Achig, 2010

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
RAYMOND LEMAIRE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION

KASTEELPARK ARENBERG 1 – BUS 02431
B-3001 LEUVEN (HEVERLEE)
Methodology for analysis, diagnosis and monitoring

of damage in heritage architecture (earth and timber) in Cuenca – Ecuador.
Case study “Casa Peña” in the Barranco of the city.
Thesis to obtain the degree of Master

Promoter: of Conservation of Monuments and Sites
Prof. Koen VAN BALEN (K.U. Leuven) Presented by MARÍA CECILIA ACHIG
Co-promoter:
Prof. Fausto CARDOSO (U. Cuenca) Leuven / 2009 - 2010
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
RAYMOND LEMAIRE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION
KASTEELPARK ARENBERG 1 – BUS 02431
B-3001 LEUVEN (HEVERLEE)
KATHOLIEKE
UNIVERSITEIT
LEUVEN
Methodology for analysis, diagnosis and monitoring

of damage in heritage architecture (earth and timber) in Cuenca – Ecuador.
Case study: “Casa Peña” in the Barranco of the city.
Thesis to obtain the degree of Master

Promoter: of Conservation of Monuments and Sites
Prof. Koen VAN BALEN (K.U. Leuven) Presented by MARÍIA CECILIA ACHIG
Co- promoter:
Prof. Fausto CARDOSO (U. Cuenca) Leuven / 2009 - 2010
ADMISION TO LOAN
Toelating tot bruikleen
De auteur geeft de toelating deze eindverhandeling voor consultatie beschikbaar

te stellen en delen ervan te kopiëren voor eigen gebruik. Elk ander gebruik valt
onder de strikte beperkingen van het auteursrecht; in het bijzonder wordt er
gewezen op de verplichting de bron uitdrukkelijk te vermelden bij het aanhalen
van resultaten uit deze eindverhandeling.
Leuven, 2010
Permission for Use of Content
The author herewith permits that the present dissertation be made available for
consultation; parts of it may be copied, strictly for personal use. Every other
use is subject to strict copyright reservations. Particular reference is made to
the obligation of explicitly mentioning the source when quoting the present
dissertation‘s results.
Leuven, 2010
Autorisation d’utilisation
L’ auteur autorise la mise à disposition du présent mémoire pour consultation; il

est permis de copier des parties, strictement pour usage personnel. Toute autre
utilisation est strictement soumise aux restrictions prévues par le droit d’auteur;
tout particulièrement, il doit être tenu compte de l’obligation de citer explicite-
ment la source lorsqu’il est fait référence aux résultats de ce mémoire.
Leuven, 2010
Agradezco a Dios, esa la luz divina que ha acompañado día a día en el silencio…
A la vida por esta oportunidad de enriquecimiento profesional y humano a través
del desarrollo de esta investigación…
A mis padres Lucas y Cecilia; a mis hermanos David, Charito, José y Lucas y
a mi familia, quienes junto o a la distancia, confiaron y me apoyaron de una
manera incondicional…
A Cristina, ese angelito que nos contagia de su alegría, inocencia y amor.
A ti… por seguir paso a paso esta investigación y además por hacer de la vida
una experiencia muy agradable…
A mis amigos y amigas por su compañía y aliento…
Para todos ustedes, seres especiales y queridos un profundo abrazo de

agradecimiento…
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Being part of the VLIR-CPM Project and studying at the Catholic University of
Leuven has been a life experience, which has allowed me to grow personally as
well as academically. Thank you to all the persons who have made this dream
come true.
In the first place I would like to sincerely thank my promoters: Professor Koen
van Balen for his teachings, wise advice, human quality and for always being
mindful for the affairs of this thesis. Thanks also to Architect Fausto Cardoso,
who from the beginning has showed his interest in my participation in the VLIR-
CPM project and in my thesis.
Special thanks go to the advisors of this work. In Cuenca the guidance which I
received from Architect Marcelo Zúñiga was very important, who with his broad
knowledge about the subject, contributed to the development of this investiga-
tion. Thanks also to the advisors in Leuven for their contributions and advice:
Professors Rob van Hees and Mario Santana. In the same way I would like to
thank Architect and friend Lourdes Abad.
Thanks to Anouk Stulens and Birgit van Laar (Monumentenwacht Belgium) as

well as to Professor Stefano de la Torre and Rosella Moioli (PdM Italy) for allow-
ing me to enter and share information in their respective institutions.
Thanks to all friends and members of the VLIR-CPM project, especially to the
persons linked to the damage area: Gabriela García, Nelson Galán y Alexan-
dra Aguirre. Thanks to María José Escandón, Gabriela Orellana, Diana Palacios,
Vanesa Urdiales and Renato Puruncajas for their support in this work.
Great friendships have developed over these last two years. In Leuven, the
friendship with Sylvia, Ana, Hannelore, Meiping, Vero, Duwen, Maite, Alex and all
students of the other faculties of the University of Cuenca is kept alive despite
the distance… Thanks to all of you for being my family in Leuven.
Pleasant experiences were shared during the first year with colleagues of the
Master: Ingrid, Karolien, Jackie, Liesbeth, Sole, Barbara, Marieke and Tom.
In Cuenca, thanks to the owners of the heritage buildings, where the fieldwork
was done, especially to Mrs. Eva Ortiz (owner of la casa Peña) and to the Archi-
tects Gustavo Lloret y Max Cabrera (restorers of la Casa Neira Carrión). Thanks
to Engineer Juan Jiménez for sharing his knowledge and my friends of the foun-
dation El Barranco. Similarly my thanks to Architect Gonzalo Checa and Architect
Alfonso Ortiz of FONSAL in Quito.
And to all those I have forgotten…
María Cecilia Achig

