Non-destructive techniques as a tool for the protection of built cultural heritage

Recent technological developments in the field of non-destructive techniques have enhanced their usefulness in the field of built cultural heritage protection, and are indispensable tools for the characterisation of materials, detection of wear and degradation of materials, assessment of interventions' effectiveness and evaluation of compatible materials and processes. State-of-the-art techniques such as digital image processing, infrared thermography, ground penetrating radar, ultrasonic testing and fibre-optic microscopy, and their respective signal and image analyses, validated by in-lab analyses, allow the successful implementation of an integrated approach for the protection of built cultural heritage which encompasses scientific support to decision making. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.