Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 12(1), pp. 312 - 325
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120124
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Preserving Historic Structures: Advancing Conservation Practices Through Building Material Analysis and Mapping


Sana Simou *, Khadija Baba , Abderrahman Nounah
Civil Engineering and Environment Laboratory, Civil Engineering, Water, Environment and Geosciences Centre (CICEEG), Mohammadia School of Engineering, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

ABSTRACT

Recent efforts to protect and enhance cultural heritage have been driven by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notably, these initiatives include the establishment of the Culture Fund and a fund dedicated to restoring and conserving historically and artistically significant buildings. Moroccan cities boast a vast collection of historic centers, each with its own unique construction styles, materials, execution techniques rooted in local traditions, and diverse composite and aggregate systems. Addressing this diversity requires not only examining the distinct characteristics of each site but also developing a comprehensive methodology that enables the proper recognition, evaluation, and preservation of cultural value, along with the identification of coherent conservation and intervention methods. This paper outlines a scientific initiative aimed at formulating a conservation methodology specifically for the artifacts found at the Chellah archaeological site in Rabat, Morocco. The methodology involves analyzing the site's historic buildings and exploring the potential of traditional materials and construction techniques employed. The historical knowledge is systematically organized through traditional and technological surveys, as well as cognitive investigations. Thus, in this research, we present a comprehensive methodology that combines data from various disciplines with the creation of thematic maps using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. We have applied this methodology to the historic building of the Marinid Madrasa at the Chellah archaeological site and obtained representative results. These results demonstrate the effectiveness and utility of our proposed methodology in the context of preserving and studying cultural heritage. Additionally, this approach facilitates the planning and implementation of compatible conservation interventions.

KEYWORDS
Building Information, Building Conservation, Preventive Intervention, Thematic Maps, Restoration

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sana Simou , Khadija Baba , Abderrahman Nounah , "Preserving Historic Structures: Advancing Conservation Practices Through Building Material Analysis and Mapping," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 312 - 325, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120124.

(b). APA Format:
Sana Simou , Khadija Baba , Abderrahman Nounah (2024). Preserving Historic Structures: Advancing Conservation Practices Through Building Material Analysis and Mapping. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 12(1), 312 - 325. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120124.