PARNASSUS: Ensuring integrity, preserving significance: value based flood resilience for protection of cultural heritage from climate change impact
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Civil Environmental and Geomatic Eng
Abstract
The proposal develops an interdisciplinary system to quantify risk of historic buildings and archaeological sites to driving rain and flooding as caused by climate change; it will evaluate structural vulnerability by defining adequate impact indicators and propose adaptation strategies classified by increased resilience against loss of significance. Project activities are set within the framework of risk management and uncertainty methods.
The proposal addresses how the causes of damage or material change to cultural heritage can be better understood, and when is material change acceptable and damage unacceptable.
This requires investigation of the nature of changes and transformation in materials and of the resilience and adaptation capacity of the built heritage. The objectives of the proposal are:
- Definition of criteria and protocols to identify acceptable limits of damage; define consistent protocols for modelling material change; use of risk, monitoring and simulation to inform life-cycle and cost/benefits studies and new or improved conservation interventions.
- Impact of flooding, rising water level, driving rain and thermal cycles on structural integrity of historic buildings and archaeological sites
- Assessment of novel adaptation techniques to be implemented to enhance resilience of historic buildings and sites to climate change impacts.
The collaboration of structural and environmental modellers and specialists in cultural heritage, working on specific case studies and supported by professional practitioners and the heritage institutional bodies, ensures robust results applicable in practice.
Roughly dressed, rubble masonry, earth structures, infilled in timber frames, are the chosen constitutive materials as they are particularly vulnerable at joint and footing level to driving rain and flood. Hence effects of exacerbated structural damage caused by environmental agents can be successfully measured within the project timeframe. An overall approach based on extreme events statistical analysis and quantification of uncertainty will inform all aspects of the research, so that reliability will be in-built in the evaluation of the risk and adaptation measures The research will be case study based to facilitate direct feedback of results into practice. On-site monitoring and laboratory tests will be conducted, considering the combined effects of driving rain and flooding.
The proposed case studies areas are: Tewkesbury, scheduled area at south end of town near the Abbey; Deerhurst, archaeological sites and significant historic buildings; Cottown, Perthshire, cob walls compromised by flooding; Winchester cathedral crypt and Winchester College; York, Lendal Bridge towers and buildings on the Eastern riverbank; Bodiam Castle. The case studies have been chosen according to flooding hazard and to the diversity of age, materials, construction techniques, significance and historical documentation of the heritage buildings and archeological remains in the six areas. Their continued occupation through time allows to: gain historical perspective by looking at past adaptations to documented climate changes; investigate effects on current risk; define urgency of adaptation. Research tasks cover:
-Survey of buildings and stakeholders of study area to identify selected buildings for in depth study
-Study of secondary literature to identify significance of historic climate change
-Flood and driving rain probability analysis and scenarios
- Laser scanning and restitution of the building at different scales
-On site monitoring and lab testing to define damage thresholds
-Hydraulic an structural modelling
-Assessment of resilience and validation of adaptation measures.
-Generalisation and dissemination of results through drafting of guidelines.
The proposal addresses how the causes of damage or material change to cultural heritage can be better understood, and when is material change acceptable and damage unacceptable.
This requires investigation of the nature of changes and transformation in materials and of the resilience and adaptation capacity of the built heritage. The objectives of the proposal are:
- Definition of criteria and protocols to identify acceptable limits of damage; define consistent protocols for modelling material change; use of risk, monitoring and simulation to inform life-cycle and cost/benefits studies and new or improved conservation interventions.
- Impact of flooding, rising water level, driving rain and thermal cycles on structural integrity of historic buildings and archaeological sites
- Assessment of novel adaptation techniques to be implemented to enhance resilience of historic buildings and sites to climate change impacts.
The collaboration of structural and environmental modellers and specialists in cultural heritage, working on specific case studies and supported by professional practitioners and the heritage institutional bodies, ensures robust results applicable in practice.
Roughly dressed, rubble masonry, earth structures, infilled in timber frames, are the chosen constitutive materials as they are particularly vulnerable at joint and footing level to driving rain and flood. Hence effects of exacerbated structural damage caused by environmental agents can be successfully measured within the project timeframe. An overall approach based on extreme events statistical analysis and quantification of uncertainty will inform all aspects of the research, so that reliability will be in-built in the evaluation of the risk and adaptation measures The research will be case study based to facilitate direct feedback of results into practice. On-site monitoring and laboratory tests will be conducted, considering the combined effects of driving rain and flooding.
