ref04 santanastulensaddison

Editor: Daniel Pletinckx Coordinator: Halina Gottlieb The Interactive Institute

Mario Santana Quintero

Anouk Stulens

Alonzo C. Addison

Daniel Pletinckx

A low-cost digital early warning system for preventive conservation of built heritage

Monitoring Monuments


Anouk Stulens

Alonzo C. Addison

Daniel Pletinckx

Editor: Daniel Pletinckx Coordinator: Halina Gottlieb The Interactive Institute

A low-cost digital early warning system for preventive conservation of built heritage

Monitoring Monuments

M o n i t o r i n g M o n u m e n t s

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Without preventive maintenance, small

problems with monuments and buildings

can quickly grow into critical issues.

Monitoring is crucial for preventive

conservation but often overlooked due

to the lack of a simple, straightforward

process.

Using low-cost digital tools, and building

upon more than 15 years of experience

of Monument Watch of Flanders,

this KNOWHOW booklet details a

straightforward, easily-replicated process

for keeping an eye on buildings and

monuments. This approach makes use of

simple computer fi eld collection forms,

digital photography and databases to

appropriately and systematically monitor

and maintain built heritage. Both the

well-tested monitoring process and the

operational structure of this innovative

Belgian not-for-profi t are described here

in detail in order to help others learn from

their success.

BackgroundMonumentenwacht Vlaanderen

The methodology in the following pages is

based largely upon the successful example

of Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw

(Monument Watch or MWV for short).

Founded in 1991 as an independent advisory

body for owners, managers and caretakers

of the ‘Built Cultural Heritage’ in the Flemish

Region of Belgium, the organisation’s goal

is to enhance conservation of built heritage

by stimulating owners to apply regular

maintenance and thus avoid costlier and

more disruptive large-scale restoration

[MWV].

Inspecting a church roof


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in built heritage shifts from restoration

to preventive conservation and regular

maintenance [CHAR].

An organisational and fi nancial model

Monument Watch works with a voluntary

membership — a bottom-up approach

which has proven very successful. The

organisation helps the owner in a positive

and non-restrictive way. The objective

advice is not binding, leaving the initiative

for maintenance and repair with the

owner. Monument Watch is not part of

the government and its inspections are

private. Since 1991 owners of more than

5000 buildings (50% listed monuments) have

joined as members. They represent all types

of structures (e.g.1600 churches) and all

kinds of owners, from private (40%) to public

authorities (30%) and church councils. Since

1993 the Flemish government has offered a

maintenance grant for listed monuments. As

the condition survey of Monument Watch

is acceptable as part of the application

dossier, this has served to encourage further

membership.

The fi rst Monument Watch was founded

in the Netherlands in 1972. Today,

Monument Watch organisations are

present in several European countries

(the Netherlands, the Flemish Region

of Belgium, Denmark, Germany,

Through an early warning system for

decay (regular monitoring and tracking)

combined with an appropriate response

(maintenance or repair at the right time and

place), damage is prevented and large-scale

restoration can be delayed or even totally

avoided. This systematic method results in

a substantially lower “loss of signifi cance”

of monuments in the long term and lower

costs for all stakeholders (from owners and

managers to the government). For further

details on the “signifi cance” of monuments,

see the “Recording Architectural Heritage”

KNOWHOW booklet in this series.

Monument Watch operates on two levels:

– To stop decay through immediate

action by offering a regular condition

assessment of buildings and the historic

interiors

– To affect a gradual change of mentality

through information and sensitization

The foundation of the Monument Watch

philosophy lies within ICOMOS’s Charter of

Venice (1964) from which point the focus

Monument Watch is able to offer its

services at a low cost to owners thanks to

its not-for-profi t status and a subsidised

fi nancial structure based upon support from

the Flemish (25%) and provincial (65%)

governments, with only 10% coming from

inspection fees.

The monitoring process: making regular condition reportsWith the exception of calamities (such

as fi re, earthquakes, war, etc.) buildings

generally decay gradually over time. Major

problems and damage are often the result

of minor issues or failures that were not

discovered or taken care of in due course.

It is common knowledge that regular

attention and maintenance can slow down

the process of decay (or even partially

prevent it). But regular maintenance

requires accurate records and up-to-date

knowledge of the condition of the building

(monitoring) and its “needs”. This is in

itself a considerable task for the owner

or administrator of the building. Delicate

areas are very often diffi cult to reach for

inspection or need a specialist’s opinion,

and recordkeeping can be a challenge.

This is where expertise such as that offered

by Monument Watch is helpful: it has a

number of carefully recruited, adequately

equipped and constantly trained two-person

teams at the service of building owners or

administrators to conduct inspections.

Two types of monitoring inspections are

important:

– Architectural inspections

– Interior (and movable artifact)

inspections

Austria, and Hungary). Monument

Watch of Flanders, the organisation in

the Flemish Region, is composed of a

group of six not-for-profi t associations

(fi ve provincial associations and one

umbrella association)

Flemish region in Belgium

Assessing the roof of a heritage place using industrial rope access techniques


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Further information can be gathered on site

by interviewing the owner or caretaker.

A standard procedure for inspection can be

deployed using a preformatted checklist

itemising all building elements (ideally

on a fi eld portable computer or tablet PC

to avoid data entry later on). To prevent

consequential damage, but not to enter into

false competition with building contractors,

it is suggested only small and urgent repairs

should be carried out on site.

Step 3: Interpretation of the information

Later at the offi ce, a three-part digital status

report is drawn up. This can be as simple

as a word processing template or as rich as

a database. It contains three parts in the

following format:

1) A scoring report with the percentages

of the different condition classes (good

– reasonable – moderate – bad – not

inspected) and pictures (the percentages

will be used for future statistic analysis)

2) Recommendations for maintenance and

repair in three categories:

1. Recommendations to improve the

safe accessibility of all building parts

2. Recommendations on the necessary

works of repair

3. Recommendations on durable and

cyclical maintenance

3) A rooftop plan with indication of safety

measures and localisation of critical

points. This plan is not a detailed survey,

but merely a sketch. It can be generated

in a low cost computer aided design

(CAD) programme such as Vector Works

or AutoCAD LT.

As a general principle these inspection

surveys should be carried out every two or

three years.

Architectural inspectionArchitectural inspections consist of a

detailed assessment of the building from

rooftop to basement, both inside and out.

Special attention should be given to places

that are less accessible, but at the same

time especially susceptible to decay (roofs,

gutters, etc.).

An architectural inspection team consists of

two experts:

– A trained architect or engineer,

preferably with an advanced degree in

construction or conservation

– A craftsman with knowledge of historic

building techniques

Recommended equipment includes:

– A voice recorder or dictaphone (today

this can be built into a tablet computer

and even autotranscribe notes into text)

– A fi eld portable or tablet computer

(simplifi es the note-taking and form-

fi lling process, saving later work in the

offi ce)

– A digital camera with adequate storage

and battery packs

– Binoculars

– A laser distance meter (for rapid fi eld

measurements – some models can be

immediately docked to the laptop to

upload measurements in the fi eld)

– A handheld GPS device, although

optional, can be useful at remote sites

or those without good location maps

– A fully equipped van with ladders for

access and material for small immediate

repairs (tools, slates, etc.)

– Personal safety equipment (helmet,

safety ropes, body harnesses, etc.)

– Specialised tools, as needed (such as

strain gauges for crack monitoring, etc.)

Step 1: Preparatory work

Any inspection should be preceded by a

review of building records and any previous

inspection reports and risk assessments. An

up-to-date inspection database can greatly

simplify this process.

