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Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and...
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Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2025 | Viewed by 6878

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Antonina Chaban

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
National Research Council—National Institute of Optics, CNR-INO, Largo E. Fermi, 50125 Florence, Italy
Interests: non-invasive methodologies applied to the characterisation, diagnostics, and conservation treatment evaluation of architectural and archaeological surfaces
Dr. Jana Striova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute of Optics, National Council of Research, 50125 Florence, Italy
Interests: development of innovative protocols and systems (laser sources and spectroscopic imaging methods) for the diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage objects and their surfaces
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rita Deiana

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padova, Piazza Capitaniato 7, 35139 Padova, Italy
Interests: geophysical prospecting and non-invasive analysis of archaeological structures, historical buildings, and valuable surfaces (mosaics, frescoes, and stone coverings)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to share your research in MDPI’s Coatings (IF: 2.9) Special Issue on "Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage".

Architectural and archaeological surfaces are often highly valuable and fragile heritage assets, including wall paintings, mosaics, tiles, natural stone, and various types of polychrome and relief decorations, among others. The surface of these assets is exposed to various external risks, including environmental factors and intentional (vandalism) or unintentional damage, but its integrity can also be affected from the inside, through ageing processes in the immediate subsurface and the stability of the whole architectural/archaeological structure.

There is a strong demand for efficient technologies for the characterisation and conservation of valuable heritage surfaces in architecture and archaeology. This Special Issue collects research advancements proposed by heritage scientists, conservators and restorers, archaeologists, museum professionals, and art historians, among others, addressing the characterisation, documentation, study, monitoring, decision making, and conservation procedures of valuable architectural and archaeological surfaces.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews on the following (or similar) topics:

  • Advanced non-invasive methods for the characterisation of architectural and archaeological surfaces;
  • Advanced surveying and monitoring technologies for the preservation of architectural and archaeological surfaces;
  • Advanced technologies and approaches for the documentation of architectural and archaeological surfaces;
  • Advanced methods and materials for the conservation of architectural and archaeological surfaces;
  • Advanced interdisciplinary studies on the preservation of architectural and archaeological surfaces.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Antonina Chaban
Dr. Jana Striova
Dr. Rita Deiana
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • conservation
  • architectural surface
  • archaeological surface
  • non-invasive characterisation
  • heritage science

