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One of the most beautiful elements of cultural heritage in Romanian villages is the Transylvanian wooden churches. Unfortunately, these heritage elements have experienced considerable deterioration. This paper presents the results of a project whose main goal was the scientific investigation of the Imperial Gates belonging to the wooden church in Sălis , ca, Cluj County, Romania. To digitally preserve and document the Imperial Gates, a scientific investigation into the wooden support and the painting materials (ground, pigments) were performed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. FTIR spectroscopy provided information about the wooden support, whereas XRF and FTIR methods were used to structurally characterize the painting materials. These structural data were correlated with the artistic, theological, and historical analysis of the religious heritage monument. Starting from the information acquired about the wooden support and the painting materials, the Imperial Gates were three-dimensional (3D) scanned using state-of-the-art laser scanners. The digitization of the Imperial Gates and the interior of the church was performed to maintain the current preservation status and disseminate this information to the public using online instruments.

Part of an indestructible component of any orthodox church, the Imperial Gates represent an important symbol in our cultural heritage. But in many cases the Imperial Gates from the wooden churches were damaged. In order to preserve and restore them, the scientific investigations of the Imperial Gate belonging to Nicula Monastery wooden church were performed by employing nondestructive and destructive methods. The wood essence was established, with its “health” status being investigated by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) thermal analysis. The painting materials employed by popular artists were determined by FTIR and XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectroscopy as gypsum, calcite (rear background), lead white (Archangel Clothes), lead-minium (Archangel Clothes, leaf), iron oxide (Imperial Gate frame), malachite (green), Prussian blue (blue), orpiment (yellow), aliphatic, ester, and protein (probably egg yolk degradation products). Using similar colors as in the original artwork (resulting from the scientific investigation of the pigments) a 3D reconstruction has been performed. The restored Imperial Gates are placed in the old Nicula wooden church, being included into a tourist and religious circuit.

Daily life in today’s dynamic world requires fast adaptation of people’s behavior to new challenges emerged from environmental, health, urban housing, transportation, etc. problems. A strong and complex tool in changing behaviors, education consumes significant resources and requires time for effective impact. The present study proposes a roadmap, integrating advanced methods for industrial competitive development (QFD) in configuring efficient educational interventions for changing people’s behavior on special thematic areas, such as environment and recycling. A literature review on applicable behavioral theories led to more than 30 behavioral factors (constructs) targetable by education, their specific impact evaluation being the subject of a survey among education professionals. Finally, to reach a mapping of efficient interventions with low costs, high impact and fast results criteria, educational interventions and behavioral factors were correlated by the QFD method on three dimensions addressing: teachers and trainers, contents and tools, respectively the national & institutional level. The current research results are focused particularly on changing recycling behaviors, but the overall concept and methodology can be expanded to incorporate any preoccupation in the areas of environment and health, as long-term drivers of public well-being.