkish steam bath is placed in the northeast of the enclosure, and it is thought to have been built by Stroe Leurdeanu. Although there are still original fragments of the old plaster that have been preserved, the Turkish bath has undergone several restorations through time, some of them poorly documented. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with LIBS were used in order to analyze the bricks and the mortars, evaluate their preservation state, map the original elements, and document and classify the interventions previously made. Based on the supervised classifications, several areas of interest were selected for LIBS elemental analysis, and multivariate data analysis was conducted in order to discriminate similar composition materials and to map the interventions and the original. By analyzing the variability of the spectral profiles, different algorithms were applied to the SWIR hyperspectral images in order to classify the main elements of the brickwork. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Architectural Heritage Protection)

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Graphical abstract

19 pages, 6281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Image Classification and Retrieval Using Deep Learning with Attention Mechanism on Diaspora Chinese Architectural Heritage in Jiangmen, China

by Le Gao, Yanqing Wu, Tian Yang, Xin Zhang, Zhiqiang Zeng, Chak Kwan Dickson Chan and Weihui Chen

Buildings 2023, 13(2), 275; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13020275 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2000

Abstract

The study of the architectural heritage of the Chinese diaspora has an important role and significance in China’s historical and cultural background in the preservation of cultural data, the restoration of images, and in the analysis of human social and ideological conditions. The images from the architectural heritage of the Chinese diaspora usually include frescos, decorative patterns, chandelier base patterns, various architectural styles and other major types of architecture. Images of the architectural heritage of the Chinese diaspora in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, China are the research object of this study. A total of 5073 images of diaspora Chinese buildings in 64 villages and 16 towns were collected. In view of the fact that different types of image vary greatly in features while there are only small differences among the features of the same type of image, this study uses the depth learning method to design the Convolutional Neural Network Attention Retrieval Framework (CNNAR Framework). This approach can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, the transfer learning method is used to classify the image in question by transferring the trained parameters of the Paris500K datasets image source network to the target network for training, and thus the classified image is obtained. The advantage of this method is that it narrows the retrieval range of the target image. In the second stage, the fusion attention mechanism is used to extract the features of the images that have been classified, and the distance between similar images of the same type is reduced by loss of contrast. When we retrieve images, we can use the features extracted in the second stage to measure the similarities among them and return the retrieval results. The results show that the classification accuracy of the proposed method reaches 98.3% in the heritage image datasets of the JMI Chinese diaspora architectures. The mean Average Precision (mAP) of the proposed algorithm can reach 76.6%, which is better than several mainstream model algorithms. At the same time, the image results retrieved by the algorithm in this paper are very similar to those of the query image. In addition, the CNNAR retrieval framework proposed in this paper achieves accuracies of 71.8% and 72.5% on the public data sets Paris500K and Corel5K, respectively, which can be greatly generalized and can, therefore, also be effectively applied to other topics datasets. The JMI architectural heritage image database constructed in this study, which is rich in cultural connotations of diaspora Chinese homeland life, can provide strong and reliable data support for the follow-up study of the zeitgeist of the culture reflected in architecture and the integration of Chinese and Western aesthetics. At the same time, through the rapid identification, classification, and retrieval of precious architectural images stored in the database, similar target images can be retrieved reasonably and accurately; then, accurate techniques can be provided to restore old and damaged products of an architectural heritage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Architectural Heritage Protection)

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18 pages, 5491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Historical and Physicochemical Analysis of the Clinker Bricks in the Smart Memorial Gymnasium of the Tiancizhuang Campus at Soochow University, China

by Shiruo Wang, Jiao Gao, Xiaomu Wang, Dan Wu, Yiting Pan and Minmin Xu

Buildings 2023, 13(1), 161; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13010161 - 08 Jan 2023