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 8603 KiB  
Article
First Identification of a Gypsum-Based Preparatory Layer on Polychrome Wooden Figurines from the Mawangdui Han Tomb No. 1 (2nd Century BCE), Changsha, China
by Ningning Xu, Tingyan Ren, Pan Xiao and Qi Liu
Coatings 2025, 15(4), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15040492 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 391
Abstract
This study presents the first scientific characterization of the white preparatory layer and polychrome pigments on painted wooden figurines excavated from the Mawangdui Tomb No. 1, dating to the Han dynasty. A combination of analytical techniques, including XRF mapping, SEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD, and [...] Read more.
This study presents the first scientific characterization of the white preparatory layer and polychrome pigments on painted wooden figurines excavated from the Mawangdui Tomb No. 1, dating to the Han dynasty. A combination of analytical techniques, including XRF mapping, SEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, was used to investigate the composition, structure, and potential additives in the white layer. The results reveal that the preparatory layer is primarily composed of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and calcite (CaCO3), with minor phases such as anhydrite and larnite. SEM observations show a porous microstructure of needle-like crystals, while spectroscopic data suggest possible traces of organic binders. The preparatory layer was likely applied to smooth surface irregularities and support polychrome decoration, such as cinnabar and carbon-based pigments, and may have also functioned as a putty in localized areas. This represents the first confirmed use of gypsum-based plaster in ancient Chinese woodcarving, showing unexpected parallels with surface preparation techniques used in New Kingdom Egypt. However, the presence of organic additives and the internal structure of the figurines remain unresolved due to equipment limitations. These findings provide new insights into ancient material practices and highlight the importance of environmental control and material-specific conservation strategies for fragile gypsum-based heritage objects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage)
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21 pages, 12171 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Urban Regeneration with Wind and Thermal Environment Optimization: Design Roadshow of a Historic Town in China
by Yijie Lin, Menglong Zhang, Chang Yi, Yin Zhang, Jianwu Xiong, Liangbiao Lv, Xiaoke Peng and Jinyu He
Coatings 2024, 14(12), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14121593 - 19 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 911
Abstract
With the acceleration of urbanization, many traditional buildings have been dismantled and built indiscriminately, resulting in a uniform urban landscape. The problem of urban microclimate has been aggravated, and the renovation of historic districts, especially including the renewal of microclimate, has become an [...] Read more.
With the acceleration of urbanization, many traditional buildings have been dismantled and built indiscriminately, resulting in a uniform urban landscape. The problem of urban microclimate has been aggravated, and the renovation of historic districts, especially including the renewal of microclimate, has become an important component of sustainable urban renewal. The old commercial street in Huili Ancient City is used as an example in this paper. Through literature research, we note that previous studies have mainly examined the renewal of historic districts from the perspective of the old city environment, while most of the traditional neighborhood renewal designs have neglected the wind and heat environments. Combining the limitations of previous studies and field research, we summarized the current problems of the neighborhood and developed specific renovation strategies for the identified problems in terms of historical and cultural heritage, the relationship between the old and the new, and the layout of green building technologies. In addition, the green building strategy was used to optimize the microclimate environment of the neighborhood, and the wind and heat environment simulation was conducted to evaluate the modeling of the renovated neighborhood. The results show that the outdoor wind environment is better in winter than in summer, and the natural ventilation environment of the neighborhood could be optimized by optimizing the building layout to form an alleyway wind. The indoor wind–heat environment simulation was carried out with the Green Pottery Experience Hall as an example, and the indoor and outdoor air circulation and ventilation were good, and the comfort of the human thermal environment was high. This paper explores the updating strategy of the historic district in the transition zone between old and new and the wind–heat environment simulation and evaluation of green building renovation, which provides a new perspective for the related renovation research and the optimization strategy of the microclimate environment in the district. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage)
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50 pages, 64978 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Surface Damage to Fuzhou’s Ancient Houses (Gu-Cuo) Using a Non-Destructive Testing Method Constructed via Machine Learning
by Lei Zhang, Yile Chen, Liang Zheng, Binwen Yan, Jiali Zhang, Ali Xie and Senyu Lou
Coatings 2024, 14(11), 1466; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14111466 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1813
Abstract
As an important part of traditional Chinese architecture, Fuzhou’s ancient houses have unique cultural and historical value. However, over time, environmental factors such as efflorescence and plant growth have caused surface damage to their gray brick walls, leading to a decline in the [...] Read more.
As an important part of traditional Chinese architecture, Fuzhou’s ancient houses have unique cultural and historical value. However, over time, environmental factors such as efflorescence and plant growth have caused surface damage to their gray brick walls, leading to a decline in the quality of the buildings’ structure and even posing a threat to the buildings’ safety. Traditional damage detection methods mainly rely on manual labor, which is inefficient and consumes a lot of human resources. In addition, traditional non-destructive detection methods, such as infrared imaging and laser scanning, often face difficulty in accurately identifying specific types of damage, such as efflorescence and plant growth, on the surface of gray bricks and are easily hampered by diverse surface features. This study uses the YOLOv8 machine learning model for the automated detection of two common types of damage to the gray brick walls of Fuzhou’s ancient houses: efflorescence and plant growth. We establish an efficient gray brick surface damage detection model through dataset collection and annotation, experimental parameter optimization, model evaluation, and analysis. The research results reveal the following. (1) Reasonable hyperparameter settings and model-assisted annotation significantly improve the detection accuracy and stability. (2) The model’s average precision (AP) is improved from 0.30 to 0.90, demonstrating good robustness in detecting complex backgrounds and high-resolution real-life images. The F1 value of the model’s gray brick detection efficiency is improved (classification model performance index) from 0.22 to 0.77. (3) The model’s ability to recognize the damage details of gray bricks under high-resolution conditions is significantly enhanced, demonstrating its ability to cope with complex environments. (4) The simplified data enhancement strategy effectively reduces the feature extraction interference and enhances the model’s adaptability in different environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage)
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37 pages, 14338 KiB  
Article
Archaeological Excavation, Protection, and Display Engineering Design Practice: A Case Study in the Ruins of the Imperial City of the Minyue Kingdom
by Shihui Zhou, Lei Zhang, Yile Chen, Liang Zheng, Nengzhong Lei and Jiali Zhang
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1220; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091220 - 21 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2728
Abstract
The Han Dynasty Ruins in Chengcun Village of Wuyishan City, also known as the Ruins of the Imperial City of the Minyue Kingdom, are located on the hilly slope southwest of Chengcun Village, Xingtian Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, China. These are ruins [...] Read more.
The Han Dynasty Ruins in Chengcun Village of Wuyishan City, also known as the Ruins of the Imperial City of the Minyue Kingdom, are located on the hilly slope southwest of Chengcun Village, Xingtian Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, China. These are ruins of a Han Dynasty city. Wuyi Mountain’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee declared it a World Heritage Site in 1999. It is also the only imperial city site from the Han Dynasty that has been declared a World Heritage Site in China, and it is the most well-preserved large-scale imperial city site from the Middle Ages on the Pacific Rim. This study used comprehensive archaeological techniques, including archaeological excavation work, site information recording, erosion situation analysis, and geological surveys, to design and implement protective engineering projects in response to existing problems. In this study, the researchers conducted a geological survey of the study area to analyze the topography, rock and soil distribution characteristics, groundwater storage conditions, and geotechnical engineering conditions. At the same time, they explored the preservation status of the site, including the preservation status of the East Gate and the East City Wall, and they analyzed the causes of damage. Finally, the investigation and analysis results guided the design of a site display project, which included safeguarding against collapse and erosion, treating trees and shrubs, and designing the exhibition project for the East Gate. This study provides some practical reference for the excavation and archaeological work of the royal city in the surrounding areas. At the same time, in terms of the technical process of the project, it is also hoped to provide ideas for international ancient city excavation, display, and protection projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Surface Characterization and Conservation for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage)
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