ABSTRACT
The declaration of Cuenca as World Heritage City in 1999, promoted some initiatives
for its conservation. One important effort constitutes the Project “World Heritage City
Preservation Management”, between the University of Cuenca and the University of
Leuven. In this context, the subject of study constitutes the analysis of damage in the
earthen heritage architecture in Cuenca, using as a tool, an appropriate documenta-
tion. For this reason it is important to analyze the traditional construction materials and
systems (earth and timber) used in the different components of the building.
The methodology to study the damages is based on the following outline: analysis,
diagnosis, therapy and control. For this study the development of a Damage Atlas is
fundamental, to facilitate the understanding and the identification of the damages and
their possible causes as well as for the proposal of a standard terminology.
It was interesting to analyze the different experiences in relation to the damage analy-
sis, used in different contexts (Belgium, Holland, Italy), where the information is or-
ganized and systemized in databases, information systems and expert systems. This
analysis contributed to the development of the proposed methodology for the study
of damages, which is to be applied in the heritage buildings of Cuenca, taking into
account our situation and resources.
This investigation presents a methodology for the analysis and diagnosis of damage,
establishing general principles for the elaboration of a preventive conservation plan,
which includes monitoring actions and levels of risk. To accomplish these objectives
the determination of the present condition of a heritage building is fundamental. In
the present thesis a reference system was developed, which allows the determination
of the general condition of a monument through the processing of the information,
obtained through the combination of different parameters analyzed throughout the
thesis, such as a.o.: building elements, traditional construction materials and systems,
identification and classification of the damages and their possible causes, level of
severity, plan of actions and monitoring of alerts.
The methodology is applied in a heritage building “Casa Peña” located in the area of
El Barranco of Cuenca. In this building, the damage register was done, which allowed
the determination of the present condition as well as suggested follow-up actions for
the conservation of its heritage values.
INDEX
Title of the Thesis:
Methodology for analysis, diagnosis and monitoring of damage
in heritage architecture (earth and timber) in Cuenca – Ecuador.
Case Study: “Casa Peña” in the Barranco of the city.
I. Admission to load
II. Dedication
III. Acknowledgements
IV. Abstract
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
DAMAGE IN EARTHEN ARCHITECTURE IN CUENCA
Introduction 3
1.1 General outline of the thesis project 4
1.2 The city of Cuenca and the valuation of its earthen architecture 5
1.2.1 Overview of the city of Cuenca - Ecuador 5
1.2.2 Inclusion of Cuenca in the UNESCO’s World Heritage City list in 1999. 6
1.2.3 Damage and the valuation of heritage earthen architecture. 7
1.2.3.1 Damage related to the physical condition of a building 7
1.2.3.2 Conservation of the Technological Value: materials and traditional
construction techniques 8
1.3 Present Condition of damage in the heritage buildings of Cuenca 11

1.3.1 Analysis and documentation of damage in official documents 11
1.3.2 Conclusions of inventories and restoration projects 11
1.4 Construction system in architecture of earth and wood. 12

1.4.1 Traditional materials in heritage buildings 12
1.4.2 Construction systems in earthen architecture 13
1.4.2.1 Adobe 13
1.4.2.2 Wattle-and-daub (bahareque) 21
1.4.2.3 Rammed earth (tapial) 22
1.4.3 Traditional construction systems: wooden structure on the roof (timber) 22
1.5 Methodology for the study of damage and its causes of

deterioration 23
1.5.1 Causes of deterioration 24
1.5.1.1 Integration in MDDS 25
1.5.2 Methodology based on Analysis, Diagnosis, Therapy and Control and
Maintenance. 26
1.5.3 Causes of deterioration in earthen architecture 27
1.5.4 Damage Atlas 28
1.6 General Concepts: Risk Assessment, Monitoring System and Preventive

Conservation Plan 29
1.6.1 Risk assessment, Vulnerability and Treats 30
1.6.2 Monitoring System 31
1.6.3 Preventive Conservation Plan 32
1.7 Reference system for the determination of damage

in heritage buildings 34
1.8 Levels of inventory and their link with the damage in heritage
buildings in Cuenca 35
Conclusions 38
CHAPTER 2
DOCUMENTATION AS A TOOL FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DAMAGE
Introduction 43
2.1 Brief analysis of the evolution of the documentation techniques

for the registration of damage. 44
2.1.1 General approach 44
2.1.2 Documentation techniques (tools and instruments) for recording a building and for
the registration of damages 46
2.1.2.1 Manual Survey Techniques 47
2.1.2.2 Instrument survey tools 49
2.1.2.3 Image Based Documentation Methods 52
2.2 Analysis of the main techniques (information system) currently used

for documentation and diagnosis of damage in Europe 54
2.2.1 Preliminary concepts 55
2.2.2 Information systems in the field of conservation 56
2.2.2.1 Information system base on visual inspection
Developed by Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw – Belgium 58
2.2.2.2 MAKSin: Condition Reporting System
Developed by Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw – Belgium 64
2.2.2.3 COMEET: Condition assessment of (historic) buildings
Developed by Monumentenwacht Noord-Brabant and Monumentenwacht
Limburg – MastersInform - The Netherlands 71
2.2.2.4 S.I.R.Co.P.: Regional Information System for Planned Conservation
Developed by University “Politecnico di Milano” - Italy 74
2.2.3 Expert system in the field of conservation 82
2.2.3.1. MDDS – COMPAS
Developed by KU Leuven (BE), TU Hamburg Harburg (D), PdM Milano (I) and
TNO Building and Construction Research (NL). 82
2.3 Quito – Ecuador: general criteria for the documentation of damage 89

2.3.1 FONSAL: Fondo de Salvamento del Patrimonio Cultural del Distrito Metropolitano
de Quito. (Budget for rescue of the Cultural Heritage of the Metropolitan Area of Quito) 89
Conclusions 91
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY FOR THE ANALYSIS AND THE DIAGNOSIS OF DAMAGE AND PREVENTIVE CONSER-
VATION ACTIONS BASED ON APPROPIATE DOCUMENTATION
Introduction 95
3.1 General aspects 96

3.1.1 Background of the problem 96
3.1.2 Methodology based on Analysis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Control and Maintenance 96
3.1.3 Brief analysis of the different systems developed in Europe in relation to the
proposed methodology for the analysis of damage in Cuenca 98
3.2 Proposed methodology to describe the present condition (analysis,

diagnosis and damage monitoring) 102
3.2.1 Objectives 102
3.2.2 Methodology based on a reference system 103
3.3 Reference system as a tool to help in the documentation of damage 104

3.3.1 Objectives and advantages of the system 104
3.4 Design of the reference system for the damage register 105
3.4.1 Outputs of the system 105
3.5 Reference system for the determination of the present condition of a

heritage building 105
3.5.1 Information to be inputted in the reference system (data input) 105
3.5.2 Field procedure for collecting information 108
3.5.3 Summary of the damage register in the reference system 116
3.5.4 Processing of the information and expected results 118
3.5.5 Case study for the application of the methodology: steps 122
3.5.6 Proposed methodology linked to the GIS system and urban analysis 123
3.6 Damage Atlas for heritage buildings in Cuenca 124

3.6.1 General approach 124
3.6.2 What is a Damage Atlas? 125
3.6.3 Information included in the Damage Atlas 125
3.6.4 Importance of a Damage Atlas 126
3.6.5 Examples of Damage Atlas 126
3.6.6 Methodology for the elaboration of a Damage Atlas for Cuenca based on MDDS 135
3.7 Application of the reference system (included Damage Atlas) in the

Catalogue records in the VLIR-CPM Project in Cuenca 138
3.8 General principles for the development of a preventive conservation

plan, through the analysis of the condition, level of risk and
monitoring of the building 138
3.8.1 Present condition of an earthen heritage building 139
3.8.2 Level of risk (risk assessment) 142
3.8.3 Control or monitoring 147
Conclusions 149
CHAPTER 4
APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED METHODOLOGY IN A CASE STUDY:
“CASA PEÑA” IN THE BARRANCO OF CUENCA
Introduction 153
4.1 Selection process of a heritage building in the city of Cuenca 154
4.2 General aspects of the selected building 154

