Visualization of Environmental Damage Functions in Built Heritage
Exemplary visualization of anthropogenically induced transformation processes in nationally significant stone cultural heritage, using the Fürstenportal of Bamberg Cathedral as a case study
Content and objectives
The project investigates the impacts of climate and anthropogenic environmental influences on cultural heritage, with a particular focus on the weathering of natural stone. Its aim is to improve the understanding of deterioration processes and to make them visible through innovative digital methods.
The research combines high-resolution 3D documentation, digital reconstruction, and environmental modelling to analyze changes in stone surfaces over time. By linking observed material loss with existing damage functions, the project seeks to improve methods for assessing risks to cultural heritage and to support future conservation strategies.
The methodology is applied to three case studies: the sculptures of the Fürstenportal of Bamberg Cathedral, the experimental stone samples known as the “Asterixe” and selected historic gravestones from Munich's Südfriedhof.
Method of the subproject of the Professorship of Preventive Conservation
The subproject of the Professorship of Preventive Conservation focuses on the analysis and application of damage functions for natural stone.
Damage functions describe the relationship between environmental factors, such as temperature, moisture, precipitation, or air pollution, and the resulting material deterioration. Existing damage functions are reviewed and evaluated with regard to their applicability to the selected case studies.
The results generated through high-resolution 3D documentation are compared with the predictions of these models to assess their reliability and identify potential improvements. In addition, climate data and future climate scenarios are incorporated to explore possible long-term developments in stone weathering.
The findings contribute to the development of digital twins and support risk assessment and preventive conservation strategies for cultural heritage.
Project team
Coordinating institution
- Prof. Dr. Ralf Kilian, Professorship of Preventive Conservation in Built Heritage, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg: https://www.uni-bamberg.de/praeventive-konservierung/team/prof-dr-ralf-kilian/
- Bahareh Kheyrkhah, M.A., Professorship of Preventive Conservation in Built Heritage, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg: https://www.uni-bamberg.de/praeventive-konservierung/team/bahareh-kheyrkhah/
Project partners
- Prof. Dr. Paul Bellendorf, Professorship of Conservation Science, Competence Centre for Heritage Sciences and Technologies (KDWT), Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg: https://www.uni-bamberg.de/en/iadk/heritage-conservation-studies/materials-and-preservation-science/team/translate-to-1-english-prof-dr-paul-bellendorf-restaurierungswissenschaften/
- Dr. Ruth Tenschert, Professorship of Conservation Science, Competence Centre for Heritage Sciences and Technologies (KDWT), Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg: https://www.uni-bamberg.de/en/iadk/heritage-conservation-studies/materials-and-preservation-science/team/associates/translate-to-1-english-ruth-tenschert/
- Martin Papirowski, men@work Media Services S.R.L.
Project-Team
Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT) at the University of Bamberg: Prof. Dr. Ralf Kilian (Project Management), Dennis Mitschke (Coordination and Organisation), Johanna Götz (Hiwi)
Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP: Dr. Pia Kastenmeier (Coordination and Organisation)
University of Oxford: Dr. Katrin Wilhelm (Framework Design), Dr. Martin Michette (Framework Design)
Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority PDTRA: Dr. Ismaiel Abuamoud (Commissioner of Petra Archaeology Park and Tourism)
Funding
The project is funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) under grant number 39670.
Project duration: 11 September 2025 – 11 May 2028 (32 months)