ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: Giannoulis Halepas (1851-1938) is considered one of the most famous yet tragic sculptors in Greece. During his tumultuous life, he produced several masterpieces that are currently exhibited in galleries, museums and public places in Greece. After his death, his house in Tinos Island was declared a historic monument and turned into a museum. The walls of his house, layer by layer, cavity by cavity, bear traces of his unending inspiration, as he used to sketch on them. The current paper presents the systematic investigation and research of the interior walls of the upper floor of the House-Museum of Giannoulis Halepas, in Pyrgos, Tinos Island, in order to locate, digitally reveal and highlight sketches the artist made on the walls, as well as investigate the possibility of mechanically revealing them, by exploiting both non-destructive imaging techniques, such as infrared reflectography and USB microscopy, and micro-destructive ones, such as sections.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: The aim of the present research work is the characterization of pigments using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques. Ten samples found at excavations in a funerary monument located in East Macedonia and dated in Hellenistic Period were investigated. Five powder samples were collected from the painted surface of the caisson ceiling of the tomb and five parts belonged to the painted surface of the detached entablature of the tomb. Due to the high historical value of the samples and their small quantity (granules), they were investigated using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and VIS-Near IR Fiber Optics Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS). The measurements were conducted in every color impression (white, red, yellow, blue, black) of the samples in order to determine the elemental chemical composition and analysis of the spectral reflectance of their pigments. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technique was performed to characterize the organic binders and painting technique used. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM-EDX) was also applied to show the architecture, identify image particles and determine elemental analysis. Calcite, cinnabar, red ochre, yellow ochre, Egyptian blue and amorphous carbon were identified. The detection of high concentration of calcium in all samples indicated that the pigments were applied on the stone surface with the fresco technique and marble was the major component of the architectural surfaces of the tomb.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: The methodology for creating a database of fresco images, mainly of the Macedonian School (13th-14th century), is presented here. This base will be used later for digital image processing for classification using machine learning. For this purpose, modern digital data analysis tools in Python were used. The collection of appropriate material, the digitization of images, the input of information and the categories examined are presented in detail along with the tools used. One of the main problems of the research was that there were no open digital libraries to cover with images the specific period examined, so the material gathered comes from corporate sources such as books, studies and collectors. After analyzing the art historical information from Byzantine frescoes not only for their measurability and reliability, but also for availability, a python application that manages the data as an object-oriented relational graph is created. This is a first approach to such material that combines easy-to-use tools with historical knowledge and provides a ready-to-use and development base.

ABSTRACT. Online: In this study, we investigate how to automatically and efficiently detect defects in ancient polyptychs by infrared thermography (IRT), combined with numerical simulation, deep learning networks and machine learning algorithms. Through an innovative improved Faster-RCNN model and LRTDTV denoising method, the recognition of surface and internal defects of ancient artworks is effectively improved. This improved Faster-RCNN model introduces an effective channel attention (ECA) mechanism in the feature extraction stage, which significantly improves the performance of the model in recognizing small defects, and a comparison with the original Faster-RCNN model reveals that the average detection accuracy_50 (AP_50) of the improved model is significantly improved to 86.9%. Especially, the average precision_small (AP_s) is improved to 59.1% when detecting small-size defects. The experimental results verify the practicality and efficiency of the method in cultural heritage protection, which helps to maximize the protection and transmission of cultural heritage. In addition, the method in this study can achieve fast and accurate detection of defects in any type of cultural heritage objects while avoiding secondary damage to the samples, providing effective technical support for cultural heritage protection.