GIS management of NDT results for the spatial estimation of environmental risks to historic monuments

Infrared thermographs coordinated with the results of chemical analysis of stone decay products (soluble salts-ion concentrations) and the results of humidity contents permits to evaluate environmental impact assessment on historic masonries. Hence, it provides information in order to assess incompatible environmental management and to valuate new uses of cultural goods. A G.I.S. application on the Medieval Fortification of Rhodes was developed by the NTUA Materials Science and Engineering Section, using Arc/Info software for the display, query and generally management, of these data. A raster image of the old city serves as the main orientation base map, while measurements of distance and area can be displayed directly on a vector map. These can then be functionally seamlessly integrated in the existing data base with the objective to identify any possible spatial relationships between the various variables (i.e. humidity versus distance from the underground sewage system), as well as to create a structure, which will be capable of accommodating future data and thus develop into a comprehensive and useful tool for data integration and analysis. Devaluating cultural heritage derives form the inevitable marine and urban atmosphere, but as well from the town planning related uses and incompatible environmental management. Environmental loads can be visualized in their spatial distribution in the raster map as salt spray sources, pollution sources and humidity sources. Risk Analysis II, C.A. Brebbia (Editor) © 2000 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-830-9