Step 2: Visual inspection on site –

collecting information

The fi rst step in the process is an integral

visual inspection of the building. During this

Each inspection team has a fully equiped van

inspection the necessary data is collected

for a:

- Condition assessment and risk

assessment: the state of the building,

past damages, current deterioration

processes with their consequences and

future risks of damage

- Health and safety risk assessment: the

safe accessibility of all building parts

and possible risks for the inspectors

- Rooftop plan: basic measurement of

exterior roof structure

- Maintenance assessment: evaluation of

the ongoing maintenance actions

Weathering issues affecting the building surfaces, such as humidity and plants.

Scoring report showing the scoring criteria and a row of data


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Step 4: Managing the data

An inspection database is used to collate

information about the owner, the caretaker,

the type of building and all inspection data

collected.

Step 5: Dissemination of the information

- Sensitisation

A status report with colour photos and a

rooftop plan is delivered to the owner by

mail or email. It is very important to make

an appointment on site with the owner

after the delivery of the report to discuss

the most important points and to highlight

the weaknesses that need immediate

attention. This enables the owner to better

understand the maintenance priorities. At

the same time, more information can be

given about the techniques of maintenance

and repair, on the selection of contractors

(methodology) and about existing fi nancial

tools that can support the owner (e.g.

government maintenance grants).

Several times a year, Monument Watch

also sends owners practical brochures on

Structure of the recommendations for maintenance and repair in the report

Rooftop plan

1. Inspection database used to collect all fi eld information. This example is in Microsoft Access, although any of the comparable free Open Source databases could also be used.

2. Example of the type of inspection that can be recorded in the database and the input of actual inspection hours on site

3. The percentages of the different condition classes (good – reasonable – moderate – bad – not inspected) give an indication of volume, are entered in the database and can be used for statistical analysis.

1. 2.

3.


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specifi c themes concerning maintenance

and conservation.

Step 6: Implementation of the advice

In the case of Monument Watch, as the

report is voluntary and non-binding,

owners can choose to use it as they wish.

Monument Watch can be a partner, but

only at the request of the owner. Even if it

is a listed monument, the only obligation

owners in Flanders have is to maintain it in

a proper way. If grants from the Flemish

government are used, there are regulations

to be followed for the maintenance works.

With the report, an owner can:

- Contact contractors / architects /

specialists

- Adopt maintenance methods to given

guidelines

- Apply for a maintenance grant

Interior inspectionAn interior survey focuses on the movable

contents and fi xed interior elements of

churches, castles and private houses.

is on housekeeping: what they do, why and

how. On the one hand, surveyors may have

to encourage regular maintenance, but

on the other hand, they may need to slow

down or redirect over-zealous cleaning or

advise on correct products and methods.

It may be necessary to set an example and

to demonstrate methods, such as cleaning

silver with non-corrosive products.

Apart from these interventions, interior

surveyors should be trained and equipped

to carry out urgent conservation works on

site to prevent consequential damage.

On site, the necessary data is collected

Step 1: Preparatory work

An inspection should be preceded by a

review of existing inventories of movable

artefacts (in Flanders, churches are legally

obliged to keep such inventories), previous

inspection reports and the risk assessment

for accessibility, if present.

Step 2: Visual inspection on site –

collecting information

The fi rst step of an inspection, similar to the

architectural inspection, is an integral survey: a

complete overview of the state and condition

of the interior and its movable contents. It is

important that the results of the architectural

inspection are also verifi ed so that the

correlation between structural problems and

consequential damage in the interior can be

located. Ideally, both inspections should be

carried out at the same time.

Specialists inspect the interior of the

building including wall and fl oor coverings,

ceilings, furniture, paintings, sculptures,

textiles and metal objects. This implicates

a large knowledge of various materials,

deterioration phenomena, preventive

conservation measures, theory and practice

of hands-on conservation and restoration.

Interior inspectors are typically highly

qualifi ed, with backgrounds as art

historians and conservation specialists

and/or restorers of paintings, sculptures

and textiles. It is recommended that they

work in a multidisciplinary team of two

specialists.

In addition to the equipment needed

for an architectural inspection, an

interior inspection team will benefi t from

environmental monitoring tools such as

light meters, relative humidity sensors, etc.

Many of these tools today are digital and

can record data over extended periods of

time.

Interior inspectionAn intervention on site to show the caretaker how a silver object can be cleaned using non-corrosive products.

An inspector performing urgent conservation work on site to prevent consequential damage

Interior surveyors spend more time

communicating with the owners and users

of the building. It is important to assess

the use, habits and procedures. The focus


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to perform the different assessments,

mainly from the recorded interview and

via a thorough visual survey. On the spot,

condition and damage assessments are

predominant.

Monument Watch makes use of a

toolbox approach, integrating different

methodologies:

– Expert assessments: the quality of expert

assessments is kept at a high level by

training and “calibrating” the surveyors

using a control interior.

-– Condition assessment: the condition of

objects and interiors is systematically

assessed and qualifi ed. The surveyors

determine how stable the condition

is and therefore how urgently

conservation may be needed, which is

done by predicting the rate at which

an object is likely to deteriorate. The

rating of ‘good’ condition means that

it is ready for use and needs no action.

The concept of stability is central in

condition assessment and is crucial for

prioritisation.

assessment is rather ambiguous and is

subject to improvement.

– Another important tool is the

monitoring of environmental conditions

by measuring the exposure of the

interior to light, climate conditions,

insects, etc. This has become a standard

part of interior surveys.

As with the architectural inspection, an

interior survey should follow a standard

procedure and use a preformatted digital

checklist containing all fi ttings, fi xtures and

object types to inspect.

Step 3: Interpretation of the information

In the days following the inspection, a status

report is made at the offi ce. Survey reports

include recommendations for conservation

and restoration, preventive measures and

regular maintenance. The detailed status

reports mention all elements of heritage

value, qualifi ed on a sliding scale from very

bad to excellent condition.

The report is built up in 3 parts:

1. A scoring report with the assessment

of the condition (good – reasonable

– moderate – bad – not measured)

2. Recommendations for maintenance and

conservation in six categories:

1. Conservation and/or restoration

(urgent to long term, on site or not)

2. Moulds and insects

3. Preventive measures (location,

storage, handling)

4. Regular maintenance

5. Correct environmental conditions

(temperature, humidity, light)

6. Protection against theft, vandalism

and fi re

Monitoring the indoor climate

The reasons for monitoring the indoor

climate are not predominantly to see

whether ideal standards are reached (as

opposed to museum practice). These

are not always considered feasible

in the context of a historic interior.

The principle rationale is to interpret

the damage (for example to wooden

interior elements or organs) and to

eliminate the cause of the damage (for

example harmful heating systems).

Measurements can be used in a

predictive manner to assess risk (e.g. the

risk of mold growth).

Monitoring of pests is carried out to

detect risk or to see if an outbreak is

still active. It can be a good strategy

to simultaneously monitor and reduce

infestation as for example pheromone

moth traps are both a measurement and

elimination tool.

The awareness of the destructive

effects of light has grown over the past

decade or so. Measuring lux and UV

doses allows the surveyor to predict

noticeable changes to sensitive objects

such as paintings and textiles. Another

promising method is the use of early-

warning-systems such as LightCheck.

LightCheck is a tool that enables

evaluation of the quantity of light

received by an artefact. It will accurately

indicate cumulative light exposure even

when exposed to only dim light (such as

50 lux) for long periods [LCH].

An inspector is making notes about the condition of the building using a laptop.

An Elsec data logger used to quantify the light received by an artefact.

– A damage survey systematically assesses

and analyses damage and the effects of

decay and tries to diagnose the causes.

This assessment unravels cause and

effect, starting from the evidence of

damage.

– A risk assessment assesses the possible

harms of theft and fi re. Today, this

Results from device readings on environmental monitoring (light, temperature, relative humidity)


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3. Photographs of the most critical damage

and diagrams/charts of environmental

condition

Recommendations contain standard texts

on best practice (for example: use padded

hangers on textile, put cork behind the

paintings, keep the relative humidity stable).

