A computational program for estimating atmospheric corrosion of monuments

Abstract

This study developed a novel computer program for predicting the deterioration of various types of materials from historic monuments caused by exposure to atmospheric pollution. The program was designed based on a set of materials’ dose-response functions, which take air pollutants together with climatic parameters into account. It is a web-based application that requires three input datasets: monuments’ material characteristics, local meteorological data and air pollution levels over a defined exposure time. It is also capable of estimating restoration costs. Quantification of future monument deterioration is possible by extrapolation of linear temporal relationships for air pollution and meteorological parameters. This user-friendly-interface program cooperates with Google Maps™ to find the nearest air pollution and meteorological stations to the monument site. The program may be used as a tool providing quantitative information for effective policy-making in conservation of cultural heritage monuments. To illustrate its use, the program was employed to assess the accumulated deterioration of 75 Buddhist monuments comprised of various materials located in a historical area of Bangkok, Thailand. It was estimated that the total accumulated material loss from all monuments over seven years exposure in this environment to be approximately 410 cm3 with an overall restoration cost of about 210,000 USD.