The campaign announced by the research group of investigations for Cultural Heritage from INOE is underway in Spain, in collaboration with UPO - Universidad Pablo de Olavide, IVCr - Instituto Valenciano de Conservacion y Restauracion, and IAPH - Instituto Andaluz de Patrimonio Historico.  The program is extremely busy, but very good and rich in useful information for Romanian researchers, for the Spanish researchers and also for the restorers.

The first stop was at the Mosque of Cordoba. Investigations were conducted and will provide information that lacked both restorers and art historians. There were performed foundation scans and analysis for complex mosaic materials and the control of consolidation degree was performed by Laser Doppler Vibrometer

Ceramics tiles inside the mosque of Cordoba were investigated by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) which was performed with a portable spectrometer to analyze and compare ceramic pigments used during the initial and historic restorations.

Elemental analysis was complemented by analysis at the molecular level using infrared spectroscopic techniques. For the first time it was tested a fiber-based system that allows spectral analysis in situ without sampling. The information was provided by the spectral response of the surface layers. Data were recorded for a detailed characterization of materials used in paintings and to determine restoration interventions that took place over time.

The campaign continued in Seville where the team worked with an appreciated efficiency by the collaborators in all five churches from XIII-XV centuries (Omnium Sanctorum, San Roman, San Julien, Santa Marina, San Marco) and in the baroque church of Santa Magdalena (seventeenth century). They all were located in the historic center of Seville.

Also a part of the team responded to the archeologists invitation to perform geo-radar investigations in the archaeological site of Italica.

A short balance sheet of the first working day in the two sites shows that we will get precise photogrammetric models for surfaces with outstanding problems ( surfaces with glazes and other strong reflectant materials ) like Mosaic ( for its model, they purchased 49.3 GB of basic photography) and Cordoba dome (644 frames racking up 11.3 GB date).

An important research topic for Romanian investigators and for those from Seville for helping refining the research method covers comparative analysis of foundations and humidity in the building for the all 4 churches placed in an area restricted to a few square kilometers. With much larger and other technical data starting in investigations, the church of Santa Magdalena requires a large number of analyzes among those which must corroborate and interpreted by the teams. This is the monument which we want to dedicate its own campaign in which we will have the honor to work for its heritage overwhelming importance - old ceramics, paintings by Zurbaran and other precious decorative elements.

The activity in the church of Santa Magdalena from this year was focused on establishing conditions for Doppler control, evaluation of working parameters for a large photogrammetry project and a consistent number of spectroscopic determinations in areas with polychrome murals.

On Wednesday, 12/10/2016, we will shift to Morella - Castellon de la Plana, near Valencia, where we will have an interesting challenge and they are eagerly waiting for us. We will do investigations outside a historical facades for the first time in Spain. We will acquire data using a drone specific sensor - thermographic analysis, multispectral, photography and Lidar.

More informations on:

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