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: The Morosini fountain is a Venetian monument located in Crete, it is a symbol for the city of Iraklion, it is the pride of the local society, it is a work of art, it is an enigma for historians and archaeologists, it is a tourist attraction and it is a meeting point. But most of all, it is the bearer of a long history narrated by its patina. Our duty as conservators and our approach as members of a central service, the Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture is to ensure the continuation of this narrative and make it stronger. Undertaking the task of planning the conservation strategy for the four stone lions and the reliefs depicting scenes from the sea world, was the equivalent of one word: complexity. The monument’s preservation state and all composed elements lead the way. Its location in an urban and marine environment and the previous interventions it has undergone, were the determining factors of our approach; an approach based upon optimum documentation and understanding of its deterioration signs and mechanisms, towards the formation of several alternatives for its sustainable conservation and management in the long term.Our quests evolved around the three elements that define the fountain’s current state: the impact of water, the urban environment and the interventions of the past. The project developed in three axes: thorough documentation, the application of analytical techniques and in depth historical and archival research on its history, past conservation and other works. A collaboration with the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art of the University of West Attica, assisted the Directorate’s commitment for an interdisciplinary approach of the conservation plan.With this presentation we wish to address the issues that we were engaged with during the project and our overall perspective, to highlight the dynamics of interdisciplinary collaborations for the purposes of conservation plans, and perhaps to insinuate a transposition in the future priorities, the approaches and the norms of the conservation plans and the proposed solutions.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: A condition survey was conducted on the 'Mosaic of the Masks' located in the homonymous Hellenistic house on Delos to reassess its condition twenty years after conservation efforts. This mosaic adorns the central symposium room and comprises a central geometric carpet with a 3D cube pattern, along with figurative bands featuring theatrical masks and floral motifs. Extensive and drastic conservation treatment was applied to the central carpet, involving its detachment in sections and reinstallation on a new, purpose-built setting bed, while the peripheral sections were preserved in situ. The particularly poor state of preservation necessitated thorough research into the weathering processes and the factors affecting its condition. Investigation into the archival records, the original constituents, conservation materials and past conservation interventions were conducted to better understand the deterioration processes. Photogrammetric methods were employed in the study and documentation of surface geometry, while the cohesion of the substrate was examined through acoustic tapping. Environmental monitoring throughout a full year provided insights into the weathering factors at play. SEM-EDS and XRD analyses enabled the characterization of constituent materials, manufacturing techniques and weathering products, offering clues about the deterioration processes.

[Presenters: Stefania Chlouveraki and Styliani Minetou]

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: In central Greece, in today's Fthiotis, where in antiquity Phokis bor-dered eastern Lokris and Boeotia, there is a sanctuary that is one of the most important of ancient Phokis. As early as 2017 German Archaeological Institute had started working on a plan for the cultural heritage management and the presentation of the southern temple complex. From the autumn of 2018, the maintenance and presentation works are almost completed. The site participates as case study for TRIQUETRA program that started on 01/01/2023 and will last for 3 years. As part of the program TRIQUETRA an integrated methodological model to protect archaeological remains at Kalapodi from frost is proposed. The TRIQUETRA project (EU HE research and innovation programme under GA No. 101094818) aims at creating an evidence-based assessment platform that allows precise risk stratification, and also creates a database of available mitigation measures and strategies, acting as a Decision Support Tool towards efficient risk mitigation and site remediation.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: Herisktage investigates the impacts of CC to CH across the Greek territory through real time data collection, climate modelling, and in situ & laboratory-scale tests on building materials. It aims at developing a digital resource, integrated in an IoT platform, for the monitoring of the microclimate of cultural heritage monuments, through which associated risks can be identified and prioritized in selected CH sites of Greece. In particular, its key goals include: The development of a wireless sensor network for continuous recording of monuments’ microclimate in real-time, leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Collected data will be plotted onto high-resolution climate maps, considering the five Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) as outlined by the IPCC. The development of algorithms for predicting the risk and probability of degradation of the building materials of monuments in various geographical regions, based on the data from climate maps and heritage-tailored climate indicators. The design of a risk management tool for assisting the prioritization of conservation/preservation actions, the selection of appropriate interventions and the mitigation strategies against CH impact on monuments.

