75464 - Environmental Impact on Materials, Deterioration and Ageing M

Academic Year 2018/2019

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has basic knowledge of the environmental risk to cultural property caused by physical, chemical, biological and natural factors; basic information about environmental impact on the constituent materials in works of art; methodologies for assessing the microclimate in indoor and outdoor environment for a sustainable protection of cultural artefacts. In particular, at the end of the course he/she is able to specify criteria and methodologies for assessing the environmental risk and vulnerability of cultural heritage at local, regional and national scale and criteria and methods to plan strategies for preventive conservation.

Course contents

UNIT 1 - Physical, chemical, biological and other factors responsible for deterioration

UNIT 2 -Transport and deposition mechanisms of pollutants

UNIT 3 -Scientific principles of deterioration processes

UNIT 4 -Deterioration processes affecting low porous materials

UNIT 5 -Deterioration processes affecting high porous materials

UNIT 6 -Deterioration processes affecting air setting and hydraulic mortars

UNIT 7 -Field test and laboratory test

UNIT 8 -Case studies of diagnosis and monitoring

UNIT 9 -Damage functions

UNIT 10 - Climate change impact on the built cultural heritage

UNIT 11 – Microclimate, monitoring and assessment environment

UNIT 12 - Practical work in situ and/or laboratory

Teaching methods

Lectures with slides

Interactive workshop

Working groups

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of a discussion on the topics focused on atmospheric impact on cultural heritage covered in class aimed at the evaluation of the knowledge acquired during the course, the possession of a specific language and the acquisition of an organic vision on atmosphere - material interactions.
Good or excellent grades can be achieved by students who demonstrate a critical knowledge of the subject, who are able to apply theoretical concepts to practical examples (historical buildings, sites, indoor environments) and make use of an appropriate language. Mostly mnemonic knowledge, limited abilities of synthesis and analysis and imprecise language lead to grades ranging from discrete to sufficient. Important gaps, inappropriate language, lack of an overview of the topics covered will inevitably lead to a barely adequate grade or to a negative evaluation.

Teaching tools

Slides of all the lectures

Office hours

See the website of Cristina Sabbioni

See the website of Alessandra Bonazza