On Modeling an Innovative Monitoring Network for Protecting and Managing Cultural Heritage from Risk Events

In this paper the model of an Innovative Monitoring Network involving properly connected nodes to develop an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution for preventive maintenance of historical centres from early warnings is proposed. It is well known that the protection of historical centres generally goes from a large-scale monitoring to a local one and it could be supported by a unique ICT solution. More in detail, the models of a virtually organized monitoring system could enable the implementation of automated analyses by presenting various alert levels. An adequate ICT solution tool would allow to define a monitoring network for a shared processing of data and results. Thus, a possible retrofit solution could be planned for pilot cases shared among the nodes of the network on the basis of a suitable procedure utilizing a retrofit catalogue. The final objective would consist in providing a model of an innovative tool to identify hazards, damages and possible retrofit solutions for historical centres, assuring an easy early warning support for stakeholders. The action could proactively target the needs and requirements of users, such as decision makers responsible for damage mitigation and safeguarding of cultural heritage assets.

Conversion of a digital camera into a non-contact colorimeter for use in stone cultural heritage: The application case to Spanish granites

In this study, a digital CMOS camera was calibrated for use as a non-contact colorimeter for measuring the color of granite artworks. The low chroma values of the granite, which yield similar stimulation of the three color channels of the camera, proved to be the most challenging aspect of the task. The appropriate parameters for converting the device-dependent RGB color space into a device-independent color space were established. For this purpose, the color of a large number of Munsell samples (corresponding to the previously defined color gamut of granite) was measured with a digital camera and with a spectrophotometer (reference instrument). The color data were then compared using the CIELAB color formulae. The best correlations between measurements were obtained when the camera works to 10-bits and the spectrophotometric measures in SCI mode. Finally, the calibrated instrument was used successfully to measure the color of six commercial varieties of Spanish granite.

Geological risk assessment of Amtoudi Agadir in southern Morocco: a key case for sustainable cultural heritage

Medieval fortified granaries known as “agadirs” are very common in southern Morocco, being catalogued as world cultural heritage by United Nations. These Berber buildings (made of stones and tree trunks) usually located on rocky promontories, constitute historical testimonials related to the origin of Morocco, and, as tourist attractions, have a positive impact on the local economy. The sustainability of these ancient monuments requires geological-risk evaluations of the massif stability under the agadir with the proposal of stabilization measures, and an architectonic analysis with appropriate maintenance of the structural elements. An interdisciplinary study including climate, seismicity, hydrology, geology, geomorphology, geotechnical surveys of the massif, and diagnosis of the degradation of structural elements have been performed on the Amtoudi Agadir, selected as a case study. The main findings from this study are that the prevalent rocks used for construction (coming from the underlying substratum) are good-quality arkosic sandstones; the SW cliffs under the agadir are unstable under water saturation; some masonry walls are too thin and lack interlocking stones and mortar; and failures in the beams (due to flexure, fracture, and exhaustion in the resistance due to insect attacks or plant roots) are common. The basic risk assessment of ancient buildings of cultural heritage and their geologic substratum are needed especially in undeveloped areas with limited capacity to implement durable conservation policies. Therefore, recommendations have been provided to ensure the stability and maintenance of this important archaeological site.

Tourism potential analysis of the castles of Vinalopó, Spain: an opportunity for social and tourist development of cultural heritage

Within the overall framework of the renewal process of coastal tourist destinations, cultural heritage has frequently been used as a key argument for the introduction and development of strategies for the diversification and differentiation of the traditional tourist product based on sun and sand. This is the situation of the province of Alicante, identified with the Costa Blanca geotourism brand, where there are important economic issues that could contribute to the renewal of this coastal tourist destination. One of the most significant heritage values of this space consists of a series of medieval fortresses located along the axis of the Vinalopó River, which has acted since prehistoric times as a natural route from within the provincial mainland to the coast. It is precisely the argument of this historical, territorial and landscape content that has been used repeatedly in recent years to develop initiatives aimed at the creation of a tourist product, currently inexistent, based on the route of the castles of Vinalopó. This communication aims to analyse the degree of tourism potential of the fortresses located in the towns of Biar, Banyeres de Mariola, Sax, Villena, Novelda, Elda, Petrer and Elche, which constitute the core of municipalities where these medieval fortresses are located, finally pointing out some proposals for the creation of a heritage tourism product.