ABSTRACT. Online: The proposed contribution aims to give rise to reasoning and reflections on the hypothesis of a scientific glossary for therestoration project that responds to new risks. The aim, to analyse and trace the work of the NorMaL Commission, as aunique example of multidisciplinary work that has led to a regulation of interventions on the Italian heritage, contributing to thedevelopment of regulations at European level. Through a careful reading of published sources supported by archival research at theIstituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR). The work of the commission shows us that to carry out an update of the actions of heritagepreservation, it is necessary to have specific tools for dialogue between researchers in different scientific fields. Just asdemonstrated by the first document produced by the Commission concerning the definition of a series of lemmas, NorMaL 1/80 -Alterazioni macroscopiche dei materiali lapidei: Lessico , subsequently updated. Hence the question arises, whether it is necessary 7to update the tools available today to improve the dialogue within the scientific community in the definition of interventionmethodologies for the protection of heritage given the new natural and human risks.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: Street art, public murals, and graffiti are vibrant forms of visual expression flourishing in the urban environment worldwide. Over the past few decades, street art has evolved into a global phenomenon, particularly prevalent in major cities, serving as a form of urban activism that reflects the prevailing socio-political landscape and falls under the umbrella of public art.  However, these artworks face significant challenges due to exposure to uncontrolled outdoor conditions and human activities such as overpainting and tagging, making them ephemeral and susceptible to complex and extensive deterioration. The conservation of street art is a relatively new and growing field that has garnered increasing interest from international organizations, academics, and professionals. Since 2009, the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art at the University of West Attica has been at the forefront of exploring the ethics, documentation, and research related to street art conservation. The department has been actively involved through lessons, educational programs, and the voluntary efforts of Street Art Conservators (St.A.Co.), a team of students, and academics, dedicated to the documentation and rescue conservation of street art. The conservation of street art has brought forth profound questions and challenges that prompt a reconsideration of the broader perspective and ethics of conservation. Decisions regarding which works should be selected for preservation, the overarching goal of conserving inherently ephemeral artworks, and the evaluation of conservation strategy are all critical considerations.The alteration, extensive deterioration, and potential loss of these artworks create a different value and interpretive context. Street artists may intentionally incorporate the concept of deterioration into their works, or it may be subsequently emphasized. Deterioration and losses may connect or even extend the artwork's meaning. In all cases, deterioration becomes an integral element in the dynamic interpretation and understanding of the artworks, transforming the role of conservation from merely decelerating deterioration to actively interpreting it. Given the ephemeral nature of street art, traditional preventive conservation plans are often impractical for its protection. Therefore, the role of Conservation is pivotal, as it educates the public to appreciate and accept the natural decay inherent in these artworks. Even if their end will soon come, and their colors will fade away like "tears in the rain" they can still keep their scientific, social, and educational values. Through thorough study and documentation, conservators enrich our understanding of the artworks, prolong their lifespan, and preserve their historical narratives. To this end, documentation and educational initiatives serve as proactive measures to engage the public and mobilize experts in the preservation of street art as a contemporary city’s patina and living heritage.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: The elaboration of 2D documentation sources, including all relevant historical, architectural, archaeological as well as artistic(textual and iconographical) data, are usually collected and evaluated, while conducting a restoration and rehabilitation project. In addition, all relevant documentation may be used in a digital application, where 2D drawings and plans can be applied, for the virtual representation of heritage monuments, existing or non existing ones (lost), either partially damaged or even having undergone severe deformations during the passage of time by nature or by man made actions.The offered documentation and representation techniques vary, and of course as digital technology develops, the related evolutionary steps can offer an important contribution to the faithful restitution of the architectural monuments. Nowadays various options can be of use: i.e., terrestrial laser scanning offers the possibility to survey, record and monitor an architectural monument without carrying out the typical traditional measured survey with hand tools, while architectural and archaeological photogrammetry can also be applied in the documentation of architectural heritage since it creates accurate 3Dimensional models by extracting data and measurements from photographs. Modern technology and its tools are rapidly developing enabling us towork on the accurate digital representation and digitization of cultural artifacts, architectural monuments, archaeological sites, and many other purposes. Yet, what happens in other cases, where the architectural monument and the complex of historic buildings, or the archaeological sites do not survive up to our times? How can 2D documentation sources be elaborated and scientifically integrated, in order to help us proceed with the digital representation of architecture (figures 3, 4)? The new digital era of cultural heritage management requires novel approaches for promoting and preserving cultural artifacts as well as architectural heritage. The submitted paper will try to highlight relevant applied techniques as used in recently cultural heritage projects by means of their comparative analysis and presentation.

