Infrared thermographic inspection of murals and characterization of degradation in historic monuments

This work presents recent results of infrared thermographic assessment of murals at the Monastery of Molybdoskepastos in the Ioannina region (Greece). Infrared thermography is a real-time technique based on monitoring the temperature variation on the surface of materials and structures. This method identifies and interprets differences of surface temperature in the material, enabling the evaluation of damage distribution and accumulation. Infrared thermography is a non-destructive, full field and non-contact technique allowing the characterization of degradation in buildings including historic monuments. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.