4.2.1 Location of the “Casa Peña” 155
4.2.2 Historical context and chronology 155
4.2.3 Values of the “Casa Peña” 159
4.3 Application of the proposed methodology in the “Casa Peña” to determine the present
condition 164
4.3.1 Field procedure for collecting information 164
4.3.2 Processing of the information and expected results 167
4.3.3 Suggested follow-up actions for the “Casa Peña”, building in regular condition 171
4.4 Contributions of the investigation 171
4.5 General conclusions and recommendations 173
ANNEX 1
DAMAGE ATLAS FOR HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN CUENCA-ECUADOR
Introduction 179
Contents 193
Surface change 195
Degradation / detachment 207
Cracking 227
Deformation 241
ANNEX 2
FIELD PROCEDURE FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE INFORMATION:
CASE STUDY “CASA PEÑA”
Diagnosis records 253
Bibliography 281
List of pictures, tables and schemes 285
List of abbrevations 290
DAMAGE IN EARTHEN ARCHITECTURE IN CUENCA
1
CHARPTER
2
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
INTRODUCTION
This chapter starts with the general outline of the thesis, followed by an
overview of the city of Cuenca, as well as the valuation of heritage earthen
architecture. Next the state of damage in the Historic Center of Cuenca is
shown.
The main objectives of this chapter are to analyze the construction system in
earthen architecture as well as the traditional materials used in the different
components of the building. It aims to analyze the more frequently existing
damage in earthen architecture, and its causes through a Damage Atlas. It
is also important to analyze the more frequently existing damage in earthen
architecture, and its causes through the Damage Atlas. This atlas is included
in the thesis at the end as an annex. At the same time it is important to define
some terminology such as risk assessment and monitoring system, which
are necessary to understand the preventive conservation approach.
Another objective of this thesis is to define preventive and curative actions

through the vulnerability analysis (construction system, materials, present
condition, etc.) of heritage monuments, according to the most frequent
threats.
In this chapter terminology is defined which will be used in the rest of this
thesis. Chapter 2 will analyze documentation with regard to the damage in
heritage buildings in a local as well as an international context.
1.1 GENERAL OUTLINE OF
THE THESIS PROJECT
The present thesis starts with a short introduction of the history of Cuenca,
continuing with the analysis of the traditional construction materials and sys-
tems used in the heritage architecture of Cuenca (earth and wood). Consi-
dering that adobe is the material most widely used in Cuenca, its method of
production, properties, covering-layers and basic recommendations for the
construction with adobe are described. Also shortly is shown how a traditio-
nal wooden roof is realized (chapter 1).
This is followed by a description of a methodology to study the damages

according to the following outline: analysis, diagnosis, therapy and control.
For this study the development of a Damage Atlas is fundamental. It is used
in the Historic Centre of Cuenca and permits us to understand the damages
4 and its causes (chapter 1 & annex).
With this information it is possible to understand the level of risk with regard
to threats, such as earthquakes, in the heritage buildings in Cuenca. Further-

more, it allows producing a monitoring system and preventive conservation
plan to guarantee an adequate maintenance and conservation of the herita-
ge buildings (chapters 1 & 3).
It is fundamental to collect the above mentioned information in an organized

and systematic way. This allows us to compare and update information con-
sistently and over time. Since organizations in Belgium (Monumentenwacht
BE), Holland (Monumentenwacht NL) and Italy (Polytechnic University of Mi-
lan) are already working in such a matter, their systems were analyzed, with
the objective to see which system would fit best in Cuenca and would also
be within budget (chapter 2).
This information is the basis to create a methodology for analyzing & diag-
nosing damage, level of risk, monitoring and preventive conservation plans,
which can be applied in earthen and timber architecture (chapter 3).
Finally this methodology is applied to a specific case within the framework

and physical area of the VLIR-CPM project (chapter 4). The information des-
cribed before, is summarized in Fig. 1 pp 6.
1
5
1. Earthen architecture in the city of 1.2 The city of Cuenca and the valuation of its earthen architecture
CHARPTER 1
Cuenca
1.2.1 Overview of the city of Cuenca - Ecuador
Cuenca is located in a valley in the mountains (Sierra) in the highlands of

Ecuador at approximately 2500m (8200 ft) above sea level. Since ancient
times, Cuenca has been suitable for human life, as it has been permanently
irrigated by the rivers: Tomebamba, Tarqui, Yanuncay and Machángara.
Originally, in the fourteenth century, Cuenca was a Cañari settlement called

Guapondeleg, which means “land as big as heaven”. Around 1470, the In-
cas conquered the Cañari and occupied Guapondeleg and the surrounding
areas. The Incas replaced the Cañari architecture, but they were respectful of
the impressive Cañari accomplishments made in the fields of astronomy and
agriculture. When the Incas arrived to this city, they named it Tomebamba,
which means “River Valley of Knives”. The Inca architecture is well known
for the art and techniques of working with stone, the urban planning and the
perfect harmony with the environment. During the Inca Empire, Tomebamba
was destroyed in the war between Atahualpa and Huascar, who were two
emperors, as well as brothers, of the Inca Empire. However, on its ruins the
city of Cuenca was founded by the Spanish conquerors.
1
6
The conquest of America by the Spanish Crown took place from 1492. In 1. General outline of the thesis Project
2. Ingapirca: Temple of the sun, made

order to maintain control of the continent, they established several towns and by the Incas (Cañar province, Ecuador)
cities. Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca (Sta. Anne of the Rivers of Cuenca)
was founded on 12th April 1557 by the Spanish general Gil Ramirez Dávalos.
The urban layout responded to the criteria established by the so-called Laws
of Indies. According to this document, the streets were designed following
the direction of the cardinal points (north-south and east-west), which crea-
ted a “layout grid”, characteristic of Spanish cities. In the center of the grid
was located the Central Square surrounded by important buildings such as
a.o. the church, the municipality and the prison.1 (see maps pp.9)
After almost three centuries of Spanish domination, in 1822 the country

obtained its independence . The architecture of Cuenca changed during
the late 18th century to early 19th century, with a large influence of the
”Neoclassicism French” style. Finally, in the mid-20th century the presence
of the “Modernism Movement” dramatically changed the urbanism and the
architecture of the city. This changing process implied in many cases the
loss of important heritage buildings.
1.2.2 Inclusion of Cuenca in the UNESCO’s World Heritage City list