The proposed case studies areas are: Tewkesbury, scheduled area at south end of town near the Abbey; Deerhurst, archaeological sites and significant historic buildings; Cottown, Perthshire, cob walls compromised by flooding; Winchester cathedral crypt and Winchester College; York, Lendal Bridge towers and buildings on the Eastern riverbank; Bodiam Castle. The case studies have been chosen according to flooding hazard and to the diversity of age, materials, construction techniques, significance and historical documentation of the heritage buildings and archeological remains in the six areas. Their continued occupation through time allows to: gain historical perspective by looking at past adaptations to documented climate changes; investigate effects on current risk; define urgency of adaptation. Research tasks cover:
-Survey of buildings and stakeholders of study area to identify selected buildings for in depth study
-Study of secondary literature to identify significance of historic climate change
-Flood and driving rain probability analysis and scenarios
- Laser scanning and restitution of the building at different scales
-On site monitoring and lab testing to define damage thresholds
-Hydraulic an structural modelling
-Assessment of resilience and validation of adaptation measures.
-Generalisation and dissemination of results through drafting of guidelines.
Planned Impact
Four levels of beneficiaries can be identified for this proposal:
Project partners
Wider academic community
Heritage organisations
Local inhabitants
Besides the Academic Partners' staff and their PhD students whose research expertise and knowledge will benefit directly from the outcome of the project, the industrial and institutional partners will also directly benefit by taking part in the project. The research will impact on the nation's economic performance by assessing materials performance and by indicating measure to prevent flood and driving rain damage. Furthermore, the successful completion of the project and wider application findings will enhance the quality of life and the nation's historic building stock. The timescale for the benefits to be realized is as follows:
Immediate and medium-term benefit (up to five years from end of project). Academics, heritage organizations will benefit at completion of the project and after publication of journal articles. The final report will be sent to Governmental bodies and other conservation organizations.
Long-term benefit (five years onwards) will be gained after publication of the BRE Guidance document on Effectiveness of Adaptation measures for Improving resilience of Historic Buildings from Flood and Driving Rain. The implementation of such guidance will not only reduce costs of impact of major dmaging events, but will also improve the environmental health and hence public health.
In order to determine whether the project is feasible for development beyond research (commercial impact), cost relative to preservation measures will be assessed.
Several tools will be employed to increase the likelihood of impacts:
Dissemination to the academic community will occur by participation of the academic partners to key international conferences, and by major peer reviewed journal articles, for example in Journal of Archaeological Science, Antiquity, Materials and Structures, International Journal of Architectural Heritage, Journal of Architectural Conservation, Climatic Change, etc.
Other forms of outputs will be: VAST Eurographics for the modelling and scanning; On-line data sets available through ADS; upload of data and findings to European NET-Heritage Portal.
A one day International workshop will be organized by Bath University with key researchers and end users;
The publication of the Guidelines will be an essential tool for building users and practitioners on how to prepare and what to do after flooding.
A website will be online after 2 months form the inception of the project and after completion of the project as a showcase for the project progress and main results of use to the wider audience.
Open days on the case study areas will be organised with the help of local authorities and local/national Heritage organisation to explain the activity carried out on specific buildings and divulgate the potential impacts to the wider community.
If the project is successful further funding will be sought form professional Institutions to organise training and CPD courses to disseminate findings to surveyors, conservators, engineers, insurers.
Project partners
Wider academic community
Heritage organisations
Local inhabitants
Besides the Academic Partners' staff and their PhD students whose research expertise and knowledge will benefit directly from the outcome of the project, the industrial and institutional partners will also directly benefit by taking part in the project. The research will impact on the nation's economic performance by assessing materials performance and by indicating measure to prevent flood and driving rain damage. Furthermore, the successful completion of the project and wider application findings will enhance the quality of life and the nation's historic building stock. The timescale for the benefits to be realized is as follows:
Immediate and medium-term benefit (up to five years from end of project). Academics, heritage organizations will benefit at completion of the project and after publication of journal articles. The final report will be sent to Governmental bodies and other conservation organizations.
Long-term benefit (five years onwards) will be gained after publication of the BRE Guidance document on Effectiveness of Adaptation measures for Improving resilience of Historic Buildings from Flood and Driving Rain. The implementation of such guidance will not only reduce costs of impact of major dmaging events, but will also improve the environmental health and hence public health.
In order to determine whether the project is feasible for development beyond research (commercial impact), cost relative to preservation measures will be assessed.