The report should be used as a conservation

planning document. At Monument Watch

the goal is to improve prioritisation of

the recommendations. Until now, these

surveys

– Adopting methodological

improvements, such as more objective

condition and risk assessment

A database application called CAT (or

Condition Assessment Tool) developed

by the Scottish Museum Council is being

adapted at Monument Watch to allow

a more systematic condition survey and

integration of records for interior elements

and causes of deterioration. This will

support the integration of the current

methodology, which is focused on a

condition assessment of current damage

and ongoing deterioration processes, with

integral risk assessment.

Step 5: Dissemination of the information

The owner receives a interior inspection

report, possibly together with the

architectural inspection report. The focus,

however, is on the communication on site

with owner/manager/caretaker. Interior

inspectors:

– Establish a direct relationship with

owners and users

– Behave as guests, and take the local

context into account

– Emphasize the importance of care by

the local community custodians

– Focus on use and procedures in

interviews and observations

– Focus on housekeeping

– Recognize any religious use

Communicating with the local stakeholders

and caretakers is of utmost importance,

hence Monument Watch organises courses

and distributes low-profi le publications to

raise awareness and encourage better care-

taking skills.

Step 6: Implementation of the information

The inspection report allows the owner

to take the following steps on a voluntary

basis:

– Contact restorers / specialists

– Adapt maintenance methods to given

guidelines

– Apply for maintenance grants

Statistical analysisA database of inspection records makes it

easier to analyse a wide variety of trends

and patterns, helps to identify problems

and measure the effectiveness of regular

monitoring and maintenance programs. At

a regional level, this information can be

used to support monument care policy and

track the evolution of the state of listed

buildings.

were mainly based on the condition

assessments, which focus on the

deterioration processes and which provide

the analysis of testimonies or consequences

of deterioration processes in the past.

Environmental monitoring, dosimetry and

early warning systems provide information

on the exposure, a step earlier in the chain

of cause to effect.

Monument Watch intends to expand its

toolbox approach in terms of predicting

damage in the future by considering

potential causes of damage. This can

be done by integrating risk assessment,

which is the exercise of assessing every

potential threat from all potential causes of

deterioration, and quantifying the potential

negative effect in the future.

Monument Watch also wants to improve

prioritisation by taking into account the

relative signifi cance of the elements and

focusing on what is really important to

and valued by heritage experts and the

communities involved. In other words, an

object that is considered likely to degrade

and is ranked with high signifi cance can

therefore be given conservation treatment

fi rst. Through this approach, the principles

of Cultural Heritage Risk Assessment as

promoted by ICCROM, CCI-ICC and ICN are

being adopted.

Step 4: Managing the data

As with architectural inspections, the

information of the interior inspection is

entered into a database.

Following a SWOT analysis of Monument

Watch’s forms and reporting system

in 2007, opportunities were found for

enhancement, including:

– Improvements of the service to the

custodians and members (e.g. by

offering diverse report formats)

– Better prioritisation of the

recommendations

– Reduction of the time-consuming

reporting by the surveyors

– Central quality management

– Integration with the architectural Planned methodology for interior inspection using risk assessment

An interior inspector explaining a source of decay to the site manager.


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the regularity of inspection. The staff of 35

architectural and 9 interior inspectors must

be enlarged, but this expansion depends on

political goodwill and is not without limits.

Digital recording techniques could save time

on site and automated reporting systems

could reduce the time spent at the offi ce.

The database of Monument Watch

Monument Watch Flanders, as the

umbrella association for the fi ve provincial

associations in the Flemish region, collects

all the data from its inspections into one

central database, allowing overall statistical

provide an overview of the costs of those

works over a certain period.

Monument Watch is developing a new

process to provide cost calculation and

short-term (10 year) maintenance planning

guidance. This service should be available

in 2009. To be able to offer this service,

basic measurement of the building parts

will be necessary in order to provide

a description with measurements and

calculate the costs. Digital tools will most

likely play an important role in providing

this service. It should be noted that this

cost calculation is not intended to be a full

blueprint with specifi cations, which will

remain the responsibility of the building

contractor or architect.

Improve the recording and processing of

data

As Monument Watch is growing rapidly -

every year, 400 additional buildings require

inspection in addition to the 5000 current

member structures - it is necessary to fi nd

more effi cient ways to record and process

inspection information, while guaranteeing

analysis. Since 2001, building conditions

have been recorded in the database as

percentages, allowing MWV to recognize

evolutions in the condition of building

parts with the possibility of differentiating

between several parameters:

- Provinces

- Year of inspection

- Function of the building

- Listed vs. not listed buildings

- Building category in m³

- Type of owner

In addition to informing the Flemish

government on the evolution of the state

of the listed buildings of MWV members,

statistics are used internally to focus on

specifi c problems and to choose useful

themes for publications (maintenance

brochures) and training.

Future developments at Monument WatchProvide cost and planning information

The methodology described in this

KNOWHOW booklet offers owners and

caretakers of historic buildings a useful

condition report on a building and its

contents, with recommendations for repair,

conservation, and maintenance. This service

would be even more valuable, if it could

Table showing the current state and evolution of specifi c building elements

Database fl owchart, showing a proposed architecture to improve the information fl ow among monu-ment watchers and other stakeholders


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currently runs locally at the fi ve provincial

associations — these fi ve databases are

uploaded in a central system once every

three months. A project is underway

to centralise all the information in one

location, while allowing remote access.

This will enable instant up-to-the-minute

reporting, as well as links to other

repositories (e.g. the database of listed

monuments of the Flemish government)

and members consulting their status reports

online.

Maritime heritage

At the request of the Flemish government,

a new type of inspection is being developed

for historical boats. A team of specialists

has been recruited and a methodology for

inspection is being developed.

International Collaboration

The Raymond Lemaire International Centre

for Conservation (RLICC) at the K.U.Leuven

(Belgium) and Monumentenwacht

Vlaanderen vzw are setting up a network

of experts and practitioners as part of

an application for a UNESCO chair on

“preventive conservation, monitoring,

maintenance of the architectural heritage”.

The network seeks to establish a forum for

exchange on the latest research, practice

and needs in preventive conservation

[SPRE].

Others

As it is diffi cult for owners and caretakers

to fi nd professional building contractors

that are interested in small repair works

and cyclical maintenance, it is necessary

to stimulate a larger maintenance offering

with suffi cient quality for historic buildings.

SummaryThis KNOWHOW booklet presents a

preventive monitoring process that has

proven to be effective. The technology used

is simple and cost-effective, applying digital

tools to measure and document buildings

and their environmental parameters. New

developments within this maintenance

system rely on ICT (Information and

Communication Technologies) to scale

the activity, to make it more effective, to

communicate more effi ciently with the

members and to derive statistical data and

trends to infl uence monument care policies

and decide on internal priorities.

AcknowledgementsThe concepts and methodology presented in

this book are based largely on the successful

experience and practice of Monument

Watch (Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen

vzw) who we thank for their support and

assistance.