in 1999
The inclusion of Cuenca in the World Heritage list was a process that began
in 1975 with the execution of the first heritage inventory and the declaration
of the Historic Centre as Cultural Heritage of the State in 1982. The same
2
7
1
Albornoz, Boris, “Planos e Imágenes year, the Cultural Heritage National Institute delegated the responsibility for
CHARPTER 1
de Cuenca”, Municipality of Cuenca,
January 2008, pp. 69-71 the Control and Management of the Historic Centre to the Municipality of
2
Cardoso, Fausto, “La formulación Cuenca, and it created the Commission of the Historic Centre of the City,
del Expediente para la Inclusión en la according to the Article 42 of the Cultural Heritage Law.
Lista de Patrimonio Mundial: El caso
de Cuenca”. Master in Conservation
of Monuments and Sites, University of In the early 1990s, a “collective conscience” for the Conservation of the heri-
Cuenca, Faculty of Architecture, April
2004, Cuenca-Ecuador
tage buildings was created, and the inclusion of Cuenca in the World Herita-
3
IBID ge list was promoted. With this objective, the first technical documents were
elaborated and submitted to the Municipality in 1994.2 Finally, on December
1st, 1999, the Historic Centre of Cuenca was included in the UNESCO World
Heritage list. The declaration took place in Marrakech by the XXIII Committee
Conference of the World Heritage by unanimous agreement.3
The Historic Centre of “Santa Ana de los Rios de Cuenca” is considered by the
UNESCO as an outstanding example of inland colonial town that follows the
rigorous planning guidelines by the Spanish king Charles V. Cuenca still main-
tains the orthogonal town plan that it has been respecting for 400 years.
1.2.3 Damage and valuation of heritage earthen architecture
1.2.3.1 Damage related to the physical condition of a building
In the policies and practices of conservation, a monument or site is considered a

cultural heritage, for the recognition and interest of values given by the commu-
nity, to which it belongs. After this monument or site is determined to be a cultural
heritage, decisions and actions have to be taken for its protection, through con-
servation plans, directed towards the intervention in heritage buildings. 4
A study aiming to protect, promote or conserve a monument is based on
the identification of the values inherent to it 5 (see fig 1, pp 10). In this field
‘authenticity’ performs an important role that should be seen as a layered
concept of values. 6
According to the Nara document, the authenticity and value is defined by

the source of information of the cultural heritage in the following aspects: form
and design, materials and substance, use and function, traditions and tech-
niques, location and setting, spirit and feeling, and other internal and external
factors. The use of these sources permits elaboration of the specific artistic, his-
toric, social, and scientific dimensions of the cultural heritage being examined. 7
In this context, the analysis of damage, according to the present study, is

related to the physical condition of a building. For this reason it is important
to understand the technological value related to the materials, traditions and 1. Representation of the city of Cuenca
1557
techniques. 2. Drawing of Cuenca 1726
3. Map of 1878
On the other hand, the UNESCO, through the “Operational Guidelines for the 4. Map of 1906-1911
8 Implementation of the World Heritage Convention”, considers a property as
5. Map of 1920
6. Map of 1984
having outstanding universal value if it meets one or more of ten established
criteria.8 Taking into account the technological value (materials and tradi- 4
Avrami,E and Mason, R, “Los Valores
tional construction systems) two criteria could be useful in the presen study en el Proceso de Planificación“, s/f.
for a better understanding of the technological value applied in the physical pp 3
5
Santana Quintero, Mario, “The use
condition of a building: of three –dimensional techniques of
documentation and dissemination in
Criteria (ii) “exhibit an important interchange of human values… on develop- studying built heritage”, Katholieke
Universiteit Leuven, 2003, pp. 32
ments in architecture or technology…”9 6
Van Balen, K. “Mortar Characteri-
zation, from values to compatibility;
Criteria (iv) “be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural Pointing Project Report Contribution”
Leuven, 2001
or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant 7
Larsen, K.E. Ed. “Nara Document n
stage(s) in human history” 10 Authenticity” Proceedings of the Nara
Conference on Authenticity, UNESCO –
ICCROM-ICOMOS, Japan 1994
1.2.3.2 Conservation of the Technological Value: materials and 8
http://whc.unesco.org/archive/opgui-
traditional construction techniques de08-en.pdf “Operational Guidelines
for the Implementation of the World
Heritage Convention” UNESCO: United
Because of the technological value, it is necessary to use local traditional Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization. Intergovernmen-
construction techniques, which give a higher value to the architecture. The tal Committee for the protection of the
traditional construction techniques are used not only to optimize resources World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
but also to reflect a particular relationship with history.11 The conservation of Art. 77, January, 2008, pp. 20
9
IBID, pp. 20
heritage buildings implies the conservation of the materials, since the tech- 10
IBID, pp. 20
nological value and the authenticity are determined by it. The materials and 11
García Moreno, Beatriz, “Región y
lugar. Arquitectura latinoamericana
consistency of a heritage building is what gives it its value. contemporánea”, Centro Editorial
Javeriano CEJA, Bogotá – Colombia
2000, pp. 57
3
5
1
6
2
CHARPTER 1
1
10
With regard to the damage, it is necessary to preserve the elements and 1. The values in the Conservation
Planning
components which give value to the heritage buildings. The heritage values 2. Houses made by adobe in “The
of the building are included in its materials and through these materials it is Barranco of Cuenca
possible to analyze the damage. It is also important to analyze the behavior of
the materials, constructive systems, damage and its mechanisms and other
activities related to the physical aspect of the buildings. The main objective is
to extend the life of these heritage buildings for future generations.
In the context of Cuenca, it is important to mention that earthen architec-

