Ammir@ Client: Regione Calabria Aims: To combine the traditional restoration activities and interventions on the artefacts by multispectral acquisition tools, image processing methodologies and digital archiving and intelligent searching systems. Results: A hardware tool for the multispectral acquisition of images based on flexible modular architecture that allows to achieve significantly higher performances than the tools on the market and to respond effectively to the requirements of different users. |  |
A software for the processing of multispectral and multiview images, for the enhancement of readability, the elimination of spots or diffusion of the ink traces, the identification of not visible features, the archiving and intelligent search of digital information.
RestArts Client: Regione Calabria Aims: The project aim is the experimentation and test of innovative algorithms for the hyper/multispectral image processing, able to process more bands at the same time, easy to be used also for not expert users, that grant the control of the scientific nature of the operation in order to carry out the virtual restoration of the artefacts. Results: Innovative algorithms for the multispectral image registration and for the virtual restoration have been developed (enhancement of readability, |  |
elimination of interfering patterns and detection of hidden features) The multispectral camera has been enhnanced with the addition of two new filters in the infrared range. The system has been tested, with very good results, at the Neaples National Library and the Medicea Laurenziana Library, in Florence.
M.A.R.E. Client: Regione Calabria Aims: The aim was to capture in digital form and with non-invasive tools information on a sample of various artefacts (bronzes, ceramics, paintings and documents) to be analyzed later with different statistical techniques. Technical solutions: The technique of induced X-Ray Fluorescence is one of the most versatile and most widely used techniques for the determination of the elements present in a sample. The LIBS technique (Lasers Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) is a spectroscopic analysis which function is to detect the elemental composition in any type of material or substance of. |  |
The reflectographic analysis is a non-destructive optical diagnostic technique for the analysis of painted surfaces that allows to visualize the layers beneath the paint film permeable to radiation in the near infrared (0.8 1.1 m).
Results: Multispectral: On paintings have been detected repentances, restorations and preparatory drawings through the use of multispectral technology; with the LIBS and XRF fragments of the Porticello Bronzes have been analyzed, which have been linked to at least two statues; with the LIBS finally the ceramics from Bagnara have been analyzed, and the various type of staining have been identified on them.
Plateario Client: Province of Salerno Aims: The analysis has been aimed at giving the Plateario manuscript back to Salerno in a brand new format, offering the opportunity to leaf through it virtually, evidencing moreover features in the text difficult to be viewed to the naked eye. Technical solutions A particular kind of survey has been carried out on the manuscript; this survey is known as “reflexography” and has provided the utilization of a multispectral camera, a high potential device that, differently from the common use digital cameras, is able to acquire images in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. |  |
Results:The images have been saved in .TIF format and have been afterwards processed in order to enhance the readability of the text and to optimize their size for the publication on the WEB.
Finally, a CD-ROM in .html format (both in Italian and English languages) has been realized that allows to consult virtually this precious document without touching it and without the risk of further damaging the fragile pages.
Casa del Libro Antico Client: Lamezia Terme Municipality Aims: Valorise the cultural heritage kept in the Casa del Libro Antico (Ancient Book House) by the mean of multispectral imaging. Technical solutions: For the carrying out of the project a multispectral camera has been used, a device equipped with a sensor able to measure light energy emission in electromagnetic bands not visible to the human eye (such as the infrared one). Two kind of information will be achieved, one from the visible range and one from the not visible range. |  |
Results:The documents have been acquired and then processed using image enhancement algorithms, in order to improve, where possible, their readability. The acquired images, the processed ones and the power point format images have been stored in a CD-ROM delivered to the Administration. Finally a brief report on the activities has been drawn up. 9 parchment fragments have been acquired in total, dated back to XIV, XV, XVI and XVII centuries and an experimentation on the surface of a terraqueus globe dated back to XVII century has been carried out.
Statuto Client: Catanzaro Chamber of Commerce Aims: Improve the manuscript readability, carry out not descructive surveys on the text and make enjoiable the paper patrimony by the use of a digital support that allows its easy consultation. Technical solutions: The acquisition of the Statuto has been carried out with a multispectral camera equipped with a sensor able to percive the light reflected form the objects and then, differently for the common use cameras, measures the light energy emission in electromagnetic bands, invisible to the human eye, such as the infrared one. |  |
Results:The final result is represented by an exact but virtual digital copy of the ancient manuscript, thanks to which is possible to turn over the page of the Statuto without it leaving its casket.
Isyreadet Client: European Commission under the RST Fifth Framework Programme. Aims: To carry out an integrated system hardware/software for the virtual restoring and the archiving of damaged documents. Soluzioni tecniche adottate: The texts images have been captured by a multispectral camera, that is a tools able to acquire in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum Image enhancement techniques have been applied on the acquired images (such as anisotropic filters, mathematic morphology, colours decorrelation...) needed for removing the most |  |
frequent degradations found on the texts (bleed-through and show-through phenomena, colour fading and/or diffusion, different interferring patterns that make the text unreadable).
Results:The main project result is the PREOCR software: it is an user friendly application that allows the approach to the virtual restoration techniques also for not expert users. In fact the algorithms implemented in the software can authomatically be applied, any particular mathematic knowledge is required.
