INTEGRATED NON-DESTRUCTIVE APPROACH FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF HISTORIC MONUMENTS

As part of the tangible cultural heritage, historic buildings hold great importance for today’s societies. These are buildings that have persisted for hundreds or thousands of years as visible witnesses of the past generations and their traditions, and as such deserve special attention and treatment. A particular challenge is the protection of historical buildings located in seismic regions, where in addition to the climatic and human factors, these buildings are exposed to the effects of earthquakes, and so despite their visually good condition they exist today with many hidden weaknesses. Historic buildings respond to earthquakes, among other things, depend on the correct treatment and conservation practice. In order to achieve all that, a solid diagnostic study that will ensure a realistic assessment of its current condition is an essential prerequisite. This paper presents the non-invasive methodology carried out to one Byzantine monument – the church of St. Nikita near Skopje, North Macedonia, using the available Non-Destructive Techniques (NDTs): visual inspections, microscopy, infrared thermography, 3D laser scanning and ambient vibration tests. The use of the above mentioned NDTs enabled to evaluate the current condition of the monument in a relatively short time without affecting its authenticity, which is especially significant for this type of buildings. Additionally, the use of the 3D laser scanner generated digital documentation of the monument, accessible at any time.