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International Journal of Architectural Heritage
Conservation, Analysis, and Restoration
Volume 10, 2016 - Issue 8
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Original Articles

Vulnerability Index: A New Approach for Preventive Conservation of Monuments

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Pages 1078-1100 | Received 18 Sep 2015, Accepted 03 May 2016, Published online: 23 Jun 2016
 

ABSTRACT

A new approach is developed for vulnerability analysis of monuments based on a matrix model and the relationships with static and structural factors, climatic conditions, air quality, urban planning and social agents for preventive conservation of cultural heritage in urban centers.

The objective is to provide tools for decision-makers in the current recession to allow them to prioritize strategies for cultural heritage preservation in a town, where territorial policies are applied and regions where restoration budget is distributed. This new tool allows to classify monuments in order to prioritize restoration and is useful in deeper analysis associated to risks assessment.

The degradation of building materials and structures is mainly due to deterioration caused by structural instability, weathering, pollution, and anthropogenic damage. The vulnerability approach of each monument (vulnerability indexes) was calculated, based on a Leopold matrix that depends on intrinsic variables and the life of the monuments. For the very first time, the influence of different deterioration agents has been balanced with a Delphi forecast based on architects’ opinions.

The result is a new pre-Artificial Intelligence tool that enables users to reproduce human reasoning to study relations between vulnerability factors, risk factors, and the historical parameters of the monuments.

Funding

This article has been supported and based on the Methodology developed by two Projects: RIVUPH, an Excellence Project of Junta de Andalucia (code HUM-6775), and Art-Risk, a RETOS project of Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BIA2015-64878-R, MINECO/FEDER, UE). Part of the research has been carried out thanks to the grant of Rocío Ortiz from Cei-Patrimonio UN-10.

Additional information

Funding

This article has been supported and based on the Methodology developed by two Projects: RIVUPH, an Excellence Project of Junta de Andalucia (code HUM-6775), and Art-Risk, a RETOS project of Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BIA2015-64878-R, MINECO/FEDER, UE). Part of the research has been carried out thanks to the grant of Rocío Ortiz from Cei-Patrimonio UN-10.

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