Renovación de destinos litorales maduros a partir del patrimonio cultural: Plan Costa Blanca Cultura

El destino turístico Costa Blanca se caracteriza por la existencia de una amplia oferta turística y por su situación privilegiada respecto a los mercados potenciales de demanda. En la actualidad, ambas características no son suficientes para garantizar la competitividad de este espacio; en un contexto turístico enormemente dinámico en el que la diversidad de elementos de atracción y la imagen del destino puede incidir en la decisión de viaje de los turistas. Por ello, ante la necesidad de acometer procesos de renovación del destino Costa Blanca que permitan garantizar la competitividad de la actividad en términos territoriales y económicos, se apuesta por el patrimonio cultural como uno de los argumentos que mayores posibilidades puede ofrecer desde el ámbito de la planificación del destino turístico para diseñar y ejecutar actuaciones encaminadas a la renovación del mismo. Así, la presente comunicación se basa en los principales resultados obtenidos en el Plan Costa Blanca Cultura, con el objetivo de analizar el grado de uso turístico del patrimonio cultural de la provincia de Alicante, para a partir de un diagnóstico previo, proponer estrategias y actuaciones encaminadas al diseño y gestión posterior de productos temáticos de naturaleza cultural. La metodología de trabajo se ha basado entre otras acciones, en la participación de los agentes turísticos y sociales, aspecto que ha llevado a la selección de las líneas de trabajo prioritarias basadas en temas que superarían la dicotomía entre litoral e interior otorgando al patrimonio un papel integrador del territorio, y a la propuesta de un modelo de gestión innovador en el destino Costa Blanca.

Els instruments científics dels instituts d'ensenyament mitjà: un extraordinari patrimoni cultural que hem de preservar i estudiar

Several important collections of scientific instruments are preserved in secondary schools but just a small group have been properly catalogued and studied. Unfortunately, they are not commonly regarded as a relevant part of the cultural heritage. However, recent trends in history of science offer new perspectives to study these objects from new points of view. We review some recent studies about collections of scientific instruments in secondary schools and we offer preliminary conclusions of our current work on this topic.

The Conservation of our Built Heritage, in Particular Statues in Aberdeen, Evaluated Through a Social and Historical Context and Their Impact, Through the Use of 3D Scanning

Cultural heritage sites all over the world are at risk due to aggressive urban expansion, development, wars and general obsolescence. Not all objects are recorded in detail although they may have social and historical significance. For example more emphasis is placed on the recording of castles and palaces than on crofters’ cottages or tenement blocks, although their history can be just as rich. This paper will investigate the historic fabric of Aberdeen through the use of digital scanning, supported by a range of media including old photographs and paintings. Dissemination of social heritage through visualisations will be explored and how this can aid the understanding of space within the city or specific area. Focus will be given to the major statues/monuments within the context of the city centre, exploring their importance in their environment. In addition studying why many have been re-located away from their original site, the reasons why, and how we have perhaps lost some of the social and historical importance of why that monument was first located there. It will be argued that Digital Media could be utilised for much more than re-creation and re-presentation of physical entities. Digital scanning, in association with visualisation tools, is used to capture the essence of both the cultural heritage and the society that created or used the sites in association with visualisation tools and in some way re-enacting the original importance placed upon the monument in its original location, through adoption of BIM Heritage.

O registro do patrimônio cultural imaterial: as práticas do IPHAN e do IEPHA/MG

Patrimônio cultural é tudo aquilo que possui significado social e representa identidades, sendo dividido em duas principais categorias: material e imaterial. O reconhecimento deste último foi construído ao longo de um processo de maturação, ampliação de debates, legislação e ação de órgãos públicos nacionais e internacionais. No Brasil, a Constituição Federal de 1988 incorporou, ao lado do patrimônio material, as diversas formas de expressão e os modos de criar, fazer e viver, como patrimônio imaterial, adotando novos instrumentos de proteção aos bens culturais: o registro e o inventário. Entretanto, somente pelo Decreto 3.551/2000 é que o registro do imaterial foi definitivamente normatizado. Paulatinamente, ocorreu a descentralização da legislação e das políticas públicas, que passaram a ser compartilhadas por União, Estados e Municípios e, nesse sentido, um caso peculiar na gestão do patrimônio cultural ocorreu no estado de Minas Gerais, no qual o Instituto Estadual do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico de Minas Gerais (IEPHA/MG) assumiu um valioso papel na preservação do patrimônio cultural, onde as ações municipais voltadas ao patrimônio cultural no Estado contam com repasses financeiros, via distribuição do Imposto Sobre Mercadorias e Serviços (ICMS). Esse cenário propiciou um campo para a reflexão e debate sobre o papel e a função desse órgão estadual frente às práticas de identificação, valorização e promoção do patrimônio imaterial de Minas Gerais.

