Non-Destructive Testing of Historic Buildings in Italy Using Infrared Thermography

Infrared thermography, with its ability to obtain information remotely and non-contact, is often applied as a valuable method for investigating the surface layers of historical buildings. In this paper, the results of applying infrared thermography during academic investigations of two Italian treasures—the Sanctuary of Vicoforte in Piedmont and the airship hangar in Augusta, Sicily—are presented. At the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, imaging was performed to evaluate the condition of the exterior finishes and interior frescoes, while at the airship hangar, imaging was conducted to detect cracks that are difficult to observe using visible-light imaging.