METROLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Lead

Measurements do not safeguard only science and industry — they also protect our cultural heritage. Thanks to metrology, we can precisely document, analyse, and preserve historical manuscripts, objects, paintings, sculptures, and buildings.

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Preserving cultural heritage requires a wide range of measurements. Humidity and temperature are crucial for protecting parchment, paper, and paintings. If these parameters are not monitored and kept within the allowed limits, the paint layers may deteriorate and paper or canvas may degrade. This is why museums and archives use calibrated hygrometers and thermometers to ensure stable environmental conditions.

 

In art restoration, various spectrometers and microscopic analyses are used to determine the composition of pigments and materials. Reliable measurements enable restorers to apply the correct techniques and materials without compromising the authenticity of the artwork.

(Visual 1: X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy on a metal artefact / Source: CoMeTA (Corrosion Measurement Tools for Artefacts), Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino)

 

Metrology is also essential in archaeology and built heritage. Laser measurements (LIDAR) and photogrammetry are used to create 3D models of archaeological sites and historical structures. But for these models to be trustworthy, the instruments used to collect the data must be accurate.

(Visual 2: LIDAR scan of the medieval fortress Cesargrad above the town of Klanjec / Source: Ruina d.o.o.)

 

In Croatia, metrological techniques are also applied in the Croatian State Archives, where books and documents several centuries old are preserved. The microclimate in these spaces is continuously monitored using thermo-hygrometers. Recommended conditions are (18–20) °C and (45–55) % relative humidity. If values drift outside these limits, paper deteriorates more quickly, ink spreads, and bindings become damaged. Only through precise and accurate measurement is it possible to react in time and protect this valuable heritage.

(Visual 3: Monitoring temperature and relative humidity in the Metropolitan Library of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, Croatian State Archives / Source: Croatian State Archives, Metroteka d.o.o.)

 

(Visual 4: Calibration of a thermo-hygrometer in a calibration laboratory / Source: Metroteka d.o.o.)

 

Thus, metrology becomes a guardian of our history and culture — just as it safeguards industrial quality and scientific progress.