References

[CHAR]

http://international.icomos.org/charters.htm

[LCH] http://www.keepsafe.ca/lightcheck/

[MWV] http://www.monumentenwacht.be/

[SPRE] http://sprecomah.eu/network/


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Monitoring MonumentsProject team

Authors:


Raymond Lemaire International Centre for

Conservation, KU Leuven

Anouk Stulens

Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw

Alonzo C. Addison

UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Daniel Pletinckx

Visual Dimension bvba

Project Rapporteur:

Nele Goeminne

Raymond Lemaire

International Centre for Conservation, KU

Leuven

Project Management:

Jean-Louis Luxen

CHEDI asbl

Daniel Pletinckx

Visual Dimension bvba

External Reviewers:

Anne Lemaistre


Christian Manhart


Bill Blake

English Heritage

Dina Bakhoum

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture

With additional thanks to:

Koen van Balen and Luc Verpoest,

Raymond Lemaire International Centre for

Conservation, KU Leuven

Illustrations: Mario Santana Quintero

Photographs: Mario Santana Quintero and

Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw

Proof-reading for booklets: Kristi Wilson

Lindroth

Copyright © Mario Santana Quintero, Alonzo C. Addison, Anouk Stulens & The Interactive Institute AB, 2008

Publisher: The Interactive Institute AB, Stockholm, SwedenEditor: Daniel Pletinckx Coordinator: Halina Gottlieb Graphical design: Rafał Sosin

With support by the European Commission under the Community’s Sixth Framework Programme, contract no. IST-2002-507382.

Without preventive maintenance, small problems

at monuments and buildings can quickly grow into

critical issues. Monitoring is crucial for preventive

conservation, but often overlooked for lack of a

simple, straightforward process.

Using low-cost digital tools, and building upon

more than fi fteen years of experience of Monument

Watch of Flanders, this KNOWHOW booklet

outlines a practical, easily-replicable process for

keeping an eye on buildings and monuments.

This approach makes use of simple computer

fi eld collection forms, digital photography, and

databases to appropriately and systematically

monitor and maintain heritage places. Both the

well-tested monitoring process and the operational

structure of this innovative Belgian not-for-profi t

are explained in order to help others learn from

their success.

The KNOWHOW booklets are an inspirational

series cataloguing existing examples of a variety

of projects which use ICT for the recording, display

and interpretation of cultural heritage. These

booklets highlight functional information covering

the design, development and implementation

of ideas and their solutions, and give thoughtful

suggestions for alternative applications within

the cultural heritage sector. The KNOWHOW

booklets aim to support people working in the

area of museums, heritage sites and monuments.

The information covered within the booklets

benefi ts managers, exhibition producers/curators,

pedagogues and professionals working with

digital restoration, as well as those working with

communication and audiences. These booklets

cover projects developed by the partners of

EPOCH, and are divided into the following

categories: MUSEUMS, HERITAGE SITES and

MONUMENTS.

www.tii.se/knowhow

2

› cultural heritage› management› natural heritage

?cultural heritagerepositories:Digital Archives forConservation and Management

The unique and irreplaceable value of cultural heritage has long been recognized. Similarly, the need for accurate and detailed information about heritage for its conservation and management is well understood. Yet the records of our heritage have received less thorough treatment. From the need for heritage repositories, to the steps in creating them, this paper provides a high-level look at digital archives of cultural heritage. Using the evolving UNESCO World Heritage portal as our example, we provide an overview of the requirements for cultural heritage organizations, from planning to design, to deploy, and maintaining a digital repository, emphasizing information specifi c to the management, monitoring, and conservation of cultural heritage.

› protection› repository› world heritage

3

alonzo addisonUNESCO World Heritage CentreParis, Francehttp://whc.unesco.org

Alonzo C. Addison serves as Special Advisor for applied technology to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Past Director of the Center for Design Visualization at the University of California at Berkeley, his work spans historical visualization to design simulation, information architecture, and collaborative networks. As Vice President of Cyra Technologies in the 1990s, he helped develop one of the fi rst commercially viable laser scanners – a ‘monument-scale’ 3D LIDAR camera now common in heritage documentation. A co-founder of the Virtual Heritage Network, he is Vice President of the ICOMOS Int’l Scientifi c Committee (ISC) on Interpretation and Presentation (ICIP), on the board of the ICOMOS ISC on Heritage Documentation (CIPA), and Vice President of the VSMM Society. Author of Disappearing World: the Earth’s Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places, he has written extensively on heritage and its documentation.

mario santana quinteroUniversity of LeuvenHeverlee, Belgiumwww.kuleuven.be

Mario Santana Quintero completed studies of architecture in 1994 at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. In 2003 he obtained a PhD on ‘The use of three-dimensional documentation and dissemination techniques in studying built heritage’ at the R. Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (University of Leuven). He is currently Assistant Professor at the Lemaire Centre and post-doctoral researcher for the MACE EU Project, University of Leuven. He is also a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences St Lieven and associate faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as Vice President of the ICOMOS Scientifi c Committee on Heritage Documentation (CIPA) and Executive Offi cer of the Virtual Systems and Multimedia Society.

4

marta severoUNESCO World Heritage CentreParis, Francehttp://whc.unesco.org

Marta Severo has just obtained a PhD in Management of Cultural Heritage (at IMT Lucca) with a dissertation on web-based tools to manage network cultural heritage. She graduated at the Communication Department of the University of Bologna. Since 2006, she serves as consultant for several UNESCO sectors. Currently, she is coordinating the web community of the UNESCO Network of Migration Museums.

5cultural heritage repositories ?

background: cultural heritage and conservation

Cultural heritage – our shared legacy from the past – is a unique and irreplaceable source of identity and inspiration. As defi ned in the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (or World Heritage Convention as it is more commonly known), “cultural heritage” refers to “monuments”, “groups of buildings”, or “sites” with “historical, artistic, aesthetic, scientifi c, ethnological or anthropological… outstanding universal value”1. These heritage places can range from “a large area such as a whole region or landscape” to “a small area such as a feature or building”2.

With recognition of the universal value of these heritage places has come increased focus on their conservation. From the creation of the world’s fi rst national park at Yellowstone in 1872, to the adoption of the World Heritage Convention by the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the 16th of November 19723, we have increasingly sought to identify, protect and preserve our heritage. Today heritage conservation is a major discipline, with thousands of profes-sionals, from archaeologists, to architects, historians, museologists, masons, survey-ors, and others working to conserve and manage cultural sites across the globe.

Fig. 1: Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany (photograph by M. Santana).

heritage information

The growth of the fi eld of conservation has brought with it vast quantities of heritage information, from scientifi c records, to historical studies, surveys, inventories, photographs, maps, and fi eld documentation. Once laboriously collected by hand and recorded on paper, this information is today increas-ingly gathered, organized, and archived digitally. Today it plays a vital role in defi ning a heritage place’s signifi cance, integrity, extent, and threats, and is crucial to understanding, protection, and management.

Information challenges

Yet the explosion in heritage information has exacerbated 3 key data challenges:1. Fragmentation: despite the importance of this information, it remains largely disjointed, typically residing with the individuals that produce it rather than in shared or common repositories known to a site manager or international conservation organizations. Sadly, this means that valuable time, resources, and knowledge are often lost in reproducing already completed work, adversely impacting on heritage places and their conservation.2. Reliability: with increased awareness of heritage, has come increased information and documentation of cultural heritage. The ubiquity of digital cameras alone has led to the production of more imagery of cultural heritage in the last decade than in all previous recorded history.Although often well intentioned, the rapid growth in the quantity of data, as well as numbers and backgrounds of individuals producing information about sites,

cultural heritage

6 mace book ? cultural heritage repositories

has brought with it signifi cant challenges. Mislabelling and miscategorization is common. Without provenance, professionals fi nd it hard to trust much of this new generation of information.As shown in Tab. 1, reliability, especially with the new era of digital data, has fi ve sources of error or bias.

3. Longevity: although information survival has always been an issue, the growth of digital records has also increased a long-standing problem. As illustrated in Fig. 2, without special care, heritage records today stand little chance of surviving as long as the monuments they are meant to document.

Error/Bias

Artifact

Device

Environmental

Human

Provenance

Description

Sites are not constant – they evolve, age and are modifi ed over time, meaning

data about them must consider what point in history it is pertaining to.

From rounding errors to calibration and issues like CCD color accuracy, the

tools play an important role in accuracy.

From temperature to sunlight and cloud cover, environmental conditions play

a role in accuracy.

