Terrestrial and UAV based infrared thermography for mapping and investigating the humidity of historical buildings. The case of the Castle in Calvello.

Abstract

Humidity is one of the most frequent causes of damage to the architectural heritage. An effective and non-invasive way to detect the presence of humidity and identify the possible causes, from capillary rise to infiltration and condensation, is infrared thermography. The paper shows and describes the results from terrestrial and UAV-based (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) thermography for understanding the cause-effect mechanisms of infiltration humidity in some halls of the castle of Calvello (in Basilicata), some of them characterized by walls paintings. The analysis of the acquired data allowed us to understand the nature of the damage caused by humidity and water infiltration in the castle structures, and to be able to put in place a plan for risk mitigation and damage resolution.