ture was used before the conquest of America by the Spanish. During the
period of colonization, earth was a fundamental element to build houses.12
The most traditional constructive systems in Cuenca are: adobe and ba-
hareque in the city and, tapial in the countryside. They will be explained
later on. Currently, earthen architecture constithhhutes the most common
traditional technique used in the Historical Center of Cuenca. The use of
this was one of the reasons why Cuenca was included in the UNESCO’s
World Heritage List in 1999.
2
11
12
Achig Balarezo, María Cecilia 1.3 Current state of damage in the heritage buildings of Cuenca
CHARPTER 1
and Paredes Castro, María Cecilia.
“Arqueología del Color: Historia, Mundo
y Significación. Caso de Estudio: Centro 1.3.1 Analysis and documentation of damage in official documents
Histórico de Cuenca” (Tesis de Licen-
ciatura; Faculty of University of Cuenca,
2001) pp.36 The official documents analyzed are:
13
Project: VLIR-CPM: Faculty of Ar-
chitecture of the University of Cuenca:
“El registro de daños de la edificación
- Inventories 1975, 1980, 1999 in the city of Cuenca
patrimonial en la ciudad de Cuenca”, - Restoration projects approved by the Municipality
unpublished document, Director of
damage area: Arch. Marcelo Zúñiga,
Cuenca-Ecuador, May 9th 2009 In the city of Cuenca 3 inventories have been realized up to now. These were done in the
years 1975, 1980 and 1999. This last one was done when Cuenca was declared “World
Heritage City”. The analysis of these important documents was done by the VLIR-CPM of
the Architecture Faculty of the University of Cuenca.13 In these documents are principally
analyzed the processes and instruments, which were implemented to determine the present
condiion of the heritage buildings, i.e. the materials and technical constructions of the diffe-
rent elements within the buildings.
A similar analysis was done in several restoration projects approved by the Municipality, a.o.
“La casa de la Temperancia” (currently the Museum of Modern Art), “La Quinta Bolivar”, “La
casa de las Posadas”, “La casa de las Palomas” and “La casa Bienal de Pintura”.
1.3.2 Conclusions of inventories and restoration projects
From the mentioned analyses of the register of damage in the heritage buil-
dings of Cuenca, it is possible to conclude:
-- In the inventories, the register of the physical cha- present condition of the heritage buildings, the level
racteristics of the buildings are purely descriptive of risk, the monitoring system and preventive con-
and this limits the possibility of knowing the up-to servation plan.
condition.
-- The register of damage is done in an independent This analysis done by the Project VLIR-CPM, also
way in each inventory or each project, with no showed the necessity of determining in a much
possibility to establish a relation or comparison. broader way the possible threats, both natural as
For this reason it is not possible to determine the well as man-made which a heritage building might
changes or alterations in the heritage buildings face. Furthermore, it determined the necessity to in-
over time. clude a preventive conservation plan to realize new
-- In all cases studied the damage analysis is perfor- inventories and restoration projects. Finally, it men-
med by visual inspection, recording the symptoms tions the necessity to develop a Damage Atlas, su-
that can be perceived by this sense-organoleptic pported by the investigation, for specialized techni-
characteristic. cians, management officials and citizens in general.
-- The documents have general technical specifica- This Damage Atlas should include information which
tions with the aim to establish construction pro- would serve as a guide for the analysis of damages
cedures and budgets. The recommendations for in a building, utilizing standardized descriptions for
preventing the damage in the heritage buildings the different elements of the heritage building, like
are presented in a limited way. the precise description of damages and its causes.
-- The restoration projects do not include risk
12 assement, monitoring and maintance plans, 1.4 Construction system in architecture of
which permit preventive actions. earth and wood.
-- The analysis of damage in inventories does not iden-

tify mechanisms and causes, which are responsible 1.4.1 Traditional materials in heritage
for generating damage in the historical buildings. buildings
-- The restoration projects do not have a Damage At-
las. Therefore, it is not possible to identify damage, The heritage buildings belonging to the Historical
materials and causes under the same conditions. Center of the City have relations between on one
-- In the inventories and restoration projects, the hand the elements and components of the buildings
elements and components of the architecture with on the other hand the materials (part of the re-
are mentioned in a different way. This is one ference system proposed in chapter 3).
of the aims of the Damage Atlas: to establish a
precise definition for identifying each element, Generally in the city of Cuenca, and according to the
damage and its cause. information taken from the inventories and the res-
-- The damage analysis is approached in a subjective toration projects, the traditional materials used in the
manner. E.g. it indicates the relative (as a percen- structure of heritage buildings are:
tage), but not the absolute severity of the damage.
-- In the past, people did not consider the option to Walls Adobe and bahareque (generally used
update the inventories. in Cuenca)
Tapial (generally used in the country
At the same time this damage analysis identifies the side)
problem of the City of Cuenca regarding the analysis Foundations Stone and mortar (lime and sand)
and documentation of damage. For this reason this Roof Wooden structure
thesis proposes in chapter 3 a methodology, based
on an reference system, which integrates and analy- In the present thesis, the construction system in
ses several aspects linked to the damages, like the earthen architecture will focus more on adobe walls
1
13
1. Old Cathedral and Municipality of because this is the material most used in the Historical Center of Cuenca. (in-
CHARPTER 1
Cuenca (demolished building) made ventory 1975 materials for walls: adobe= 45,21%, adobe - brick= 21,33%
mostly of adobe. Picture at the begin-
ning of 20th century and adobe - wood= 13,01%)
1.4.2 Construction system in earthen architecture
Earth can be used in a variety of different forms depending on the use and
the resistance to be obtained. The most common techniques used in La-
tin America are: the adobe (mud bricks), the bahareque (earthen material
applied in situ on a wooden frame or structure) and tapial (rammed earth
placed as a one sole block to form a wall).
1.4.2.1 ADOBE
Adobe bricks are made of earth (containing sand and high amounts of clay),
water, straw and sometimes animal excrements and are shaped in woo-
den molds. In Cuenca, experimental techniques are being used to increase
the adobe`s resistance by using additional products (ingredients) such as
asphalt, tar or cement. As said, these techniques are still experimental with
no proven scientific results. The adobe properties are determined by the clay
content, type of clay, particle size distribution and soluble salt content. But
also the production process determines the properties. First, the earth is
extracted from the site and mixed with water and straw. Sometimes animal
excrements are added.
1 2
14
Even though adobe has a low tensile and compressive strength compared to other 1-2. Casa de los Arcos” in the Barranco
of Cuenca, made of earth and recently

building materials, the walls are quite thick (up to 1m), have fewer openings and are restored
therefore relatively stiff. Adobe masonry is generally finished with an earthen layer
(revoque) 14 and then with empañete (see below for a description of revoque and
empañete). Other elements could be made from adobe, such as arches with limited 14
Sam de Jongh and Matthias Van
Wijnendaele, Earthuekes and other
point load bearing capacity. damaging mechanisms to earth
structures (Cuenca, Ecuador) Master
Main properties of adobe thesis Civil Engineering, KULeuven
2008-2009, pp 13
15
James R Clifton, , “Preservation of
In order to check whether the mechanical properties of adobe are satisfactory, a test historic adobe structures - a status
could be done, either in a laboratory or in situ. Since the properties of adobe are not report,” NBS Technical Note 934, Was-
hington, DC: US Government Printing
completely known in Cuenca, it would be really useful to obtain them via a test. Office, 1977, p.4
16
S. Boubekeur, H. Houben
(eds.),Compressed Earth Blocks Stan-
The ideal mud brick’s composition is 15% clay, 15% slime and 70% sand 15. Seen dards, Brussels: CRATerre-EAG, 1998,
from the grain-size-distribution point of view, the earth should not contain any par- p.144. Also in: http://www.tecno-point.
ticles with a diameter bigger than 20 mm. In order to obtain an optimal result, the com/es/5/2102/estandares-de-blo-
ques-de-tierra-comprimida-cdi-crate-
diameter of the largest particles must be about 5 mm.16 rre-eag-1998-144-p.html (accessed
February 22th, 2009)
Since most of the adobes are made in situ, in order to have good results it is 17
Afonso Alvarenga Maria Auxiliadora,
important to have in mind the clay/sand proportion of the soil that is to be used. “Adobe: Constructive Method and Ther-
mic Characteristics” 6th International
If a soil is used with a too large proportion of clay, the blocks are vulnerable to Conference on the Conservation of
shrinkage; consequently cracks would appear in the drying process. On the other Earthen Architecture, Adobe 90 Pre-
hand, if there is not enough clay in the mud mixture there wouldn’t be enough prints, Las Cruces, NM October 14-19,
1990, pp. 359
cohesion in the material and it would easily disaggregate during drying.
Sometimes organic fibers are aggregated to the mud mixture in order to
reinforce the mud and reduce the volume changes of the material due to
temperature and humidity. The most used fibers are those easily available in
the zone; for instance in Latin America straw, sisal,17 and even animal hair
are used.
It is hard to define the general properties of the adobe, since it is almost

