Scientific Conservation and Innovation for Wooden Heritage

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit research papers focusing on the development of different approaches related to the conservation of wooden cultural heritage objects.

Wooden heritage constitutes a vital yet vulnerable component of our global cultural legacy, encompassing a vast array of structures, artifacts, and artistic expressions. Its preservation presents a complex, multidisciplinary challenge, demanding a continuous dialog between traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge scientific innovation. This Special Issue, “Scientific Conservation and Innovation for Wooden Heritage”, seeks to consolidate contemporary research that bridges this critical gap. It explores the dynamic intersection of materials science, chemistry, and engineering with conservation practice to address the persistent threats of degradation, including biological attack, moisture-related damage, and the long-term impacts of exhibiting site microclimate.

The Special Issue aims to highlight advancements in diagnostic technologies, such as non-invasive imaging and mechanical testing, which enable a deeper understanding of material properties and decay pathways. It will welcome innovative treatment methodologies, focusing on sustainable and compatible materials for consolidation, stabilization, and protection. A core theme is the development of proactive monitoring systems and predictive models for risk assessment, empowering preventive conservation strategies. Crucially, the Special Issue also addresses the integration of digital tools—from 3D documentation to Building Information Modeling (BIM)—for documentation, management, and virtual preservation. By showcasing these synergistic approaches, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive resource that not only addresses immediate conservation needs but also outlines a forward-looking framework for ensuring the resilience and longevity of wooden cultural heritage for future generations.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• Wooden archeological cultural heritage;
• Panel paintings;
• Wooden sculptures;
• Wooden historical structures.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Paolo Dionisi-Vici
Dr. Matteo De Vincenzi
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Heritage 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 1800 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.

• preventive conservation
• wood
• long-term monitoring
• exhibiting site case studies
• mechanical modeling
• finite element analysis
• monitoring device development