Abstract
This project scopes the detection of moisture in historical buildings using hyperspectral imaging technology. Moisture in buildings can originate from wind-driven rain, rising damp, flooding, leaking infrastructure and condensation and periodic changes in moisture content are the main driver for several decay mechanisms. Traditional methods for the detection of moisture, like gravimetric or electrical approaches, are typically labour intensive, invasive and have limited coverage. The development of a hyperspectral scanning system for in-situ applications will allow the detection of anomalies in large-scale structures like buildings. Such anomalies include the presence of water which results in a specific absorption range in the short wave infrared spectrum. The application will capitalize on recent advances in spectral unmixing, to estimate the moisture content of several porous media, including natural stone and brick. The developments will be validated in case studies on pilot sites. This will fundamentally change the methodology of building conservation and restoration, as a more holistic understanding can be developed from whole building images, which will result in more accurate and detailed sampling strategies.
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