always fabricated in situ using the locally available material. However it is
possible to show its basic characteristics within a certain range:
Size:
Generally speaking, the sizes of the mud bricks are variable, but each block
must have an adequate size in order to be handy. The dimensions of this
material very much depend on the constructive traditions and the builder’s
experience. In the Ecuadorian region we can find adobes with dimensions
ranging between 40-61cm length, 18 -30 cm width, and 10-18 height. 18
Density:
On average the weight of every cubic meter of mud brick is 1450 kg.19 Due to its 15
18
Specially in buildings from colonial
variability we can say that its density varies between 1200 and 1700 Kg/m3. 20
CHARPTER 1
times see: Patrick De Sutter Esquenet,
La utilización del adobe en la cons- Compressive Strength Resistance:
trucción, Quito: Instituto Nacional de
Patrimonio Cultural, 1986, pp. 18. This
information was confirmed by Arch. In the Andean region, the compressive strength varies between 0.25-1.25
Lourdes Abad
19
Cité Maison, Bibliothèque des
MPa at 28 days 21. Several authors and institutions indicate that an adobe
matériaux de construction, http://www. block must have at least a resistance between 1.0 and 2.0 MPa. 22
citemaison.fr/scripts/bibliotheque-ma-
teriaux.php (accessed February 22th,
2009) based in Hugo Houben, Hubert. With regard to this point, it is important to mention several studies, which have
Guillaud, Traité de construction en been realized in Cuenca, to know the compressive resistance of adobe in Cuenca.
terre, Marseille: CRATerre-EAG. Editions
Paranthèses, 1995
20
Some authors refer to other values In the master thesis of two students of the University of Leuven (Bel-
of density from 1570-2000KG/m3 gium), the compressive resistance of adobe cylinders was determi-
see: Paul Wencil Brown and James
R. Clifton, “Adobe. I: The Properties
ned. The results have been compared with the resistance obtained
of Adobe” in Studies in Conservation, in the building “Escuela Central”, where adobe is being used with
International Institute for Consevation fo “recycled material” to which straw has been added to increase the
Historic and Artistic Works. Nov., 1978),
pp. 139-146, p.141 tensile properties of the adobe. The results are as follows:
21
Patrick De Sutter Esquenet, La uti-
lización del adobe en la construcción,
op.cit.,, p. 31
Cuenca (Sinincay) Leuven Cuenca (Escuela Central)
B. Saroza*, M. A. Rodríguez**, J. M.
Compressive 1,5 MPa (15 Kg/cm2) Cylinder
22
Menéndez**, I. J. Barroso “Study of 1,79 MPa (17,9 Kg/cm2) Cylinder 1,3MPa (13Kg/cm2) block
the resistance to simple compression
from adobe produced with various soils
strength
from Crescencio Valdés, Villa Clara, Note: in the city of Cuenca, the resistance of adobe is measured in kg/cm2
Cuba”, op.cit., p.43
instead of MPa.
1 2
16
Tensile Strength 1-2-3-4.Process of elaboration of ado-
be in “Escuela Central” (Cuenca) with

a Compressive Strength Resistance =
Adobe’s tensile strength is low. It is mostly used in compression. To enhance 1,3MPa (13Kg/cm2) September 2009
the tensile strength, natural fibers (straw) are added to the mud mixture. The
tensile strength is difficult to measure because of the effects of shrinkage
cracks; however it ranges from 0.370 to 0.834 MPa. 23
Water Absorption:
Adobe is very sensitive to humidity and its absorption varies between 0 to

4%. A good adobe shouldn’t exceed 4% . 24
Thermal Conductivity Coefficient and recycled material
Adobe has a very good thermal behavior; it is a hygroscopic material, and

has the capacity of storing cold or heat. For this reason it is considered
an insulation material. Adobe’s coefficient of conductivity ranges between
0,46-0.81 W/m.K. Its thermal inertia may be one of its most appreciated
proprieties at a time when the costs of energy for heating and cooling are as
high as it is today.
It is interesting to mention the good qualities of adobe when using “recycled

material”, as is observed in “la Escuela Central”. In this case, the same earth
is being used as was being used for the construction of the building at the
end of the 19th century.
3 4
17
23
Paul Wencil Brown and James R.
CHARPTER 1
Clifton, “Adobe. I: The Properties of
Fire resistance
Adobe” in Studies in Conservation,
op.cit., p.142 Adobe’s fire resistance is high, since earth does not burn easily. As example: “A
24
Afonso Alvarenga Maria Auxiliadora,
“Adobe: Constructive Method and Ther- 300mm thick wall is capable of providing fire resistance of at least 90 minutes” 25
mic Characteristics”, op.cit., p. 360
25
Greensprec “Rammed Earth”:http://
www.greenspec.co.uk/html/materials/
Shrinkage
rammedearth.html (accessed February
28th, 2008) The shrinkage of an average mud brick ranges between 0,2-1,0 mm/m
26
Achig, María Cecilia, Moscoso, María
Soledad, Adobe: Properties, Damages
during the fabrication´s drying period.
and Treatment, for Master or Conser-
vation of Monuments and Sites. K.U. Traditional Adobe Elaboration
Leuven, Belgium, 2009
As mentioned above, adobe is a natural building material, made of clay,

sand, and water, with some kind of fibrous or organic material (sticks,
straw, dung), which is shaped into bricks using wooden or metal molds
and dried in the sun.
The traditional technique used in South America, especially in Ecuador, for