Several tools will be employed to increase the likelihood of impacts:
Dissemination to the academic community will occur by participation of the academic partners to key international conferences, and by major peer reviewed journal articles, for example in Journal of Archaeological Science, Antiquity, Materials and Structures, International Journal of Architectural Heritage, Journal of Architectural Conservation, Climatic Change, etc.
Other forms of outputs will be: VAST Eurographics for the modelling and scanning; On-line data sets available through ADS; upload of data and findings to European NET-Heritage Portal.
A one day International workshop will be organized by Bath University with key researchers and end users;
The publication of the Guidelines will be an essential tool for building users and practitioners on how to prepare and what to do after flooding.
A website will be online after 2 months form the inception of the project and after completion of the project as a showcase for the project progress and main results of use to the wider audience.
Open days on the case study areas will be organised with the help of local authorities and local/national Heritage organisation to explain the activity carried out on specific buildings and divulgate the potential impacts to the wider community.
If the project is successful further funding will be sought form professional Institutions to organise training and CPD courses to disseminate findings to surveyors, conservators, engineers, insurers.
People |
ORCID iD |
Dina D'Ayala (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
D'Ayala D
(2016)
Moisture dynamics in the masonry fabric of historic buildings subjected to wind-driven rain and flooding
in Building and Environment
Erkal A
(2012)
Assessment of wind-driven rain impact, related surface erosion and surface strength reduction of historic building materials
in Building and Environment
Aktas Y
(2021)
Impact of surface waterproofing on the performance of brick masonry through the moisture exposure life-cycle
in Building and Environment
Aktas Y
(2017)
An assessment of moisture induced damage in Blickling Hall in Norfolk, England, via environmental monitoring
in Heritage Science
Aktas YD
(2018)
Indoor mould testing in a historic building: Blickling Hall.
in Heritage science
Smith A
(2014)
Comparing ensemble projections of flooding against flood estimation by continuous simulation
in Journal of Hydrology
Stephenson V
(2019)
Structural Response of Masonry Infilled Timber Frames to Flood and Wind Driven Rain Exposure
in Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Stephenson V
(2014)
A new approach to flood vulnerability assessment for historic buildings in England
in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Aktas Y
(2015)
Environmental performance assessment using monitoring and DVS testing
in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage
Description | Correlation between exposure to moisture induced by wind driven rain and flooding and loss of integrity of historic structural assemblies |
Exploitation Route | by applying the methodological approach to study vulnerability of other historic town centres to flood or wind driven rain |
Sectors | Construction Environment Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/parnassus |
Description | English Heritage Awarded £16000 to test modern internal insulation material used in conservation and energy retrofitting of historic buildings. Long lasting collaboration with leader in remediation industry Polygon ltd. They have supported a EPSRC IAA grant and a PhD studentship. The first led to one white paper on mould in residential buildings and a number of academic publications. Long lasting relationship also with National Trust. See joint publication. We have also established links and codeveloped research with industry in Denmark (see publication record) |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Construction,Environment,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | DTP 2018-19 University College London |
Amount | £15,580,958 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R513143/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Award |
Amount | £50,139 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K503745/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Global Engagement Award |
Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2019 |
End | 08/2020 |
Description | Industry Sponsorship |
Amount | £37,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Polygon UK |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 11/2017 |
Description | PROcesses for sustainable retrofit of Traditional dwellings in Turkey for Climate-resilience, Conservation and ComforT (PROT3CT) |
Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Newton Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2020 |
End | 02/2022 |
Description | Tales of cold and draft: Establishing retrofit needs of Turkish vernacular architecture for energy-efficiency, comfort and conservation |
Amount | £5,200 (GBP) |
Organisation | University College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 08/2020 |
Description | Waterproofing cavity walls to allow insulation in exposed areas |
Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | TRN 1303/04/2017 |
Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2017 |
End | 08/2019 |
Description | Bristol City Council flood risk assessmnet |
Organisation | Bristol City Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We have conducted a study of the flood risk for historic listed buildings of Bristol city centre by conducting a site survey and developing spreadsheet and GIS based visualization using a quantitatve vulnerability assessment based on breach of openings |
Collaborator Contribution | Time for meeting, data on flood hazard basic reference city of Briistol GIS model access to their databases. |
Impact | not yet |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Collaboration with Mycometer |
Organisation | Mycometer A/S |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | UCL team used Mycometer's products that were provided them with as an n-kind contribution in order to achieve a thorough mould testing study targeting the UK building stock. This helped further validation of Mycometer's mould testing technology and equipment and helped promote their methodology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Mycometer provided equipment, training and sample analyses as an in-kind support to our study. Mycometer and UCL is currently working on a number of publications from this study. |
