Thermography and spectroradiometry applications in the study of the deterioration of our national architectural heritage

Abstract

It is well known the problems in ancient monumental buildings caused by atmospheric agents. Besides of natural causes, the rise in the atmospheric contamination levels has played an important role in the deterioration of the stones of our national heritage art. Regrettably the partial scientific knowledge of the causes that produced the called "stone disease", has taken to inappropriate restorations that far from solving the problem, they have increased the deterioration process. The need of finding quick and efficient diagnostic methods, specially non-destructive analysis techniques, has originated the use of Infrared Thermography and Spectroradiometry as support tools in the study of the deterioration of monumental stones. The first results are presented in this work.