the production of adobe starts with choosing earth with the right characte-
ristics; this is, with the correct percentages of clay, sand and silt. There are
several techniques to prove the quality of the earth specially taking samples
and mixing them with water in glass bottles or in shape of pills and leaving
them for several days. After that it is possible to check if the earth has bad,
regular or good resistance.26
18
1
3
2
5
4
Afterwards it is necessary to find a proper space to place all the materials,
it is also important to find a good place to sieve the earth and to mix it with
water. The mixture should be beaten by feet for one day and then it is left to
rest during the night. The next day the straw must be added little by little, the
mixture should be beaten again and left to rest for the whole night.
The recommended proportion is among 8 portions of earth and 1 of straw. 27
The fundamental requirement to obtain a traditional adobe is to reach a homo-
geneous mixture between the straw and the humid earth. 28
The wood or metal molds must be wetted before they are filled, and its
dimensions depend on the necessity and the way to use the adobes. Before
removing the mold, the adobe is covered with chopped straw to avoid the
presence of fissures produced by the sun or the change of temperature.
The mold is removed with a vertical movement and uniform pressure on
the ends. The objective is to obtain an adobe without deformations or empty
spaces, with sharp edges and smoothed faces. 29
The adobe is dried in the sun and later in the shadow. The average time to
dry the adobes is 30 days. After the first five days, the adobe position must
be changed because the drying process has to be uniform. This procedure
is repeated again at the 15th day. After 30 days the adobes are piled up 19
1. Special earth mixed with water and protected under a roof with appropriate ventilation.
CHARPTER 1
straw. The mixture is beaten by feet.
2. Straw is commonly used in Cuenca Traditional covering layers of earthen walls
3. The molds are wetted before they
are filled
4. The adobe is dried in the sun and In South America, especially in Ecuador, the adobe wall is protected by two
later in the shadow
5. The adobe wall is protected by
render called:”revoque” and “empañete”. To improve the adherence of these
two layers called: “revoque” and layers to the adobe wall, it can be necessary to roughen the wall by using
“empañete” tools or by adding small pieces of tiles (“cisco”). This material can also be
added to the wall to fill gaps. 30
27
Proyecto ECU-87-004, Como
hacer nuestra casa de adobe, Quito: Revoque
Emergencias Sismos Marzo 1987 de
Naciones Unidas/Junta Ecuatoriana de
la Vivienda, 1987, p. 33 This layer is about 5cm thick. It is a compact coating made of clay and sand.
28
Patrick De Sutter Esquenet, La uti-
Its composition should not contain any pebbles at the time of mixing with
op.cit.,pp. 19-23 fibrous or organic material such as straw. During mixing water is added and
29
Patrick De Sutter Esquenet, La uti- the mixture must be beaten in order to obtain an appropriate consistence. It
op.cit., pp. 19-23 is important to mention that only through a lot of practice and experience it is
30
Achig Balarezo María Cecilia and possible to determine the accurate percentages, the required times and the
Paredes Castro María Cecilia, “Ar- consistency of the mixture.31
queología del Color: Historia, Mundo y
Significación, op.cit
31
IBID The mixture must be hydrated and left to rest for several days, after which it gets a
greenish color. At that time it is ready to be applied on the wall in a uniform way.
Empañete
This layer is about 1-2cm thick. Depending on the location, empañete is

prepared in different ways. In Cuenca, the empañete is obtained by mixing
yellow earth (with a high clay content) with horse dung, in equal proportions,
and water. These materials are easy to find in small stores in traditional
neighborhoods of the city.
In the South of Ecuador people use different materials to prepare empañete
such us: “cascajo” which is a kind of pulverized earth similar to sand. 32
Once this layer has dried, whitewash can be applied on the wall and finally
painted. It is very important to realize that the empañete must be completely
dry before using, because otherwise it might cause fissures.33
Mortar used in adobe walls
According to the experience of several building contractors (of earth) in the

city of Cuenca, one knows whether the material used as mortar in the adobe
walls is the same material used for the fabrication of adobe. 34 In general
20 straw is not used. Mortar in adobe walls is an interesting theme, which could
be carried out in a specific investigation.
32
Achig Balarezo María Cecilia and Pa-
redes Castro María Cecilia, “Arqueología
Basic recommendations in adobe construction
del Color: Historia, Mundo y Significa-
ción, op.cit
Besides the quality of adobe, its covering layers and the mortar, it is impor-
33
Achig Balarezo María Cecilia and
Paredes Castro María Cecilia, “Ar-
tant to pay attention to some general recommendations in earthen architec- queología del Color: Historia, Mundo y
ture regarding the construction itself: Significación, op.cit., pp 20
34
Interview with Arch. Lourdes Abad
35
Proyecto ECU-87-004, Como hacer
-- The building should be placed in such a position, avoiding strong nuestra casa de adobe, op.cit., p.5
winds and improving the thermal characteristics by taking advantage 36
Patrick De Sutter Esquenet, La
utilización del adobe en la construcción,
of the sunlight (if possible).35 op.cit., pp. 30
-- A solid, level terrain is required 36 to place the foundations, which 37
Proyecto ECU-87-004, Como hacer
helps to distribute the loads. 37 nuestra casa de adobe, op.cit., p.7
-- It is necessary to provide a good drainage system around the building
and to build a footing, made of stones, above the foundations to pro-
tect the walls of moisture.38
-- The adobe should be moistened before being placed in rows to form the
wall. In each row one should check the horizontal level and the plumb line.
During construction, the wall should be increased by 3 rows high each
day, otherwise the moistened adobes could break.39
-- The adobe walls should be well interlocked in the joints to avoid the pre-
sence of vertical cracks,40 and each 10 rows it is necessary to use wooden
reinforcements in the intersections of 2 or 3 walls. The upper part of the
wall must be bonded using wooden beams, thus creating a sole structure.
1 2
3 4
21
1-2-3-4. The adobe walls should be -- The lintels above windows and doors should be 40cm longer than the width
CHARPTER 1
well interlocked in the joints
of these openings. The windows and doors should be placed at least 1 me-
ter from the corner of the wall and they must be spaced at equal distances.
38
Interview with Arch. Lourdes Abad, The recommended height of an adobe wall is 8 times its width.
earthen architecture constructor
39
Proyecto ECU-87-004, Como -- Furthermore, the base of the walls should be protected from moisture by
hacer nuestra casa de adobe, op.cit., roofs with large overhangs; to avoid that rain water dissolves the material
p.14-15
40
IBID., p.16-17
at the surface.
41
Sam de Jongh and Matthias Van
Wijnendaele, Earthuekes and other 1.4.2.2 WATTLE-AND-DAUB (BAHAREQUE)
damaging mechanisms to earth
structures (Cuenca, Ecuador) Pregrade
thesis project. KULeuven 2008-2009, Bahareque is also called bareque, bajareque or quincha. In English one talks
pp 15 about wattle-and-daub, which refers to the application of reed and mud on a
framework. There is a wide variety of bahareque. In the wide surroundings of
Cuenca, bahareque is made of wood and earth and is known as “bahareque
de tierra”. The primary and secondary structures are always made of wood.
The primary structure is a (diagonal V-structure or crossed) framework ge-
nerally the height of a floor (which can vary). Regularity in this framework is
rare since windows and doors are introduced in the structure. The secondary
structure has regularly attached vertical parallels (heart-to-heart 40 cm).
The bamboo-like carrizo is braided on both sides of this structure. Since the
carrizo is attached together, it is not necessary to fill up the cavity. This in
contrary to filled or solid bahareque (tierra macizo), which is known as hollow
bahareque (tierra hueco). Afterwards a thick earthen layer (revoque) with
straw and a thin earth-chalk layer (empañete) is applied.41
1
22
1.4.2.3 RAMMED EARTH (TAPIAL) 1. Picture of tapial.
2. House made of bahareque in Cañar

