Non-destructive methods for chromatic investigation of ancientbuilding facades

The chromatic characterization of surfaces is carry out in many research and production fields, from the quality control of industrial product to the effect of color on human behavior and feeling. The chromaticity is widely considered in architecture both for the new design and restoration of a construction. In this last field the colorimetric investigation of solid elements is a current subject in which several problematic aspects have to be analyzed: large area characterization (for instance monochromatic colored plastered surfaces); chromatic surveys of painted facades; analysis of chromatic alteration due to weathering or/and degradation processes2. Thus, the color can be considered one of the useful aspects in an ancient building to control the state of conservation of surface. The main purpose of the present work is the research of non-destructive methods for chromatic investigations applicable to the three last aims explained before, that is the three different applications to ancient buildings. In particular, starting from the previous introduction, after the choice of two experimental instruments for quantitative chromatic surface surveys, a procedure is get ready for general applications and it is applied to case studies. In the following part the experimental instruments and their possible uses, the procedure and the results of a case study will be presented