Viewed by 2070

Abstract

Clinker bricks were popular as a facade material in the United States between the 1890s and the 1930s. However, this material was unknown to Chinese builders and was seldom found in Chinese modern architecture from 1840 to 1949. The Smart Memorial Gymnasium built in the years 1934–1937 in the Tiancizhuang Campus of Soochow University (Suzhou, China) is one of the rare examples of a building featuring clinker bricks in modern China. Notably, those clinker bricks were not imported but locally manufactured. Despite the heritage significance of the Smart Memorial Gymnasium as part of a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level in China, the history and characteristics of those historical bricks have remained virtually unexplored. This study first provides a historical analysis of those bricks, giving insights into the general knowledge of this construction material around that time based on British and American historical sources from the 19th and 20th centuries, with a focus on historical treaties and documents. This analysis sheds light on the raw materials mixtures of clinker bricks, their manufacturing processes, and their architectural applications at the time. Moreover, this study presents a physicochemical analysis of the clinker bricks employed at Soochow University, focusing on the correlation between historical studies and physicochemical characteristics, as well as the materials’ characteristics that respond to the natural environment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and total immersion tests were employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of the bricks at various locations of the Smart Memorial Gymnasium facades. Our findings deepen the knowledge and understanding of clinker bricks transferred from the West to China in the early 20th century. Additionally, our results reveal the chemical composition and physical characteristics of different types of clinker bricks used in the Smart Memorial Gymnasium, outlining practical implications and future research directions. Overall, this study lays a foundation for the heritage recognition and conservation of Chinese clinker bricks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Architectural Heritage Protection)

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21 pages, 4268 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Architectural Survey, Diagnostic, and Constructive Analysis Strategies for Monumental Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Management of Tourism

by Adela Rueda Márquez de la Plata, Pablo Alejandro Cruz Franco and Jorge Alberto Ramos Sánchez

Buildings 2022, 12(8), 1156; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12081156 - 03 Aug 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2724

Abstract

Heritage is under constant pressure to be adapted for tourism. The aim of this research was to improve the performance of both the tourism sector and the cultural heritage sector in a balanced and sustainable way, by considering the principles of conservation and preservation. Non-invasive tools such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and even virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies have been used to develop new methodologies, allowing us to generate new experiences and heritage tourist attractions, which not only do not generate negative impacts on the monuments themselves, but also promote their preservation without diminishing the cultural and tourist offers of the city. A case study was carried out on Mérida, a UNESCO World Heritage City, where tourism is a strong economic engine of the city. The results obtained are two-fold: on one hand, an effective interdisciplinary working methodology for heritage management was developed, and on the other hand, new approaches for the sustainable development of cultural tourism were generated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Architectural Heritage Protection)

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21 pages, 8981 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Structural Use of Recycled Aggregate Concrete for Renovation of Massive External Walls of Czech Fortification

by Tereza Pavlu, Jiří Pazderka, Kristina Fořtová, Jakub Řepka, Diana Mariaková and Tomáš Vlach

Buildings 2022, 12(5), 671; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12050671 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1966

Abstract

The use of recycled aggregate concrete is mainly negatively affected by its poorer mechanical and long-term properties. However, there are few structural applications for which recycled aggregates can be used. In this case study, the possibility of use as massive external reinforcement wall is verified. For this structural application, the most important characteristics are freeze–thaw resistance, and carbonation resistance and then the mechanical properties such as compressive strength. Durability characteristics of the materials have been tested and improved in the study. The mechanical properties and durability of recycled aggregated concrete have been verified and crystalline mixture has been used to improve durability. The specific structural application of the massive external reinforcement wall is for the renovation of the Czech WW2 concrete fortification, which is one of the most important cultural heritages of the Czech Republic of the 20th century. However, these buildings have not yet been professionally rebuilt, but this research project aims to change this trend. The thickness of the bunker wall is between 0.5 and 3.5 m (depending on the type of bunker) which leads to a huge amount of concrete and primary resources consumption; however, the security function is not necessary today, so the reconstruction could be provided by recycled aggregate concrete. The results showed a positive effect of the crystalline mixture on the essential properties of recycled aggregate concrete. Recycled aggregate concrete with a complete replacement of aggregate by recycled concrete or masonry aggregate is possible to use for the reconstruction of the Czech WW2 concrete fortification and save natural aggregate as a primary resource. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Architectural Heritage Protection)

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