Perhaps the hardest to identify, human error/bias is always present to some

extent.

Without an attached record of why, how or with what, where, and by whom,

accuracy is limited.

Tab. 1: Information Reliability (from Addison 2006).

Fig. 2: Record Longevity (from Addison 2006).

Heritage repositories

Necessitated by both the quantity of information, as well as the burdens of ar-chiving, organizing, and disseminating it, researchers and heritage managers have deployed a broad array of tools and methods to store their records.These new repositories are largely ad-hoc, developed in-house to solve specifi c challenges.An overview of the types of information systems in typical use today are presented in Tab. 3.

Often important for making informed decisions about the identifi cation, classifi ca-tion, management and conservation of heritage places, some of these systems are also valuable aids in promoting cultural identity and tourism.

institutionalrepositories


Physical

(document and photographic

inventories and catalogues)

Localized electronic

databases

Geographic Information

Systems (GIS)

3D Earth Viewers (online

GIS with spatial imagery)

Hybrid, shared, ‘Web 2.0’

systems with relational

data structures, XML, &

other standards

Types Pro’s Con’s Examples

+ Simple to setup

+ Low cost

+ Highly customizable

+ Relatively easy to get

started with

+ Simplifi es indexing

+ Strong data mgmt potential

+ Highly customizable

+Combines advantages of GIS

with an intuitive and easy to

understand ‘real’ background

+ Highly customizable,

adaptable, and shared

- Typically linear/hard to

cross-index

- Hard to search/query

- Physical storage require-

ments can become a challenge

- Interaction with other

inventories is diffi cult

- Non-standard, specialized

query tools hard for novice

users

- Adding and managing data

can be complex

- Requires considerable input

of mapping info.

- Steep learning curve.

- Can be costly

- Not as useful for non-spatial

data

- Nothing more than a nice

visual interface (i.e. little data

management and requires

other tools to extend)

- Emerging technology

www.nps.gov/history/hdp/

standards/CRGIS/paper.htm

(description of a planned mi-

gration from paper to digital)

www.kikirpa.be/www2/en/

doc/docu.htm

www.mip.berkeley.edu/spiro

www.timemap.net

http://zimas.lacity.org

http://earth.google.com

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

www.microsoft.com/Virtu-

alEarth

http://whc.unesco.org

Tab. 3: Types of heritage information systems (based on research by M. Santana).

building a digital repository:lessons from unesco’s world heritage portal

Using the UNESCO World Heritage web portal (http://whc.unesco.org) and its rede-sign as our example, the steps in creating a modern repository are outlined below.

The offi cial web site of UNESCO’s fl agship Convention concerning the Protec-tion of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the World Heritage portal is the source of the most defi nitive information about the World Heritage List, the Convention, and its many partners around the world.

Both the repository of all statutory information about the treaty, as well as a public information tool, scientifi c material archive, community workspace, and news source, it illustrates many of the challenges of a modern heritage repository. It serves as an information dissemination and exchange tool at an international, regional, and local level, raising awareness and aiding in conservation management, monitoring, and mobilization. Fig. 2: UNESCO World Heritage portal (accessed: 23/06/2008).


Understanding heritage information

There is a wealth of information about heritage documentation, from what is useful to collect, to how to collect it, and standards for organizing it. The following docu-ments, although not specifi cally about digital repositories, provide a good back-ground on heritage information and are an important starting point for anyone who wants to develop a digital cultural heritage information repository: Principles for the analysis, conservation and structural restoration of architectural heritage (Charter ratifi ed by ICOMOS in 2003)4; ICOMOS Principles for the Recording of Monuments, Groups of Buildings and Sites (Principles ratifi ed by ICOMOS in 1996)5; Guidance on inventory and documentation of the cultural heritage (available as a book from the Council of Europe, 2002)6; The Core Data Index to Historic Buildings and Monuments of the Architectural Heri-tage (1995 Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, adopted in 1998 by the Getty Information Institute’s ObjectID program and available in the book Documenting the Cultural Heritage, R. Thornes and J. Bold, eds.)7; The International Core Standard for Archaeological Sites and Monuments (1992 Standard from the International Council of Museums (ICOM) International Commit-tee for Documentation (CIDOC) in collaboration with the Council of Europe, adopted in 1998 by the Getty Information Institute’s ObjectID program and available in the book Documenting the Cultural Heritage, R. Thornes and J. Bold, eds.)8.

Defi ning goals and organizing data

A well-designed cultural heritage repository should: Safely store multidisciplinary knowledge of a place, its value/signifi cance,and integrity; Archive together all a place’s rich media, from maps to images, drawings,documents, CAD fi les, movies, audio recordings, etc.; Allow intuitive querying and straightforward contributions of additional records; Guarantee long-term viability of the records through clear, simple, and human-decodable data structures; Promote interest and involvement in the preservation of the heritage through the dissemination of acquired information; Enable informed decision making; Ensure that a place’s management, maintenance and conservation is related to its integrity (physical form, materials, construction, etc) and its historical and cultural signifi cance.

To fulfi ll UNESCO’s and the Convention’s mission, the World Heritage portal needed to accomplish a series of goals that included improving accessibility and enhancing and linking information about the Convention, and its sites, stakeholders, and activities. This could only be accomplished by organizing data in an eff ective and coherent repository with easy public access via an interactive web interface.

In the case of the World Heritage portal, it was decided early on to group the under-lying data into 7 key categories:1. Sites (the List of protected sites);


2. States (the Nations that have signed the Convention);3. News (news about the places);4. Activities (projects about the places);5. People (from staff to the conservation workers, site managers, researchers, and the public with interests or activities at places);6. Money (fi nancial assistance expended in support of sites);7. Documents (from offi cial reports to images, maps, movies, and other rich media).

Each of these categories is 2-way referenced to every other to allow rich and fast searching and interrelationships. In addition, data is increasingly thematically and spatially tagged wherever possible. Although certain data is available only to the World Heritage professional community upon site login, a vast amount is publicly accessible.Among the most visited pages are those of the individual World Heritage properties.

These 878 dynamic pages present a friendly interface to a vast repository of informa-tion previously only available in paper archives. Since the design of the data struc-ture cross-links seven key categories of information, a wealth of related data can be pulled and displayed for each site, from imagery to offi cial decisions, nomination fi les, and so forth. The information available from the site pages includes (although not all is publicly accessible):

Main Tab Name, Location and Latitude/Longitude position Flag and Country (cross-linked to country information) Zoomable fl ash map showing location in the world Iconic image of site Date of inscription and Criteria (summary) Offi cial “Brief Description” Justifi cation for inscription and Statement of Signifi cance/OUV Related News, Events, Activities, and Web Links

Locations Tab Coordinates and descriptions for serial sub properties Scanned nomination maps (under development) IS tool (under development)

Media Tab Photographs, panoramic images, CAD fi les, movies, sound clips, etc

Documents Tab (a sortable list of all offi cial records mentioning the site) Nomination fi le as originally submitted to UNESCO Decisions of the World Heritage Committee about the preservation of the site Annual State of Conservation reports Longer-term Periodic Reports on conservation status as submitted by States Mission reports of site visits

Issues (Threats) Tab Danger listing Details of danger listing Threats statistical graph Photographs of issues (under development) Related Information (under development)


A ‘related information’ section, currently under development, will allow the user to contribute research papers, news, events, multimedia fi les (photo-graphs, QTVR panoramas, sound, CAD, and other relevant fi les), links, etc. This will allow WH staff , site managers, professionals, and the public to interact towards a better understanding of the site and its needs. This should enrich preservation activities and the decision making processes as interested parties use the portal to exchange preservation information (otherwise trans-ferred through meetings and personal contacts), to carry out benchmarking analyses, and to defi ne shared policies.

