The Mensiochronology Analysis Supported by New Advanced Survey Techniques: Field Tests in Milanese Area

Abstract

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Mensiochronology of brickwork, even in areas where reference curves have been constructed and well tested, requires precise measurements and a representative amount of data due to the many factors affecting the reliability of the measurements, such as the defects caused by the time and the environment that changed the geometry of the bricks (deformation or lack of material along the edges), as well as the operators’ skills. Sometimes, the number of measurable bricks is limited in a wall, or in a stratigraphic unit. Furthermore, if a scaffolding is not available, the analysis is concentrated only on the lower courses of the bricks, being not possible to directly measure the bricks of the higher levels. In order to implement the number of bricks taken into account for this study, a comparison from direct measurements and indirect measurements is here proposed.</p><p>The aim of this paper is to explore the applications of photogrammetry for undertaking brick measurements for chronological dating: its advantage and drawbacks. Using high-resolution digital rectified pictures, the masonry texture of some well-documented building prospects was scaled into vector graphic software for recording the measures of the bricks. The results presented here by the authors are an attempt for validating this method for future applications. In detail, three case studies are analysed in the historic centre of Vimercate (Italy) testing the effectiveness of the presented method on dated buildings that display diverse features, including the presence of reused bricks, possibly coming from dismantled pre-existing structures. The results proved that the proposed geomatics method entails an accuracy that does not affect the usability of data for the investigation of buildings and the material culture inbuilt.</p>

Non-Invasive Characterisation of the Wall Paintings in the Byzantine Church of Palazzo Simi (Bari, Italy) and Digital Photogrammetric Survey for a Pigment Mapping

“…Among them, digital photogrammetry is a cheap and versatile reconstruction technique, and has had positive implications in the study and digital representation of any type of cultural heritage, i.e., archaeological [31,32] and inaccessible sites [33][34][35][36][37][38], underwater ruins [35] and small artefacts [39,40]. Moreover, in the field of scientific research, the digital products obtained can be useful not only for the virtual representation of an artwork but also in documentation [41], monitoring [42], in the analysis of states of degradation [43,44] and for material mapping [45][46][47][48][49].…”

Machine Learning for the Built Heritage Archaeological Study

“…The procedure involves collecting a sufficiently large sample of bricks, measuring them, analysing them statistically, and comparing them with a series of known cases that have been previously dated with certainty based on other absolute chronological indicators, such as written sources, inscriptions, ceramics, and so on. In all cases, this is fundamental to ensure a good definition of the area of application, because it is a method that works very well in local areas [9].…”

Innovative experiences in teaching conservation. Involving communities’ interests on preservation topics by fast investigations and social media dissemination

“… The mensiochronological analysis of the bricks used for different buildings of the center [2]  The relationships between the public streets and the facades of the historical building in the center.  Some analyses of the ancient quarters of the center.…”