Em busca da originalidade do patrimônio cultural na cidade-espetáculo: o caso da Casa Boehm em Joinville/SC

Este trabalho tem o intuito de discutir como um imóvel tombado na cidade de Joinville/SC vem respondendo ao mundo das influências contemporâneas da espetacularização. A Casa Boehm, hoje uma loja de calçados no comércio, foi construída em 1927 e tombada em 2001, por meio do Processo de Tombamento PFCC n. 627/003, de 10 de abril de 2000, homologado pelo Decreto n. 3.461/2001, do Governador do Estado, na época, Esperidião Amin. O imóvel vem sofrendo alterações físicas, que afetam princípios de unidade, volumetria, padrões de estilo arquitetônico, o que faz com surjam debates a respeito dos seus valores estéticos. A depender do gosto dos locatários, especialmente no que se referee às cores externas, sem autorização, vislumbra-se a partir da opinião dos participantes do Conselho de Patrimônio da cidade - COMPHAAN, a espetacularização que este bem vem suportando em nome de uma sociedade de consumo, que apenas visa o lucro, apesar de inúmeros debates teóricos acerca da preservação. Desta forma, quando se pensa em restauração de um patrimônio cultural edificado, a preocupação imanente é com a sua imagem subjetiva/simbólica, e ainda, não menos importante, no que se refere às cores utilizadas nas pinturas das edificações. A metodologia utilizada é qualitativa, por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, documentais no Arquivo Histórico de Joinville – AHJ e na Fundação Cultural de Joinville – FCJ e, etnográfica. A etnografia, com nuances interdisciplinares, foi realizada nestes mesmos Arquivos da cidade de Joinville, nos arredores do bem em questão e analisando algumas impressões obtidas nas reuniões do Conselho de Patrimônio da cidade – COMPHAAN. Este estudo é parte integrante da pesquisa para doutoramento em Ciências Humanas, na Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC. Parte-se da hipótese inicial de que as discussões que envolvem as cores em bens tombados têm se relacionado com a autenticidade e a integridade dos conjuntos nos centros históricos. Porém, vai além, já que o espetáculo buscado pelos gestores públicos, com intento de valorizar suas cidades, acaba por homogeneizar esses territórios em torno de uma ideia de patrimônio que tem sido questionada por alguns teóricos.

Fish diversity and traditional fishing methods in semiarid irrigated system in the Bajo Vinalopó region, Southeastern Spain

The aim of this paper is to obtain a comprehensive picture of the importance of the fish fauna in the wetlands and coastal lagoons of the Bajo Vinalopó region (Alicante, South eastern Spain) and the ecological, historical and cultural value of the traditional knowledge on fishing maintained by local people. We have compiled data from different information sources: (1) the revision of historical archives, (2) personal interviews and collaborative research, and (3) ecological and water quality data. The results show that the area sustains important fish fauna diversity (17 species) and that local people have inherited a considerable traditional knowledge on fishing methods (11 modalities), on the maintenance and sound management of the water system and on the ecology and behaviour of fish. We conclude that a comprehensive consideration of all these ecological, historical and socio-cultural aspects related to fish and fishing shows clearly the value of this ecological and cultural heritage and provides a necessary base for a sustainable management of the area.