ABSTRACT. Online: Cultural Heritage must today be the new centers of associated life, emotional spaces in which to feel part of a community that includes everyone. In Italy, the "Cultural Heritage and Landscape Code" defines the valorization of cultural heritage as those actions aimed at facilitating the use, knowledge and conservation of the heritage. It is about creating a virtuous network of relationships that places cultural heritage at the center of a conservation circuit based on fruition and valorization. We are talking about a conservative model based on increasing visitor flows and not just on protection as an end in itself. The cultural and tourism industries intertwine, developing interactively: the former enhances the creativity of the latter while the latter provides a support platform and a catchment area for the former. The identification of a new user figure who can vary in age, geographical and social origin, cultural background, physical or mental abilities is fundamental. Today we can consider assimilated the concept that accessibility constitutes an integral part of the protection project, in the broadest sense of "integrated conservation" which adds planning and management tools to conservation. If the decisive step from a legislative point of view was to review the concept of exemption from accessibility requests for historic buildings with the enactment of law 13 of 1989, another significant watershed is undoubtedly the activation of the National Museum System, which places accessibility as an indispensable objective.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: Cultural heritage, as broad a term as it is, relies on a wide spectrum of information deriving from a variety of resources such as a) geographic information, b) information deriving from artefacts and museum holdings, c) Information deriving from other primary sources such as archival materials, contemporary writings, maps, et.c and d) information deriving from secondary sources such as bibliography and references. Digital Cultural Heritage has become a key concept for all kinds of cultural institutions, whether they are museums, libraries, archives, or cultural centers. Wikidata mechanism offers a standardized and at the same time expandable platform, strengthened by contributions of major organizations and experts, building upon existing standards such as FRBR and controlled vocabularies thus providing a unique environment, a digital space where information components can meet and create larger informational components with a high caliber informational distribution mechanism. Wikidata’s linked data is able to express a decisive level of semantics for cultural heritage and consists of an open data source with many potential applications. The present study uses model wikidata elements as a basis and explores its dynamic formation into a cultural heritage information management tool within a museum. Museum collections contain a vast array of objects, documents, artworks, samples of the natural world, digital files and more. It is common for large museums to have substantial collections numbering in the hundreds of thousands or millions of objects of which only a small portion is on public display. Using as a basis the wikidata model supplementary elements will be proposed serving as a customization tool for managing cultural heritage information within the museum environment. Based on this expanded scheme, innovative uses within the museum environment are proposed.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: The Greco-Turkish war's aftermath led to a significant refugee crisis in 1922, with over 1.5 million fleeing Asia Minor for safety in Greece. The Digistoryteller project aims to document and share narratives of these refugees' struggles to establish homes in Attica, using digital storytelling and crowdsourcing features. This project, through its database and mobile apps, allows for city exploration and contributions from experts and the public. A key focus of the project is the concept of "phygitality," which combines physical and digital experiences. Phygitality encompasses various combinations, including augmented reality, 3D printing, and holograms. In cultural heritage, phygitality offers new ways to engage with historical sites and enhance cultural experiences. Different phygital products developed within the framework of the project will be presented. In the case of Vyronas, a municipality in Attica founded as the first urban refugee settlement, the project introduces phygital objects like paper reconstructions of historical buildings. These objects, like the Old Town Hall, provide educational and touristic value by allowing users to assemble them and access augmented reality information about the building's history. Initial user testing has shown promising results, with plans to integrate these objects into educational programs and museum shops. The municipality of Vyronas intends to produce these objects for both educational and touristic purposes.