Sustainability in civil engineering: integrated mix of some non-invasive sensing techniques for conservation and restoration of historical buildings and frescoes

Santa Maria of the Palomba Sanctuary was built in XVth century on a pre-existing medieval crypt, situated in a splendid landscape, on the south facing ravine on which stands the city of Matera, integrating in a wonderful way the underground and sub divo building; in the ages shortly following a notable cycle of frescoes was painted renewing the decorative state of the underground church. Over many years, the building fell into decay, the structures and frescoes were flooded and damaged; so that from 1980 important restoration works were carried out, constructing ventilation canals under the floor of the hypogeic church, incorporating heating pipes, connected to solar thermal panels in such a way to secure the optimum thermo-hygrometric conditions for conservation. After almost thirty years, before working on the restoration of the frescoes it was necessary to completely and objectively characterize the existing physical conditions.