Impact | This collaboration was born when Polygon UK sponsored UCL CEGE to carry out a study on indoor mould growth. Mycometer's involvement has not only made this study more extensive and robust, but also strengthened our EPSRC IAA application, which has been a success (EP/K503745/1). At the end of the study a public report on indoor mould growth has now been published by UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB) (http://www.ukcmb.org/ukcmb-news/Public-report-mould-testing), and another three academic publications are currently being produced. Interdisciplinary collaboration between remediation industry, structural and environmental engineers and microbiologists. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with Polygon UK |
Organisation | Polygon UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We carried out a study for Polygon UK on indoor mould growth upon their request. The study included a rigorous indoor mould testing scheme in a total of 185 rooms within residential properties across England, data analysis and reporting. |
Collaborator Contribution | Polygon UK provided funds that were used for researcher salary and project expenses. They also provided extensive in-kind contribution towards the study mainly by allocating some of their technicians to help out with testing and finding properties to test. |
Impact | A public report: http://www.ukcmb.org/ukcmb-news/Public-report-mould-testing. Further funding from EPSRC IAA (EP/K503745/1). Interdisciplinary effort between remediation industry, structural and environmental engineers and microbiologists. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with Trinity House for accessing and studying historic lighthouses in the UK |
Organisation | Trinity House |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We are studying the structural condition and risks of lighthouses in the UK for which Trinity House is responsible. |
Collaborator Contribution | Trinity House provides information (e.g archival drawing and photos) for the investigated lighthouses and helicopter access to the structures. |
Impact | Ongoing structural analysis of 5 lighthouses: Dubh Artach, Wolf Rock, Bishop Rock, Les Hanois, Longships. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with UKCMB |
Organisation | UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | UKCMB is a newly founded organisation which aims to address issues in the built environment with regards to moisture in buildings, a lack of good guidance, and minimal public and industry understanding. CEGE has lent its wide ranging expertise (hygrothermal characterisation, mould growth, flooding and wind driven rain, environmental testing and monitoring among others) and facilities (climate chambers) to a number of projects we collaborated with UKCMB for, including the Polygon sponsored project, EPSRC IAA funded project (EP/K503745/1) and finally for BEIS consultancy (TRN 1303/04/2017). We used our existing contacts and networks for promoting UKCMB's work, and form strong consortia for funding applications. |
Collaborator Contribution | UKCMB has strong links with the practitioners and the industry, which help disseminate our findings. |
Impact | Polygon sponsored project, EPSRC IAA funded project (EP/K503745/1) and finally for BEIS consultancy (TRN 1303/04/2017). Interdisciplinary between structural and environmental engineers, building physicists, remediation industry and other stakeholders of built environment, among others. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | English Heritage insulation tests |
Organisation | English Heritage |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | assessment through experimental programme of tests on walls of the effect of internal insulation on condensation and moisture uptake of historic masonry walls |
Collaborator Contribution | provided materials and evidence form sites |
Impact | report to English Heritage |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Invited talk at UKCMB, 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Mould Testing and Benchmarking, invited by UKCMB, UKCMB Launch Conference, UCL, 25 May 2016 London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited talk by UKCMB, 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Indoor Mould Testing Project Update, invited by UKCMB, UKCMB Re-Launch Conference, UCL, 20 October 2017 London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited talk in Leeds, 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Parnassus: Climate Loading on Historic Buildings: invited for UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities Workshop organised by the Institute for Resilient Infrastructures, University of Leeds, 30 March 2016 Leeds |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited talk in UKM by Good Homes Allience, 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Indoor Mould Growth and Benchmarking, Invited by the Good Homes Alliance: New Homes & Our Health, 25 Nov 2016 London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Polygon UK technicians training |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As part of the industry sponsorship for a 6 months pilot project funded by Polygon UK, we trained 5 technicians for the testing protocol over 2 days. By means of this training activity, technicians were able to carry out testing independently. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UCL Microbiology Symposium talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Efthymiopoulos, S., Altamirano, H., Aktas, Y.D. (2020) Developing a methodology to detect mould hidden behind internal wall insulation, UCL Microbiology Symposium, 28-29 July 2020, London, UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | public blog piece, 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Mould: Is it really an unbeatable monster?; UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB) Blog |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://ukcmb.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/mould-is-it-really-an-unbeatable-monster/ |