These interactions will be managed off site by the ‘Virtual Heritage Network’, an associated organization to the World Heritage Centre’s Information Management Initiative. This organization’s remote servers will allow Web 2.0-like community input contributions, which could not be hosted by UNESCO itself, as they are not offi cial governmental records.

Fig. 3: A World Heritage Property sub-page details, UNESCO World Heritage Centre9.

Choosing a technology platform

In the digital world, technology choices can have far-reaching consequences. Given the rapid advances in digital technology, choosing a system is particu-larly challenging. In the case of the World Heritage portal, moving from paper records and a simple html website to an advanced digital repository present-ed many challenges.

A variety of complete ‘commercial off -the-shelf’ tools were proposed but all ulti-mately rejected as they hid the data in a ‘black-box’. Knowing that technology would evolve and such a system would eventually need to be replaced, we considered it crucial that the underlying data structure be designed, clear, intuitive, and visible. Instead of selecting a single system, the World Heritage portal uses an assemblage of tools. At its heart is an open-source relational database (MySQL). On top of this, the website is driven by a commercial web development language (Adobe’s ColdFu-sion), which at the time the project started was considered more stable than some of the other open-source tools (such as PHP) then beginning to emerge. Much of the look and feel is controlled with style sheets (CSS), Flash, Javascript, etc. This is an evolving project and in the future the scripting language will likely be migrated into either a ‘code framework’, to make code management easier, or potentially even into one of the many community-supported ‘content management systems’ (CMSes) built on PHP, ColdFusion, etc.

Providing a simple, intuitive interface

As important as the underlying technology is ease of use. Many repositories today (including online heritage photo archives) can be challenging to use, from


complex interfaces to specialized data classifi cation and search systems. Good data organization is a fi rst step, but a clear and simple interface is also crucial.

Before the launch of its new online repository, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre relied upon an overcrowded static website, printed newsletters, journals, and books to disseminate knowledge and issues related to its mandate as Secretariat of the Convention. This led to a considerable gap between the information available at the World Heritage Centre and the amount of information being disseminated to stakeholders and the public in general.

Today the World Heritage Centre has a dynamic engine and regularly updat-ed content, which serves thousands of professionals and public users every day. Each of the 878 current sites on the World Heritage List can be accessed geographically using a dynamic world map, by region, by category or by simple typing its name in the internal search engine.

Each property has its own dynamically generated page, providing the most up-to-date information, from facts, to documents, activities, partners, fi nancial support, events and news. Similarly, there are dynamic and richly cross-linked pages for each of the States Parties to the Convention, as well as news, projects, events, etc.

conclusions

Using the UNESCO World Heritage portal as an example, this paper has presented a set of ideas useful for the creation of eff ective digital repositories for heritage. Although still in its early stages, the new World Heritage web portal has already shown itself to be a useful conservation, communication, and archiving tool. With more than 600,000 visitors each month, and one-third of all UNESCO web traffi c, it has quickly grown to be one of the most powerful tools in World Heritage conserva-tion and communication.

Although successful, much still remains to be done. The fi nal step of build-ing any repository is to launch, track and refi ne it. Future goals for the World Heritage portal include Web2.0-like features to allow authorized users, from site managers to governments, to directly update and contribute new infor-mation, news and multimedia in a tracked, Wiki-like format.

User interface improvements are also planned, from general layout, to better media gallery tools and customization based on general user type (from general public, to child, researcher, and site manager). Using the power of the web and the growing numbers of related professional and amateur repositories, from Flickr photo libraries to serious archives like ArchNet, future plans call for using next generation web tech-nologies to better interlink and cross-reference repositories while ensuring archival viability.

browsing


acknowledgementsThe World Heritage (http://whc.unesco.org) portal is the product of an interdisciplinary team and thousands of hours of work. Conceived by Alonzo Addison and supported by Francesco Bandarin, Minja Yang and Kishore Rao, among the many involved in the system development include: Scot Refsland, Mario Santana, Eric Esquivel, Benjamin Geebelen, Nicolas Caris, Maria Lepeigne-Cobo, Pierre Smars, Jurgen De Keyser, Hung Nguyen, Olivia Prevost, Roel Bylemans, Francesca Balzani, Marta Severo, and Peter Stott. Major support has come from the World Heritage Fund, the Flem-ish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and French governments, and Hewlett Packard. We would also like to thank Rand Eppich for his insightful feedback.

notes http://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/ (accessed //) Australian Heritage Commission. Protecting local heritage places: a guide for communities, Sydney , p http://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/ (accessed //) http://www.international.icomos.org/charters/structures_e.htm (accessed //) http://www.international.icomos.org/recording.htm (accessed //) http://book.coe.int/EN/fi cheouvrage.php?PAGEID=&lang=EN&produit_aliasid= (ac-cessed //) http://www.object-id.com/heritage/index.html (accessed //) ibid (accessed //) http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ (Last accessed: //)

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ABSTRACT

This paper describes the incorporation of digital three-dimensional recording techniques in the education programme of an interdisciplinary group of young professional in the framework of an advanced postgraduate programme in conservation and restoration of urban and rural architectural heritage.

The incorporation of these techniques into the current contents of this programme consists of the combination of a theoretical approach and a number of practical exercises.

The theoretical approach consists of lectures by distinguished specialists in the use and application of recording methods in the documentation of the architectural heritage.

Furthermore, the practical framework of the project work deals with applying the concepts and principals explained in the theoretical courses in a real conservation project.

Keywords: education, architectural heritage, conservation, building archaeology, Computer-Aided Drafting, documentation, Bauforschung, metric survey, architecture, archaeology.

1. INTRODUCTION

The R. Lemaire International Centre for Conservation is a ‘postgraduate education and research centre, offering an advanced international and interdisciplinary study programme in the conservation and restoration of urban and rural architectural heritage. Graduates from the Centre are awarded the degree of Master in Conservation of Historic Towns and Buildings’ [RLICC 2002].

This Master programme consists of two academic years, it aims at training young professionals with a university or equivalent degree in architecture, urbanism, civil engineering, art history or

archaeology, e.a., in the field of the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites.

The combination of a variety of research activities and the intervention of an internationally recognized staff of guest lectures contribute to the continuous updating of the study programme.

In the tradition of the permanent updating, the centre has recently incorporated recent developments in digital 3D documentation methods.

Teaching Digital Three-Dimensional Documentation Methods to Architectural Heritage Conservators

Mario SANTANA QUINTERO, Barbara VAN DER WEE, Koenraad VAN BALEN, Herman NEUCKERMANS

Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation, Faculty of Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Figure 1: Students using a REDM Total Station for measuring a Chapel, IPW01 Lecture of English Heritage, Castle of Arenberg, Leuven 2001, Belgium

These methods have been integrated in the course module dealing with ‘Analysis and registration techniques’, which is focusing on presenting the documentation of the geometric morphology and texture of the subject and its context.

Moreover, this course is developed through a series of lectures from recognized international experts from different disciplines dealing with development and use of documentation methods, ranging from conventional hand-survey, image-based and electronic methods to Digital Information Systems.

In addition, some of the lectures also address the specific requirements for theoretical reconstitution of buildings (anastylosis).

These lectures provide an appropriate theoretical framework, combining recent technological developments in documentation methods, principles in the use of these tools, and its adapted application by explaining first-hand architectural conservation documentation projects.

In addition, the students are assisted in the use of these techniques, selecting the most sustainable methods in their own practical exercises within the framework of the course module of the ‘Integrated Project work’.

1. Theoretical framework

The lectures devoted to three-dimensional surveying tools included in the module Analysis and registration techniques provide an overview of available methods for three-dimensional documentation, consisting of capturing devices (non- and image based instruments), processing computer applications (Computer Aided Drafting), and dissemination tools (paper plotting and Information Systems).

