THE ROLE OF THERMOGRAPHY IN THE NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES. Some observation about the method and its purpose

Infrared-Thermography (IRT) has become a supporting tool for the investigation of historical structures and facades. Using the non-destructive testing method for the detection can give a profound knowledge about the current status of the object and the state of decay, about different kinds of discontinuities at historical facades, of construction details and of thermal bridges in the facades. Different case studies of thermographic surveys on some Sicilian monuments are presented and discussed to illustrate how the method can offer applicable information about the investigated objects and demonstrate its reasonable integration into conservation projects.