Investigations procedures for the diagnosis of historic buildings: a case study from Guiglia (Modena)

Historical masonry buildings, either monumental or minor buildings, have a need to be preserved in the correct way. The start point for that aim is to have or to be able to build up an extended knowledge of the constructions of interest. In Italy, an advanced document was put forward at national level some 15 years ago, proposing a diagnostic process to be followed in order to produce the necessary knowledge leading to a correct diagnostic evaluation. Relevant information can be extracted from many different sources, both on-site and off-site. Visual inspections and adavanced non-destructive techniques are part of the prescribed knowledge path and are particularly suitable for cultural heritage. They are used to indirectly assess the materials’ nature and characteristics, detection of damage and degradation, as well as for uncovering the past asset of the building and the compatibility of possible past interventions. This dissertation uses a case study consisting of a masonry building, situated in Guiglia, Modena, to adopt the knowledge process and conduct a personal experience of its application through various inspections, surveys and NDT tests such as IR thermography. Although the diagnostic work undertaken was initial and very partial, it resulted in discovering many peculiar aspects of the construction simply by contactless observations. These would be useful for further phases of the evaluation and assessment of the building and could make up the ground base for any preservation and intervention design.