ELAICH - Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage. For more information and presentations, please visit: http://elaich.technion.ac.il/ To Monitor or not to Monitor, that is the question!

1. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Educational Toolkit
Teaching Material
Basic Course
Module 5 Monitoring and maintenance
Topic 5.1 To Monitor or not to Monitor, that is the question!
Prof. Guido Biscontin & Dr. Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice
Ca’

2. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
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©ELAICH Beneficiaries 2009-2012
This material is an integral part of the “ELAICH – educational toolkit” and developed as part of the
project ELAICH – Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage within the framework of
EuroMed Cultural Heritage 4 Programme under grant agreement ENPI 150583. All rights reserved to
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This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The
contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the ELAICH Consortium and can under no
circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

3. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Abstract The topic 5.1 introduces you to the concept of Monitoring as a fundamental
part of a conservation project.
Monitoring means to evaluate a series of parameters which can describe the
state of conservation of the artifacts. Of course, this evaluation has to be done
on restored artifacts as well, since it allows to control the efficiency of the
intervention over time.
From the theory to the practice?! It is necessary to know the behaviours of
different materials, to set the specific environmental conditions and to project
a Monitoring Plan over time. As a matter of fact, some processes are very
quick (for example the deposition of dust on the surfaces), some others are
slower (such as the chemical transformations due to acid rains). In this
context, it is crucial to define and select suitable parameters and easy methods
for monitoring over time not only the artifacts but also the stability and
efficiency of the products used during the conservation process.
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

4. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Content Table of contents of this presentation:
The meaning of Monitoring
Let’s compare the stability over time with and without
monitoring actions
Applications of monitoring actions
Monitoring actions linked to specific environments
Monitoring and preventive conservation
Pros of performing monitoring
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

5. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
You are often the witnesses of big restoration
campaigns: historical and famous monuments are
“cured” in order to conserve them as long as possible.
BEFORE
AFTER
BIG EVENT AT THE END OF RESTORATION ...AND THEN???
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

6. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
...AND THEN…
The example is too drastic ☺ …but it is very important to know what
happens to our Cultural Heritage also after the Conservation treatments!!
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

7. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Monitoring means…
... to overview and understand the kinetics of the stability of Cultural Heritage before
and after the Conservation process, repeating measurements over time
100%
Our body is like Cultural Heritage: after the
proper cure (Conservation process) we are
in a good state of health (good stability,
good state of conservation)
stability
No control (monitoring) and no further cure:
rapid decay
0%
time
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

8. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Monitoring means…
... to overview and understand the kinetics of the stability of Cultural Heritage before
and after the Conservation process, repeating measurements over time
100 If we monitor our state of health
% (that means to
perform,monitoring study,
analyis, etc.), less rapid decay
and more predictable trend
stability
0%
time
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

9. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Let’s compare the stability over time with and without monitoring
actions …
100
%
Monitoring: less rapid decay
and more predictable trend
stability
No control: rapid decay
0%
time
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

10. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Monitoring in the conservation of Cultural Heritage can be applied to all
architectural and decorative surfaces: stones, frescos, mosaics, etc.
Conservation of surfaces needs continuous actions because weathering processes often continue even
on restored surfaces. In recent years a sustainable conservation policy of Cultural Heritage is searched
and progressively frequent soft conservation works are preferred instead of an impressive one.
In this frame monitoring become a part of the conservation plan and of the intervention itself helping in
the choice of the most successful intervention.
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

11. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
The term “monitoring” in Cultural Heritage means not only checking the conservation state of
the artefact before, during and after the restoration process but finding the link with the
environment where is located, the degradation processes and the new and old products-
treatments. .
Monitoring
Environment Decay Treatments
Preventive Conservation
Architecture and decorative surfaces would in fact present different depending on the specific
environment:
• indoor- outdoor, The interventions and products would be
•urban- rural, different in order to obtain a successful
•marine, etc. intervention.
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

12. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Monitoring actions linked to specific environments:
• Indoor-outdoor Air humidity level,
sun exposition,
pollution, dust,
particles, etc.
• Urban-rural People, cars,
vibrations,
vegetations, etc.
• Marine, ect Venice – high salt level!!
Study material resistance to salts
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

13. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Monitoring the
conservation state and
products
CONSERVATIVE
MONITORING Follow over time the
PREVENTION
Cultural “heath” of the
heritage surfaces
(after Check the efficiency
consevation of the products
intervention)
Planned
MANAGEMENT interventions
AND USE
Good management of
money and resources
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

14. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
Pros in performing monitoring
application to all architectural and decorative surfaces: stones, frescos, mosaics, etc.
checking the conservation state of the artifact before, during and after the restoration
process
finding the link with the environment where is located, the degradation processes and the
new and old products-treatments
architecture and decorative surfaces would in fact present different depending on the
specific environment: indoor- outdoor, urban- rural, marine, etc.
interventions and products would be different in order to obtain a successful intervention
Monitoring aims to preventive conservations: wise management of money and of
resources
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

15. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
what how
…to monitor after the
conservation treatments?
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice

16. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
This presentation was done with the collaboration
between
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice: Prof. Guido Biscontin,
Prof. Elisabetta Zendri, M.Sc. Eleonora Balliana and Dr.
Francesca Caterina Izzo
Arcadia Ricerche Srl-Venice: Prof. Guido Driussi, M.Sc.
Zeno Morabito
Prof. Guido Biscontin&Dr.Francesca Caterina Izzo - University Ca’ Foscari of Venice