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: The inscribed text on the stone from the past represents an invaluable source for archaeologists and historians. Engraved on a durable material accompanying monuments, memorials, and statues or standing by their own right, epigraphs are exposed to the same environmental and anthropogenic hazards threatening monuments. Their importance as historical and cultural objects is so well recognized that they retain the prestigious place among all ancient artifacts to be the first in applying the latest technological breakthroughs for their documentation. This is evident from the application of the invention of photography as early as it was discovered in 19th century to the nowadays use of artificial intelligence deep neural networks in textual restoration when it is necessary. Digitization of inscriptions represents the first step for their preservation, publishing, and dissemination among the scholars and the public. However, it is the second step, their encoding, that allows their computational analysis within the linked-data environment by generating machine-readable documents. Herein, we will describe the guidelines of the latest version of the Epigraphic Documents (EpiDoc) in Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) Extensible Markup Language (XML) (https://epidoc.stoa.org), a specialized edition for encoding of inscribed ancient text which deals with the text and the historical context of the epigraph production. The Europeana network of Ancient Greek and Latin Epigraphy (EAGLE) (https://www.eagle-network.eu/), the Aphrodisias in Late Antiquity (InsAph) (https://insaph.kcl.ac.uk/ala2004/), the Atlas patrimonii Caesaris (https://patrimonium.huma-num.fr/documents/), and the Packard Humanities Institute (PHI) (https://epigraphy.packhum.org/) projects will be discussed in the context of the Greek Directorate for the Management of the National Archive of Monuments (https://www.arxaiologikoktimatologio.gov.gr/). 

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: As cultural heritage evolves in the digital age, museums face three primary objectives. Firstly, they must revise their collection management philosophy to include the new possibilities that derive from the technological progress. Secondly, they must integrate data infrastructures and schemas that are user-friendly for museum staff and researchers alike. Thirdly, they must start thinking of collaborative ways of managing their data, something that will add informational value to their artefacts, as well as, contributes to saving costs and time. To achieve these goals, a well-defined metadata structure for curating cultural content is essential. Implementing an ontology-based metadata policy is crucial for museums aiming to enhance digital access to their collections strategically. Additionally, it's vital to test the sustainability of proposed metadata schemas in practical applications, ensuring they effectively describe artefacts or collections. Subsequenlty, the need strives towards the selection of multi-functional and flexible repositories platforms providing polysemic documentation of artefacts. In this paper, we propose and implement a holistic ontology-based metadata grid combining descriptive, reputation, conservation, and indoor navigation fields for a full documentation of artefacts and collections. One step further, the proposed metadata schema is adopted and implemented in Reasonable Graph. A platform capable of enhancing semantic intercorrelation between artefacts and collections using a diversity of thematic entities, such as geographical locations, historical periods, persons, events, and ethnographical labelling. The versatile folklore collections of Museum of Modern Greek Culture in Athens are used as testbed to assess the proposed schema and platform practicability to describe and semantically correlate the available artefacts.To this end, generally the paper contributes to the understanding of the evolving challenges faced by museums in the digital age proposing solutions to address these challenges and highlighting how an ontology-based schema gives a dynamic perspective on metadata management.