The ranging of tools explained consists of electronic distance measurement instruments (Reflectorless Electronic Distance Measurements devices) and Long-range Mapping Scanners to image-based methods (stereo close-range architectural photogrammetry and rectified photography).

In addition, to explaining the available instruments, the contents are enhanced by the confrontation of their use with principals in documentation of built heritage.

Furthermore, each guest lecturer explains the application of the methods using real first-hand cases and eventual field demonstrations of their effectiveness.

The staff of lecturers includes:

- Practice of surveying historical buildings - Koen VAN BALEN (engineer-architect, Ph.D. in engineering; professor at the K.U.Leuven) – M. SANTANA-QUINTERO (Researcher, architect, Master in Conservation – KU Leuven – RWTH Aachen)

- Surveying techniques, including photogrammetry, Aerial survey, and photo interpretation - Yves EGELS (engineer; head of department at l’Institut Géographique National, Service de Photogrammétrie, Paris)

- Surveying techniques, including Electronic Distance Measurement methods – Bill BLAKE (Measured Survey Manager, English Heritage)

- Surveying techniques, including Terrestrial Long range Three-dimensional Scanning System and Advanced Information Systems in Architectural Heritage – Alonzo C. ADDISON (Director, Center for Design Visualization, UC Berkeley)

- Archaeological methods, including anastylosis

Figure 2: Students using Hand survey techniques for recording an architectural detail 1998, IPW1

- Friedmund HUEBER (Ph.D.,director of the L. Boltzmann Institut für Archäologische Bauforschung & Denkmalpflege, T.U. Wien) - Michael JANSEN (PhD, professor, RWTH Aachen; member of the UNESCO International Consult. Committee (ICC) to Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan)

- Architectural design theory and methods, CAAD: conceptual and physical modelling - Herman NEUCKERMANS (engineer-architect; Ph.D. in engineering; professor at the K.U.Leuven)

2. Practical framework

In the course module “Integrated Project Work: Conservation Project for a Building and its Urban Context”, the Centre provides the students the opportunity of exploring and applying directly the ‘theoretical insights’ (RLICC, 2002) extracted from the lectures taught in ‘Analysis and Registration Techniques’ in a real conservation project.

The Integrated Project Work staff includes:

- Coordinator : B. VAN DER WEE (architect, Master in Conservation; professor at the K.U.Leuven) - R. ENGELS (engineer-architect, Master in Conservation; Assistant)

- Survey : K. VAN BALEN (engineer-architect, Ph.D. in engineering; professor at the K.U.Leuven) - M. SANTANA QUINTERO (Researcher, architect, Master in Conservation – KU Leuven – RWTH Aachen) - B. VAN DER WEE (architect, Master in Conservation; professor at the K.U.Leuven)

- Historical Analysis : K. DE JONGE (engineer-architect, Ph.D. in engineering; professor at the K.U.Leuven) - L. VERPOEST (engineer-architect, Ph.D. in engineering; professor at the K.U.Leuven) - B. VAN DER WEE (architect, Master in Conservation; professor at the K.U.Leuven)

- Urban Analysis : A. MELISSINOS (architect; professor) - P. LIEVEVROUW (architect; professor)

- Technical Analysis : K. VAN BALEN (engineer-architect, Ph.D. in engineering; professor at the K.U.Leuven)

- Conservation project : Staff & Visiting professors - B. VAN DER WEE (architect, Master in Conservation; professor at the K.U.Leuven)

The practical work is undertaken in small groups, consisting of students of different origins and professional education. The preparation of the conservation project involves the preliminary preparation of a ‘dataset’ of measured representations of the building geometry, texture, and urban-topographic context.

The Student guidance, timing, and extend in the use of selected digital three-dimensional methods, including Reflectorless

Electronic Distance Measurement devices (REDM) and rectified photography is undertaken by specialized members of the teaching staff and by the guest professors, chosen according to the difficulty of the task.

Student guidance is undertaken by the members of the teaching staff and by the guest professors and specialists, chosen according to the subject selected.

2.1 Integrated Project Work 1: Approaching the problem of recording historic buildings: Conventional Hand-Survey Techniques

This first exercise consists of preparing a set of measured representations (orthogonal views: plan sections, sections, elevation, etc) using conventional hand-survey and pencil-drawing techniques of an architectural element (e.g. window, door, arch, etc) .

The aim is to confront the students to the problem of recording an element using a time constraint conventional tool, a technique that can deliver a high degree of on-site analysis and rationalization of

Figure 3: IPW 1, the resulting Hand drawing of an architectural detail of the Castle of Arenberg, Leuven 1997, Belgium (IPW1 - F. O’Mahony)

the history and condition of the subject be directly experiencing the geometry, texture, and dimension of the object (See Figures 2 and 3).

In addition, this exercise focuses on learning to read and understand an architectural element and to graphically communicate the result of the research.

The results are discussed with the staff in order to reach some conclusions about the aim of using these conventional documentation techniques and the contribution they can provide for the use of more advanced electronic and image-based recording tools.

2.2 Integrated Project Work 2: urban analysis:

This exercise aims at gathering an understanding the actual urban and historic evolution of a specific site within its urban context. The exercise does not focus on the elaboration of a detailed research of an architectural element or particular building but on confronting the general diagnosis of the problems in an urban quarter. Subsequently, these diagnosis solutions are presented in the formulation of policies.

Reading of the urban fabric comprises amongst others: historical analysis and growth evolution of the urban quarter, analysis of morphology of urban layout and architectural form, analysis of public space and traffic intensity, functional and sociological analysis of the quarter, confrontation with different actors of city development. Finally these analyses are synthesized in a evaluation of strengths, and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the urban quarter.

The representation in graphic documents concerning the urban context using similar techniques in presenting architectural detail can help understanding the richness and complexity of the urban shape and in structuring the identity of the urban public space as a negative of the architectural evidence.

2.3 Integrated Project Work 3: conservation project on a specific historical building and urban or rural site

The preparation of the conservation project involves a wide range of preliminary activities using an adequate methodology. Within the time schedule of the academic year many hours are reserved for research and personal work (in libraries, archives and on site), for discussions within the work group, and for the preparation of the documents illustrating the practical work (surveys, plans, photos,

etc.).

In this final long-term exercise and during the past academic year the Raymond Lemaire Centre has successfully incorporated the use of the following techniques for the preparation of the dataset of Measured representations of their particular subject and context:

- Reflectorless EDM Total Station (See Figure 4)

- Simple plan parallel rectified photography.

In order to provide adequate students guidance in the use of these techniques, the tools are explained in a two days exercise with the support of experts coming from the Metric Survey Team of English Heritage.

This short practical courses focuses on explaining common critical issues in the use of this more advanced techniques for capturing and Computer-Aided Drafting applications in representation historic buildings, including:

- Notion of scale: referring that even if CADR drawings are prepared 1:1 in the computer, the surveyor is required

Figure 4: a student using a REDM Total Station to record the interior of a Chapel, Monastery of Carthusian Monks, Antwerp 2002, Belgium, IPW3

to think about the plotting scale before performing the survey.

- Density of measurements: the use of Electronic and Image-based techniques provide sufficient tools to acquired more measurements of the object than a hand-survey tool, therefore the student needs to be aware of the fact that a higher density of measurements will provide a higher quality to the survey (e.g.; avoiding defining a wall edge with two points).

- Expression tools: the computer can provide the same quality of expression as a pencil drawing. The use of line-weight and different line types is encouraged.

Subsequently, the students are provided with a number of constraints:

- On-site timeframe: Implementation of the survey during a period of two to three days ‘in situ’

- Off-site support timeframe: the students are essentially provided with one full day for questions regarding the processing of the measurements collected.

These limitations are very useful, because the students are confronted to the need of performing a very effective survey thought the definition of a methodology, taking into consideration the:

- Definition of the problem: where is the intervention of the technique more relevant, perhaps to document areas that are not reachable with hand-survey tools and to establish the levels and orientations of the different spaces composing the building.

