Final Report Summary - CULT-STRAT (Assessment of Air Pollution Effects on Cultural Heritage - Management Strategies)
Air pollution is only one of the threats for monuments which are preserved as part of countries' national heritage. Nevertheless, its impacts are measurable and in many cases obvious and significant questions arise regarding the extent of damages on buildings and statues, the cost for repairs, the prevention of unnecessary losses and the importance of the monuments' maintenance for the general public.
The CULT-STRAT project aimed to answer these questions and to integrate knowledge produced by previous research attempts and information derived from workshops into a reference manual. Therefore, existing recommendations for the reduction of pollutants in the proximity of cultural heritage areas were evaluated along with actions aiming to reach target values and minimise corrosion costs. In addition, methodologies for performing risk assessment studies on various geographical scales were developed.
The potential damage and associated costs were mapped for different areas based both on measured data and modelled future scenarios. Corrosion maps were produced for zinc, carbon steel, copper, bronze and Portland limestone, which were selected as primary indicators for corrosion and verified in a network of test sites for a long period. Primary indicators for soiling were also identified; however additional research was required to finalise these selections.
Furthermore, numerous case studies were examined to enhance understanding of the following issues:
1. categories of materials to be taken into consideration for life cycle or life time derivations;
2. life cycle or life time estimates that could serve as a basis for management strategies;
3. cost and benefit methodologies to be adopted for comparative studies;
4. evaluation of specific cost and benefit analyses for selected heritage types in reference cities and regions.
Two workshops were successfully organised, with attendants representing different fields of expertise, to disseminate and discuss CULT-STRAT findings. Furthermore, a book was published combining the results of recent research with practical information and providing a reference manual for researchers, policy makers, economists and managers working in cultural heritage protection.
The CULT-STRAT project aimed to answer these questions and to integrate knowledge produced by previous research attempts and information derived from workshops into a reference manual. Therefore, existing recommendations for the reduction of pollutants in the proximity of cultural heritage areas were evaluated along with actions aiming to reach target values and minimise corrosion costs. In addition, methodologies for performing risk assessment studies on various geographical scales were developed.
The potential damage and associated costs were mapped for different areas based both on measured data and modelled future scenarios. Corrosion maps were produced for zinc, carbon steel, copper, bronze and Portland limestone, which were selected as primary indicators for corrosion and verified in a network of test sites for a long period. Primary indicators for soiling were also identified; however additional research was required to finalise these selections.
Furthermore, numerous case studies were examined to enhance understanding of the following issues:
1. categories of materials to be taken into consideration for life cycle or life time derivations;
2. life cycle or life time estimates that could serve as a basis for management strategies;
3. cost and benefit methodologies to be adopted for comparative studies;
4. evaluation of specific cost and benefit analyses for selected heritage types in reference cities and regions.
Two workshops were successfully organised, with attendants representing different fields of expertise, to disseminate and discuss CULT-STRAT findings. Furthermore, a book was published combining the results of recent research with practical information and providing a reference manual for researchers, policy makers, economists and managers working in cultural heritage protection.