ABSTRACT. Online: The aim of the research is to identify methodologies for the realisation of digital twins and a digital database that operate as a useful tool for the definition of guidelines for restoration projects and the protection of architectural heritage.The management of historical and cultural heritage documentation and data through the realisation of digital twins is of essential importance for the preservation of cultural heritage. These digital tools offer broader and more inclusive access to historical information, facilitating the dissemination of knowledge and fostering collaboration between scholars from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds, thus contributing to a more comprehensive and shared understanding of the past. In particular, digital databases enable a more efficient search and analysis of cultural heritage documentation; thanks to indexing, search and analysis tools, large amounts of documents and data can be examined quickly and accurately, identifying links, trends and relevant information beyond the limitations of traditional methods. Last but not least, the adoption of digital databases for the management of historical documents allows for a greater democratisation of access to historical sources; by making data available, institutions can engage the public in a broader dialogue about history and culture, encouraging the active participation and involvement of local communities in the preservation and enhancement of historical heritage. The following article presents the first outcome of the research conducted so far on the architectural heritage produced by Lorenzo Nottolini (1787 - 1851), an architect and engineer from Lucca active in Tuscany between the 18th and 19th centuries.Nottolini represents a pivotal figure within the historical and cultural framework of Tuscany and Lucca in particular. A city that in those years saw a direct confrontation with the broad debate on restoration, also encouraged by the relations between Lucca and Imperial France during the principality of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi.The architect was trained during the Baciocchi principality; during this period he had the opportunity - through a pension awarded to him by the Palatine family - to improve his architectural studies in Florence before moving on to Rome and Bologna. After these years of training, Nottolini returned to Lucca to be appointed ducal architect by Maria Luisa of Bourbon. Nottolini was an extremely active and prolific architect in his activity as draftsman and designer, realising numerous architectural and engineering works. Last but not least, probably thanks to his education and the cultural context in which he was trained, the architect from Lucca showed a certain sensitivity to the theme of preservation of the pre-existence and restoration. By comparing the archival sources and the reality of the factories, the study intends not only to reconstruct the architect's activity, but also to create digital twins that collect the dimensional geometric data, the historical documents and the actual state of conservation of Lorenzo Nottolini's works.The wealth of archival material produced by the architect [6], which has not yet been sufficiently investigated, and the bibliographic production on his work, even though an organic and punctual work on Nottolini and his figure is still lacking, constitute a unique case study for the development of methodologies for the creation of digital tools for the restoration and protection of historical heritage. The in-depth study presented here offers the opportunity to test on a case study, on which direct and indirect analyses have been carried out, the approach outlined so far in such a way that - by means of an inductive method - it is possible to deduce more general guidelines. This work, in fact, focuses on the development of the case study of the Aqueduct of Lucca, designed and built by Lorenzo Nottolini starting in 1821. The Aqueduct represents, despite its aesthetic and formal simplicity, one of the most complex architectural-engineering works realised by the architect from Lucca, starting from its design, its realisation up to today's problems of conservation and protection. The work of constructing the digital database began with the collection and census of the archival material produced by Nottolini. The drawings mainly conserved at the State Archives of Lucca were acquired in their entirety, thus also carrying out a verification of the inventory drawn up by Vincenzo Regoli in 1970. In addition, the documentation relative to the subsequent interventions carried out on the Aqueduct was collected in order to have the most complete historical-archival picture possible. Together with the archival documentation, an analysis of the bibliography produced on the subject was carried out. All the material collected was placed in a specially constructed database where all the data necessary for their indexing for research, analysis and comparison was extracted. Following this phase, a direct comparison was made with the artefact, its geometry, conformation and state of conservation. A laser scanner survey of the object was carried out to acquire the geometric-dimensional data and a photogrammetric model to supplement the dimensional data with morphological and colorimetric data. On the basis of the three-dimensional models, two-dimensional drawings were extrapolated for the production of thematic tables to investigate the surface characteristics of the materials and their degradation. The work carried out to date has the objective of being schematised and collected within an HBIM model for the realisation of a digital twin that can be configured as a useful tool for researchers and professionals in the sector for the definition of guidelines for the restoration and protection of the Aqueduct of Lucca.