Application of non-destructive techniques to assess the state of Hagia Sophia's mosaics

Non-destructive techniques, including ground-penetrating radar, infrared thermography, and fiber-optic microscopy, successfully identified the grid of rendered mosaics beneath Hagia Sophia's external plaster surfaces. The study revealed that high relative humidity combined with salt damp and air pollutants are primary decay factors accelerating mosaic degradation. Notably, prior incompatible conservation interventions exacerbated these processes, highlighting their detrimental impact on preservation efforts. These techniques also pinpointed sub-layers at risk of detachment or further decay, offering a strategic approach for targeted conservation planning.

Moropoulou, A., Karoglou, M., Labropoulos, K. C., Delegou, E. T., Katsiotis, N. K., & Karagiannis-Bakolas, A. (2012). Application of non-destructive techniques to assess the state of Hagia Sophia’s mosaics. Smart Sensor Phenomena, Technology, Networks, and Systems Integration 2012, 8346, 83460Y. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.917426