MICROCLIMATE AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION: PROBABILISTIC DAMAGE FUNCTIONS AS RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS

The conservation of cultural heritage stands as an essential priority to safeguard our cultural legacy for future generations. Within this framework, microclimatology emerges as a cornerstone in comprehending and managing environmental conditions within museum and monumental settings. This study aims to delve into current methodologies for assessing microclimatic conditions and ensuring the preservation of artworks and monuments. Its primary objective is to develop a theoretical and practical framework for applying damage functions within the realm of hazard assessment. In the field of microclimatology for cultural heritage, there is a shift towards dynamic approaches that consider specific environmental factors and associated degradation processes, departing from static approaches relying on optimal universal values for material conservation. The precise identification and evaluation of these factors are pivotal in crafting targeted risk management strategies and averting long-term damage. This study endeavors to contribute to a deeper understanding of these dynamics and provide pragmatic guidelines for optimal cultural heritage conservation through microclimatic analysis. Several case studies have been meticulously chosen to represent various cultural heritage contexts and illustrate potential monitoring strategies. These encompass Parco del Paradiso in Chiavenna, the Archives of Bressanone, the Studio-Museum Francesco Messina in Milan. The methods employed include the assimilation of monitored microclimatic data through specifically crafted protocols for each case study, coupled with climate data obtained from reanalysis models or meteorological stations, following correction and validation. Key research findings encompass the characterization of microclimatic conditions through a transdisciplinary lens, the applicability of damage functions, and the crucial interplay with the principles and practices of risk analysis. On a practical level, this involves defining a straightforward methodology for utilizing damage functions to assess the suitability of the microclimate for conservation, with potential applicability to past data to assess the evolution of environmental conditions and degradation processes over time. Among the original contributions lies the introduction of a new damage function pertaining to paper-damaging insects and the implementation of a novel algorithm utilizing infrared thermography to examine the effects of biofilms on stone substrates. These contributions offer fresh perspectives and methodologies for evaluating and managing risk in the conservation of cultural heritage.