PETROGRAPHY OF URBAN AREAS

The main topic of the course is to supply adequate knowledge and ability in a) evaluate vulnerability of ancient masonry in urban areas; b) evaluate the conservation status of Cultural Heritages; c) acquire skills in conservation and protection methods finalised to minimize the risk in Cultural Heritage Science.

Knowledge and understanding

• Advanced knowledge of petrography and mineralogy of natural and artificial stone materials in the urban context.

• Understanding of degradation processes and the environmental factors that influence them.

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Application of petrographic and diagnostic methods for the characterization of construction and restoration materials.

• Ability to recognize and interpret alteration patterns in urban materials.

• Design of investigation and monitoring protocols by integrating laboratory techniques and field surveys.

Making judgements

• Ability to critically evaluate diagnostic data and to integrate multidisciplinary information.

• Independent formulation of solutions to problems related to material degradation and conservation.

Communication skills

• Ability to present a scientific topic orally with appropriate language.

• Writing of technical and scientific reports.

Learning skills

• Development of independent research skills and preparation for advanced research activities or further educational paths (e.g., PhD).

The course consists of lectures and exercises on field

Basic knowledge of petrography and applied petrography

- Introduction - vulnerability of ancient masonry in urban areas - UNESCO recommendation for the evaluation of the vulnerability in historical centers - Elements of architectural requirements for masonry - Advanced studies and in-depth petrographic analysis on natural and artificial building stones, with particular interest to Sicilian raw materials - Natural building stones (local historical and modern quarries, replacement stones, in-situ and laboratory tests for the characterization of quarried materials, degradation processes in building stones and evaluation of the effect of degrade in structural stability of masonry) - Artificial building stones. (Manufacture of artificial stone materials used in antiquity, manufacture of replacement artificial building materials for restoration actions,  degradation processes in building stones and evaluation of the effect of degrade in structural stability of masonry - Methods for the evaluation of masonry vulnerability in urban areas - Overview on risks (static risk; environmental risk; anthropic risk) - Vulnerability (exposure to risks; anthropic, climatic, environmental factors; conservation state of masonry) • Methods for the vulnerability evaluation • Methods for environmental monitoring - Models and methods for the determination of the conservation state of masonry  • Non-invasive and non-destructive methods • Multispectral Imaging techniques - Focus on restoration actions for the conservation and protection of building materials used in the historical masonry • Consolidant and protective products • non invasive and non destructive methods for monitoring and evaluating the efficiency of conservation/protection actions. - Cases histories

Educational material provided by the teacher