Suche
Mein Konto
Artworks under pressure: How science protects cultural heritage
The interdisciplinary research project at TU Dresden aims at the sustainable preservation of wooden cultural assets, supported by digital models and international collaboration.
Artworks under pressure: How science protects cultural heritage
An interdisciplinary research project from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Dresden aims to promote the preservation of wooden works of art through innovative approaches. It combines engineering methods with the restoration and preservation of cultural assets. The focus is on panel paintings and works of art that consist of complex mixes of materials.
The current research is complemented by a visit from the Cultural Heritage Research Group of the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków, led by Prof. Łukasz Bratasz. The aim is to create forecasts and provide recommendations for action to preserve these valuable artifacts.
Research and digital tools
A central aspect of the research efforts is the simulation of the aging process of wooden works of art using digital models. Scientists are analyzing various damage mechanisms and the structural behavior of works of art under the influence of climate change. This challenge is particularly important because the behavior of the unique historical specimens is often unknown and their history of stress can contribute significantly to their preservation.
Climate history plays a crucial role in the structural behavior of works of art. The common goal is to achieve sustainable and preventive conservation of cultural assets. In this context, the Institute for Statics and Dynamics of Structures (ISD) has been working with digital tools for some time to support the preservation of cultural heritage. The VIRTEX project was launched, which began in 2019 in cooperation with the Institute for Wood Technology Dresden and the Dresden University of Fine Arts.
Approaches to protecting cultural heritage
The is conducting research into a further dimension of the topic Fraunhofer Society over 25 years to preserve cultural heritage. In collaboration with museums and cultural heritage sites, research focuses on digitization, materials research, restoration and knowledge management.
Digital solution strategies are given special consideration here. The central question of the project is how the protection of cultural heritage can be guaranteed in the context of climate change. The main focuses include the development of a central knowledge platform and the collection of methods for creating digital twins in urban areas.
Another important element of this research is to examine the socio-economic value of cultural heritage in the digital age. The Innovation Acceptance Group at Fraunhofer IMW is researching the value of originals and digital copies and is developing a concept that highlights the benefits of digitalization in the area of cultural heritage.
The project partners in this project are the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) and the Saxon State Library – Dresden State and University Library (SLUB). The project duration extends from September 1, 2019 to October 31, 2022.
In view of climate change, it is essential that these valuable cultural assets are preserved for future generations. Therefore, the developments and findings from these research projects are of immense value for science and cultural preservation as a whole.