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: Strengthening the structure of marble is key to restoring its mechanical properties and contributing to the stability of stone monuments. Marble consolidation as a conservation technique has been attempted since the 1950’s, initially using organic consolidants, i.e., acrylics, vinyl and silicone polymers, as well as epoxies. These strategies, however, suffered from incompatibility, reversibility and low durability problems and were gradually replaced by the use of inorganic salts or bases with low water solubility.  In recent years, the use of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxalate, and hydroxyapatite [6–8] has gained attention for the strengthening and stabilization of deteriorated or fragile marble surfaces. This method generally requires optimized deposition of the above materials in sub-micron or nano-sized particulate form, thus enabling their incorporation into the porous structure of marble, allowing (permitting) an efficient consolidation Hydroxyapatite (HAP), a calcium phosphate with the formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, is known for its extremely low solubility (Ksp ~10-98); in particular, its carbonate form, carbonate hydroxyapatite (c-HAP), Ca10(PO4)6–y (CO3)y[(CO3)x+(½)y(OH)2–2x] is commonly found in bones and teeth of vertebrates. The apatite family has been explored for various applications, including its potential for the conservation of marble and other calcareous materials. Marble, a calcareous metamorphic rock, is susceptible to deterioration over time due to environmental factors such as acid rain, pollutants, and biological activity. The method entails depositing (involves the deposition of) the highly insoluble hydroxyapatite salt from aqueous solutions of diammonium phosphate (DAP). This is achieved by the interaction of diammonium phosphate (DAP) aqueous solutions on the surfaces of calcareous or marble objects of cultural heritage, providing a mechanism to reconnect and restore the cohesion lost in the porous marble substrate. Concurrently, the formation of a thin, sufficiently bonded layer on the surface acts protectively, retarding the decay process. This study evaluated the method's effectiveness combining infrared spectroscopy with SEM-EDX micro-analysis. The method was optimized by the addition of simulated body fluid (SBF), a cocktail of inorganic salts, showing particularly positive results in both immersion and surface application scenarios. Among the application methods tested, the dripping method presented satisfactory results on the monument, although immersion, if feasible, is considered ideal as the most efficient c-HAP formation was observed.

ABSTRACT. In Person Presentation: From a conservation point of view, the final exhibition of an artefact within a showcase can be characterized as a multidimensional process from the initial diagnosis for possible intervention up to its eventual restoration. In this context, it used to be that museums were solely providing these conservation steps for treatment in a mere relevant community, keeping this kind of knowledge and practice within the walls of the museums. Novel perspectives in conservation at a worldwide level are pushing the limits to concepts and principles such as openness, stakeholders’ participation, and collective problem-solving within the whole grid of conservation of museum artifacts. The Open Lab of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture in Athens embraces these concepts and values opening its conservation and restoration knowledge both to the local community and to interest parties such as conservationists, and humanities scientists such as folklorists and historians.The Open Lab presents a groundbreaking approach to biodiversity conservation with expertise in textile conservation and treatment, harnessing open-source principles, community engagement, and technological innovation. This paper introduces the pivotal functionalities of Open Lab, outlining its core components and discussing its transformative potential in conservation efforts. More specifically, the paper unfolds and describes all the steps for its development, namely the selection of space, the configuration and equipment of Open conservation Lab, the full utilization of the equipment within specific rooms such as the low vacuum table presentation room, the room with washing tanks and the room of painting presentation room and mechanical cleaning process. By fostering collaboration among scientists, conservationists, and local communities, the Open Lab enables the exchange of vital data, resources, and knowledge crucial for effective conservation and restoration actions. Through case studies and examples, we demonstrate the profound impact of the Open Lab in promoting inclusive and sustainable conservation practices both at national and worldwide context. We conclude by highlighting future directions and challenges for scaling up the Open Lab to address urgent conservation needs in the face of rapid environmental change.