Inventario y descripción de los hornos de cal en el agrosistema tradicional de la Finca Buixcarró (P.N. Sierra de Mariola)

Se ha realizado un inventario de los hornos de cal en la Finca Buixcarró, término municipal de Bocairente (Valencia), situada en el Parque Natural de la Sierra de Mariola. Para localizar los hornos, se ha contado con la colaboración del responsable técnico y también se fotointerpretarán mediante la aplicación Google Earth, con tal de encontrar los hornos. Para ello se elaborará una capa de puntos con formato *.kml, posteriormente introduciremos en al GPS, mediante el software (MapSource). Se muestreó la finca en búsqueda de hornos y se georreferenció cada uno de ellos mediante la utilización de un dispositivo GPS, generando un waypoint con su X-Y correspondiente. Una vez georreferenciados los hornos de la finca con formato *.gpx, se elaboró la cartografía correspondiente. Se utilizará GPSBabel y QuantumGis para elaborar la cartografía de los hornos de cal. Se han registrado un total de 24 hornos de cal, de los cuales el 60% presentan un estado de degradación bastante elevado. Se han identificado 20 categorías de usos del suelo, siendo el bosque mixto (Pinus halepensis – Quercus ilex) y el pinar carrasco (Pinus halepensis) las coberturas que mayor superficie ocupan. El inventariado de estas infraestructuras contribuye a la conservación del patrimonio material y cultural de este espacio natural protegido.

Ciudad de Vacaciones 1933. El concurso internacional para Playa de San Juan (Alicante)

En 1933, por iniciativa municipal y con el apoyo del Gobierno, con la intención de captar un turismo extranjero y nacional de élite generando una nueva ‘industria’, se convoca el concurso de anteproyectos para la construcción de una ciudad satélite (a modo de ciudad jardín) para destinarla a ciudad de vacaciones en la Playa de San Juan (cvPSJ), Alicante, al que se presentan tres propuestas. Aquí se estudia el anteproyecto ganador (de P. Muguruza), que resulta pionero por las técnicas urbanísticas empleadas (información y zonificación), por la aplicación de la fotografía para la inserción de arquitecturas y equipamientos y por la sensibilidad desplegada en la protección del patrimonio cultural (medioambiental e histórico). Los referentes para este macro complejo turístico (de casi 10 km2), coetáneo a la Ciutat del Repós i Vacances (CRV) de Castelldefels, no proceden tanto de Europa como de EUA. Se realiza un análisis pormenorizado de la ordenación urbanística en atención a cómo el territorio existente la condiciona y se entrelaza con estrategias de promoción turística, donde se combinan la tríada: hotel, deporte y naturaleza (alojamiento, ocio y salud). Pero toda la ciudad está enfocada a un turismo burgués, para el que se prevé una arquitectura comercial que pronto envejecería en su repertorio. Veinticinco años después, en 1958, cuando las condiciones económicas y sociales fueron favorables al desarrollo de la zona, el mundo sería ya otro y el proyecto quedó obsoleto.

Effect of water vapour condensation on the radon content in subsurface air in a hypogeal inactive-volcanic environment in Galdar cave, Spain

Fluctuations of trace gas activity as a response to variations in weather and microclimate conditions were monitored over a year in a shallow volcanic cave (Painted Cave, Galdar, Canary Islands, Spain). 222Rn concentration was used due to its greater sensitivity to hygrothermal variations than CO2 concentration. Radon concentration in the cave increases as effective vapour condensation within the porous system of the rock surfaces inside the cave increases due to humidity levels of more than 70%. Condensed water content in pores was assessed and linked to a reduction in the direct passage of trace gases. Fluctuations in radon activity as a response to variations in weather and microclimate conditions were statistically identified by clustering entropy changes on the radon signal and parameterised to predict radon concentration anomalies. This raises important implications for other research fields, including the surveillance of shallow volcanic and seismic activity, preventive conservation of cultural heritage in indoor spaces, indoor air quality control and studies to improve understanding of the role of subterranean terrestrial ecosystems as reservoirs and/or temporary sources of trace gases.

Turismo bélico en el Vinalopó. Los lugares de la guerra como recurso potencial

La recuperación del patrimonio vinculado a la guerra civil española es un tema controvertido que gana relevancia desde distintos enfoques. Uno de ellos es su potencial simbólico y de refuerzo de la identidad, en la que basar nuevas propuestas turísticas para la diversificación económica. Apenas es conocida la importancia de este periodo de la historia en el Vinalopó y, sin embargo, éste posee un claro valor para la diferenciación de sus municipios con fines educativos, recreativos y turísticos.