- Expected results: what are the requirements of precision and the amount of measurements to be gathered using the more sophisticated technique.

- Selection and combination of the Technique: application of the technique and method for processing the data collected, choosing techniques, which are more suitable for the problem.

- Evaluation and feedback: included in their final research dissertation, the students provide a feedback of the method and tools used on how they can be improved.

The resulting measured plans are used by the students to carry out thematic assessments about the condition of conservation and history of the subject and context, including:

Figure 5: A CADR 3D section drawing prepared to present possible interventions for the conservation of the building, IPW3 Convent of the Black Sisters, Leuven, Belgium [Privitera, L. et al, 2002]

Spatial and Typological Study (Context and architecture): deals with the analysis of the Building morphology and its context (topographic – Urban morphology). The analysis is carried out basically using the dataset prepared in the Measured representations ‘dataset’ (See Figure 5).

Historical Assessment: deals with the comparative study of historical documents and the answers to be found evidenced in the stratigraphy of the object, in order to clarify the historical chronology of the object, providing facts about the history of the building and historic context, in relation with the characteristics of the built environment surrounding it in past and present.

In this case, the measured survey plans are used as mapping instruments to identify the construction phasing, evidenced both in the documentary research sources and in the fabric of the subject; it is a comparative study that analyses and verifies these facts in the fabric to define a stratigraphy of the object.

This assessment makes use of different techniques, such as Historical Documentary research (Map regression, Iconographical research, and Archival-Bibliographical Research) and study of the stratigraphy of the fabric.

Condition Assessment: deals with the study of the fabric of the object by mapping the materials and weathering forms and its causes (Condition Mapping); as well as the Structural Analysis (Deformation, crack analysis, stability, etc). The metric survey dataset is used as base for this mapping process, monitoring of the mechanism of change in the fabric of the building, and to study the anatomy of the structural design (See Figures 6 and 7).

The study of the anatomy of the object deals with the analysis of the structural support design and changes, masonry sequence, jointing characteristics, materials used, and other relevant subjects associated with the construction.

3. Results and Conclusions

The presentation of Project Works prepared by the group of students of the current academic year showed a high degree of understanding of these recent developments in Three-dimensional documentation techniques and their adequate adoption of their potential and the needs in recording architectural heritage in view of its conservation.

4. Future perspectives

In relation to the Master’s programme:

Figure 6: A plan elevation prepared with the combination of REDM Total Station and plan parallel Digital Rectified Photography, the resulting CADR drawing prepared presents an assessment about the actual condition of the building, IPW3 Former Property Vandenpeerenboom, Anderlecht , Belgium [Devolver, R. et al, 2002]

The centre is looking at ways of incorporating more advanced three-dimensional recording techniques already presented in the theoretical framework of the curricula into the practical work of the students.

This perspective includes demonstrations of potentials in Long-Range Laser Mapping devices and making Stereo-Photogrammetry available for the students to apply in their own Integrated Practical Work 3.

In relation to Research:

The Centre has incorporated efforts in the development of an image-based acquisition and modeling tool, called VIRTERF [RLICC 2001] currently in a prototype state that introduces an ‘acquisition tools largely automated’ for the generation of three-dimensional depth maps, textures, and a cloud of points.

The 3D model resulting from this application is linked to an integrated information system that allows the identification, navigation, visualization and exploration of all kind of thematic information through a 3D geometric-textured model of the object.

REFERENCES

Addison, A. ‘Emerging Trends in Virtual Heritage’ IEEE Multimedia Journal, Vol 7/2 April-June 2000

Andrews, D., Blake, B., Fradgley, N., Lunnon, S. & Roberts, P. ‘The Presentation of Historic Building Survey in CAD’, English Heritage, Sterling, London 1999.

Devolver, R. Heirman, K. Suciu, E. Lascar, L. Integrated Project Work 3 Former Property Vandenpeerenboom, Anderlecht 2002

Fellin, V. Gomes, J. Misson, J.S. Lemineur, P. Integrated Project Work 3 Former Monastery of Carthusian Monks, Antwerp 2002

Privitera, L. Wuyts, V. Cufi, D. Mikrou, T. Saito, A. Flores de la Cuba, J. Integrated Project Work 3 Convent of the Black Sisters, Leuven 2002

Purcar, C. Debonne, V. Olivier, F. Gauthier, P. Integrated Project Work 3 Anneessens Tower and Part of the First City Wall of Brussels, Brussels 2002

Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation Homepage http://rlicc.asro.kuleuven.ac.be (Last visited: 05/07/2002)

Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation – Master Programme 2000 - 2001

Saint Aubin, J.P. ‘Le Relev et la Reprsentation de l’Architecture’, Service de l’Inventaire Gnral, Paris 1992.

Schouteden, J. Pollefeys, M. Vergauwen, M. & Van Gool, L. ‘Image-based 3D Acquisition tool for Architectural Conservation’ Proceedings of the Surveying and Documentation of Histoirc Buildings – Monuments – Sites Traditional and Modern Methods, Cipa 2001 International Symposium, Potsdam 2001.

Swallow, P. Watt, D. & Ashton, R. ‘Measurement and Recording of Historic Buildings’ , Donhead, London 1993.

VIRTERF: “ Three dimensional digital information system for the documentation, representation and conservation of our architectural heritage.” The abbreviation VIRTERF refers to Virtual Heritage (in Dutch). The project started on September the 1rst 1999 and lasts for a period of two years. It was developed by a Research Consortium, including the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, the Raymond Lemaire Centre for Conservation, the Department of Electronics, and the Department of Mechanics of the KU Leuven in Belgium. The Flemish Community financed the project. http://virterf.asro.kuleuven.ac.be/virterf/ (Last visited: 20/11/2001)

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mario Santana Quintero is Responsable for the Integration of Digital Documentation Techniques in the Module IPW (Master in Conservation), he holds a degree in architecture and Master in Conservation at the KULeuven. He can be contacted at: RLICC - KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 01, B3001 Leuven(Heverlee), Belgium. Email: [email protected] Van der Wee is the Coordinator of the Integrated Project Work (Master in Conservation) and Professor at the K.U.Leuven; independent architect; she holds degrees of Architect and a Master in Conservation of Historic Towns and Buildings from R. Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (KU leuven). She can be contacted at: RLICC - KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 01, B3001 Leuven(Heverlee), Belgium. Email: [email protected] Van Balen is the Coordinator of the Module of Analysis and registration techniques (Master in Conservation) and a Professor at the KU Leuven, he holds a degree of Architectural Engineer and a Ph.D. in engineering from the KU Leuven. He can be contacted at: RLICC - KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 01, B3001 Leuven(Heverlee), Belgium. Email: [email protected] Neuckermans is the Coordinator of the Module of Analysis and registration techniques (Master in Conservation); and a professor at the KU Leuven, he holds a degree of Architectural Engineer and a Ph.D. in engineering from the KU Leuven. He can be contacted at: Dept. ASRO - KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 01, B3001 Leuven(Heverlee), Belgium. Email: [email protected]

Figure 7: A plan elevation prepared with the combination of REDM Total Station and plan parallel Digital Rectified Photography, the resulting CADR drawing prepared presents an assessment about the actual condition of the building using a chart explaining the different weathering forms affecting the fabric of the building, IPW3 Anneessens Tower and Part of the First City Wall of Brussels, Belgium [Purcar, C. et al, 2002]

Figure 8: the general ground map of the building, prepared with the combination of REDM Total Station and hand-survey measurements, the resulting CADR drawing prepared presents an assessment about the actual condition of the building, IPW3 Former Property Vandenpeerenboom, Anderlecht , Belgium [Devolver, R. et al, 2002]


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