Multi-Modal Methods for the Inspection of Artworks and Cultural Heritage

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite contributions to this Special Issue, entitled “Multi-Modal Methods for the Inspection of Artworks and Cultural Heritage”.

The conservation and study of artworks and cultural heritage increasingly rely on advanced diagnostic tools that are non-invasive, non-contact, and capable of delivering reliable quantitative information about structural integrity, material composition, degradation mechanisms, and environmental interactions. In recent years, a clear evolution has emerged from single-technique investigations toward multi-modal inspection strategies, in which complementary diagnostic methods are combined to provide a more comprehensive understanding of heritage objects. Multi-modal approaches integrate optical, spectroscopic, thermographic, structural, and single techniques using different modalities and combinations of sensors, exploiting different modalities as well as data synergetic combinatons and other non-destructive techniques to correlate surface and subsurface information, mechanical responses, chemical compositions, and environmental impacts. Within this framework, coherence-based optical techniques such as holography, interferometry, and phase-sensitive metrology play a crucial role in structural assessment, while other modalities contribute material, chemical, and volumetric insights. When supported by artificial intelligence and advanced data fusion methodologies, these integrated systems enable more robust interpretation, predictive analysis, and decision-oriented conservation strategies.

This Special Issue aims to reflect the state-of-the-art in multi-modal inspection and diagnostic methodologies for cultural heritage at the beginning of the second quarter of the 21st century. Particular emphasis will be placed on contributions that demonstrate meaningful integration between complementary techniques, quantitative but also qualitative evaluation frameworks, and innovative data processing strategies. Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of heritage objects as complex physical systems, supporting an evolution toward more measurement-driven and information-based conservation practices. The scope of this Special Issue is fully aligned with the aims of Heritage, focusing on innovative methodologies, interdisciplinary approaches, and advanced diagnostic strategies that contribute to documentation, monitoring, structural assessment, degradation analysis, and preventive safeguarding of cultural heritage. Our aim is to assemble a focused yet sufficiently broad collection of high-quality contributions, targeting at least ten articles, with the potential for publication as a printed volume should this threshold be reached.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, review papers, and white papers are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Integrated multi-modal inspection methodologies;
• Hybrid optical–structural–spectroscopic diagnostic systems;
• Holography, interferometry, and coherent metrology advances and within multi-modal frameworks;
• Combination of thermography, spectroscopy, THz, X-ray, NMR, or other NDT techniques;
• Data fusion strategies for multi-sensor diagnostics;
• Artificial intelligence for multi-modal interpretation and predictive analysis;
• Structural monitoring and dynamic response assessment;
• In situ and laboratory-based inspection systems;
• Case studies on artworks, monuments, and archaeological objects.

Beyond the integration of diagnostic techniques, we also encourage reflections on an emerging transition from purely image-based inspection toward measurement-driven, information-rich diagnosis. This perspective may be viewed as part of a broader “post-imaging” evolution in heritage science where objects are approached as measurable physical systems rather than solely as visual artefacts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions, which will help consolidate recent advances and open new research directions in integrated, multi-modal heritage diagnostics.

Dr. Vivi Tornari
Prof. Dr. Osten Wolfgang
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-anonymized 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.

• multi-modal diagnostics
• cultural heritage inspection
• non-destructive testing
• hybrid geometries
• optical metrology
• holography
• interferometry
• image processing
• data fusion
• artificial intelligence
• structural assessment
• integrated sensing
• sensor technology