Acronym

Project Activity/ Strategy

ASSET

Assessment of suitable products for conservation treatments of sea-salts decay - focus on identification and selection of suitable productsto isolate sea-salts trapped in the pores of European historic buildings that may be exposed to sea-salts (sea flooding, rising damp and marine spray); and to and prevent further penetration as a means to safeguard the historic buildings

BACPOLES

Preserving cultural heritage by preventing bacterial decay of wood in foundation poles and shipwrecks -aims to better understand bacterial degradation of wooden foundation poles and archaeological sites in soil or water in anaerobic or microaerophilic conditions. The project will initially rely on a study with wood-attacking bacteria using advanced molecular DNA biology techniques for the prediction, diagnosis, and curing environmental damage through possible use of specific bacterial phages under strict controlled conditions. Techniques developed could be of significance in the conservation of historic buildings

BIOBRUSH

Bioremediation for Building Restoration of the Urban Stone Heritage in European States - focus on identification of appropriate non-pathogenic microbes capable of destroying mineral salty crusts, and of other bacteria that in reverse action produce "bio-calcite" consolidating stone materials

BIODAM

Inhibition of biofilm damage on mineral materials - Study of incorporated protective chemicals such as biocides, cell wall conditioners, etc. into biofilm communities damaging rocks in European heritage buildings. A major issue is the targeted cracking of resistant biofilm organisms and extracellular deposited polymeric substances

BIOREINFORCE

Bioremediated calcite precipitation for monumental reinforcement - Optimal use of scientific methodologies developed for the conservation of monumental and historic buildings to reduce the inevitable risk of stone damage as a means to due to decreasing the costs of maintenance.

The application of aqueous soluble natural product with consolidating properties helps strengthen the weathered stones, minimizes loss of stone material, safeguards against colour changes, crust formation, glossy appearance, and contributes to the safety of the working conditions of technical staff

CATS

Cyanobacterial attack of rocks: Control and preventive strategies to avoid damage caused by cyanobacteria and associated microorganisms in Roman hypogean monuments - Control and preventive strategies focus on the conservation and restoration of the Roman hypogea that is part of the Cultural Heritage of Europe. Elimination and eradication of the metabolic activity of cyanobacterial biofilms, that leads to the biotransformation and biodecay of substrata and to severe damage essentially of calcareous substrata, helps to preserve important sites of archaeological and touristic significance as well as to improve the quality of life and the sustainable management of the artistic patrimony of Europe and more particularly the Mediterranean region

COALITION

Concerted action in using molecular microbiology as an innovative conservation strategy for indoor and outdoor cultural assets - Provision of updated information and novel micro-analytical molecular biology techniques to scientists, conservators, restorers and other end-users to protect against microbial destruction of monument stones, statues, mortars, bricks, and the biodeterioration and decay of mural paintings, tapestries, woods, glass, paper, etc., and to arrest and overcome in the loss of European cultural assets and heritage

PAPYLUM

Chemiluminescence as a novel tool in paper conservation - Development of a new prototype instrument with non-destructive sampling and data evaluation data properties to predict paper lifetime and rate of degradation of paper -based library materials to make more adequate existing conservation treatments; and. to plan future conservation strategies for orientation of thousands of European libraries and archives in the use of the best practices in this field

VIDRIO

Prevent weathering due to condensation particle deposition and microorganism growth on ancient stained glass windows with protective glazing - Identification and improvement of the best practice to preserve, in their original context, ancient stained glass windows exposed to environmental variables and mass tourism. Scientific research will be done for the Sainte Chapelle of Paris and St. Urbain's Church in Troyes (France) and the Cathedral of Cologne (Germany). Sainte Chapelle and the Cathedral of Cologne are in UNESCO's World List of Cultural Heritage. The VIDRIO project will provide a global, multidisciplinary framework, for the first time, to study from a physical (microclimatic conditions), chemical (glass surface deposition and corrosion) and biological (microbial contamination and population growth) aspects of the deterioration process of stained glass and the efficiency of protective glazing without neglecting the aesthetic and artistic aspects

Source: Basztura, 2003.