Research Summary

The aim of this research is to draw the attention for the importance of earth heritage preservation and to contribute for the advancement of scientific knowledge in this field. Earthen construction is still in use nowadays. It is estimated that around 30% of world population lives in earthen buildings. In the UNESCO list of world heritage, 10% is identified as earthen architecture, and in the list of world heritage in danger there are 57% of monuments made with earth identified.
This project will focus mainly in two areas: analysis of the interaction between consolidation and water repellent products (natural and synthetic) and the earth material; and development of a methodology based on test results.

PhD Project title: Conservation of earth heritage: an approach for a new methodology.

Supervisors: Daniel Oliveira (University of Minho, Braga)