ABSTRACT. Online: During the last decades, in a scenario of instability caused by resource constraints, environmental crisis and climate change, wehave witnessed a paradigm shift, evoked by the United Nations and the European Commission, for which new and moresustainable models are needed, which have also involved the field of cultural heritage conservation. From the perspective of sustainable development, economic, social, cultural and environmental systems are strongly interconnected, and a new approach,based on a comprehensive and as complete a vision as possible of the conservation processes, is also essential for the conservation of cultural heritage. This requires a re-evaluation of intervention strategies that take into account the phases of preservation,management and conservation planning in order to develop new approaches. To this end, numerous directions are being taken toapply sustainability principles to the environmental, economic and social aspects of cultural heritage conservation. From a theoretical point of view, “sustainability” is in affinity with many of the premises of “conservation”, starting from thesemantic origin of the term However at the operational level sustainability for heritage conservation is a multifaceted objectivethat can be pursued in several directions: the selection and choice of materials for restoration, the use of environmentally andoperator friendly procedures, the definition of methodological approaches to reduce the risk of incompatibility of materials andtreatments as well as the implementation of strategies to ensure an adequate durability of conservation solutions, which canalso take into account a changing scenario such as climate change.  In this context, the sequence of conservation operationsusually carried out for the care of architectural artefacts further increases the complexity. The absence of a recognised definition of sustainability in restoration interventions and the lack of systemic principles to refer tostill leaves many questions open in the field of conservation. Looking at the aspect related to restoration products, the absence ofstandards often leads to the diffusion and misuse of the concept in both the scientific and commercial fields, in an indistinct semanticborderline that sees alternating terms such as bio-based, eco-friendly, green, eco-friendly, sustainable mainlyinvolving the environmental dimension of sustainability in conservation practices.Starting from a semantic review of sustainability, the study intends to provide an integrated analysis of the various indicesconsidered to date for the formulation of sustainability parameters to be integrated into conservation assessment tools.For this purpose, the definitions and indices developed by the main organisations, such as ISO (International Organization forStandardization), CEN (European Committee for Standardization), EPA (United States EnvironmentalProtection Agency), EEA (European Environment Agency), ECHA (European Chemicals Agency), are analysedon the one hand in relation to LCA criteria, the reduction of energy and VOC emissions, the content of recycled and recoveredmaterials for reuse, the composition of natural and/or renewable resources, the absence of toxic compounds, the biodegradability orthe possibility to reuse and/or recycle them, as well as their production linked to local resources and producers, on the other hand tothe aspects related to the compatibility, durability and effectiveness of the products, which are fundamental in the assessment ofpreservative treatments.The research focuses on the development of tools for evaluating restoration products, through a reinterpretation of the varioussustainability parameters considered today and an integrated analysis of them to contribute to greater clarity and encourage theformulation of guidelines for the use of restoration products in the context of sustainable choices.

ABSTRACT. Online: Protection of heritage buildings against the effects of rain and atmospheric humidity is extremely important, as water is a major source of natural stone degradation induced by the freezing-thawing cycles and salt deposition. Biomimetic superhydrophobic coatings can offer enhanced protection to stone, as they have the ability to repel water drops through the famous lotus effect. The first superhydrophobic material designed specifically for the protection of stone heritage was produced by our group about two decades ago. The idea was to tune the wetting properties of products, which were already used in conservation practice (e.g. silane/siloxanes), by adding small amounts of engineered nanoparticles (NPs). The latter affect the morphology of the composite material, which is deposited onto stone, creating a lotus-like, two-length scale hierarchical surface structure. In the last two decades the method has been adopted by numerous scientists using different conservation materials and NPs (usually silicon oxide, SiO2 NPs) for the protection of limestone, marble and other stones used in heritage buildings, as described in review articles e.g. The suggested composite materials consist mainly of products which are already tested and recommended for stone conservation and a small fraction of NPs. Selecting certified products, used in conservation practice, reduces the danger to induce any undesirable, hazardous side-effect which can be developed through time. In the present study we produce two composite materials which are applied on marble. The study has two novelties. First, zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs are added to the polymer matrices, instead of the extensively studied SiO2 NPs, to induce surface roughness which is necessary to achieve superhydrophobicity.  The goal is to produce a multi-functional material that can serve simultaneously three purposes: (i) water repulsion, (ii) chemical self-cleaning through photo-degradation and (iii) biocidal activity. It well known that ZnO has photocatalytic and biocidal properties. However, to the best of our knowledge the combined demonstration of the three aforementioned properties by a single composite material, designed for stone protection, has not been achieved yet. Second, to induce enhanced oleophobicity, combined with superhydrophobicity. Oleophobisation of natural stone surfaces is highly desirable to protect heritage buildings which are located in urban areas and are therefore threatened by oil-based urban pollutants.