province (Ecuador).
Although it is not much found in Cuenca, rammed earth is a traditional way 3. Structure of bahareque.
for the construction of walls. Moist earth is poured into a formwork (encof- 4. Structure of tapial.
rado, two connected parallel plates) in layers of 15 cm thick, and then com-
pacted by ramming. An earthen finishing layer (revoque42 and empañete) is
also here applied. Since it is monolithic, a longer life is granted in comparison
with adobe.
As a conclusion, it is important to mention that the traditional construction
systems in heritage buildings in Cuenca are: adobe, bahareque and tapial in
walls, and wooden structure on roofs. In a building, most of the time, there is
a mixed construction system: the ground floor is made of adobe, the 1st floor
is made of bahareque; the peripheral walls are made of adobe, the interior
walls are made of bahareque, the facade is made of adobe and the rest of
the walls are made of bahareque.
Note: the combination of different materials, such as adobe, bricks and rocks,
might be incompatible, due to the different characteristics/behaviors of each
of them when confronted with threats, i.e. earthquakes.
1.4.3 Traditional construction systems: wooden structure on the

roof (timber)
The traditional materials used in the roofs of the heritage buildings in the city
of Cuenca are: a structure of wood and tile. The roof is built in such a way
3
2 4
23
42
Sam de Jongh and Matthias Van that the load is distributed uniformly through the roof-trusses, which span
CHARPTER 1
Wijnendaele, op. cit, pp 15 the complete width of the building, down to the ring beam. The roof-trusses
are formed by rafters (braces), which support the ridge and rest on wooden
beams at approximately each 70 cm. These beams are supported by the
ring-beam, which are placed above the wall. In this type of wooden structure,
it is necessary that the ridge beam runs the total length of the roof. The men-
tioned wooden beams, which are put above the ring-beams approximately
each 70 cm, are used to support the ceiling.
To place the tiles, wooden strips of 4 x 5 cm are used above the rafters, at
a distance which depends on the type of tile. After that one continues with
placing the tiles, using a waterproof system. (see fig. 1, pp 24)
Each of the wooden elements mentioned before has a specific function. For
example the ring-beams serve to tie the walls together and have a fundamen-
tal function in case of an earthquake. It is important to mention that the joints
between the different wooden elements should be well constructed, in such a
way that all the elements work as one body in case of an earthquake.
1.5 Methodology for the study of damage and its causes of deterioration
There are different ways to study a building, from a historical, an artistic and
a technological perspective. For this thesis, the analysis of the structural
part implies the conservation of the physical consistence of a historical
building. The analysis is based on the physical consistence of the building,
determined by the relation with exogenous and endogenous factors.
1 2
24
The study of a historic building can be based on the execution of surveys 1. - 2. Traditional construction systems:
wooden structure on the roof (timber).

and other representations, but it cannot be limited to such documentation, 3. Classification of causes of deterioration
exhaustive and revealing as it might be.43 The study should seriously deal according to Anglis.
with the most varied problems connected to the substance and life of the
buildings44, using as a tool the documentation.
Trough this technical analysis, the essence of the heritage monument will
emerge, as well as the real meaning of an ancient work with its artistic and
human message.45
1.5.1 Causes of deterioration
The conservation of a historic building needs a careful selection of suitable

treatments based on an accurate diagnosis (just as any medical treatment)
and a determination of the causes of its deterioration. After acquiring a tho-
rough knowledge of the historic building, the diagnosis of deterioration is the
first task for the restorer. This must be approached patiently and methodica-
lly and by means of the most accurate research in order to identify exactly
the causes at the root of the deterioration.
The classification of these causes in a logical order presupposes a preli-

minary resolution of the problem of how they could best be subdivided and
classified.46 The deterioration could be caused by two or more contributory
factors, acting independently or in unison, and often affecting each other.
The plurality and interdependence is one of the most common and interes-
ting themes in the diagnostic study of static disorders.47
Geo-topographical climate and orientation
Related to the building's position Ground carrying the foundations
Intrinsic to
Causes of Deterioration
the building Building materials

Inherent in the structure
Building systems (project and execution)
Natural agents: prolonged action

Extrinsic to
Natural agents: occasional action
the building
Causes provoked by human activity 3
25
43
Guliermo De Anglis D’Ossat, “Guide Different authors propose a classification of damage and causes based on
CHARPTER 1
to the Methodical Study of Monuments
and Causes of Their Deterioration”, their own investigations. For instance, Gulierlmo De Anglis D’Ossat men-
Faculty of Architecture University of tions that today the possibilities offered by scientific analyses are numerous.
Rome, 1972, pp.5 These analyses examine the behavior of building materials under the action
44
IBID, pp.5
45
IBID, pp.11 of physical, chemical, biochemical, biological, microbiological and botanic
46
IBID, pp.5 agents.48 This classification is summarized in table Nº 3
47
IBID, pp.11
48
IBID, pp.11
49
MDDS: Monument Damage Diag- 1.5.1.1 Integration in MDDS
nostic System developed by: KULeuven
(BE), TU (Hamburg Harburg (D), PdM
Milano (I) and TNO Building and Cons- The Monument Damage Diagnostic System (MDDS) 49 is an expert system
truction Reserach (NL) created to reach an appropriate diagnosis of a building. A complete des-
cription of this system can be found in chapter 2, where also its advantages
and disadvantages are mentioned, as well as its relation to the analysis of
damage, levels of risk, monitoring and preventive conservation.
In this system the causes of deterioration are analyzed and a classification

of damages is proposed, which is a little different from the one established
by Gulierlmo De Anglis D’Ossat. The classification of the causes of the de-
teriorations proposed by MDDS is the base of the Damage Atlas and the
methodology of the analysis, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring proposed
in this thesis. This is analyzed more into depth in chapter 3 and annex 1.
1.5.2 Methodology based on Analysis, Diagnosis, Therapy,
Control and Maintenance
This way of studying damage has followed the methodology proposed in the
lectures in the Master of Conservation of Monuments and Sites in KU Leuven,
Belgium. In fact: “A. D.T.C. and M” are the five initial letters of the fundamental
actions to reach a necessary understanding of damage in heritage buildings.
Those fundamental actions are Analysis, Diagnosis, Therapy and Control and
with an efficient Monitoring and Maintance, which allow for an adequate re-
search and guarantee the conservation of heritage buildings.
Maintance is the “preventive medicine” for the conservation of the buildings.50

Damage occurs when “stress” is higher than “resistance”. Damage can
have different scales (µm to m), depending on the context and the damaging
process(es). This information is important for the identification of damage.51
Following the outline given by professor Koen van Balen in the project VLIR-CPM of the
architecture Faculty of the University of Cuenca, one tries “to widen the study of damage
through implementing a process which follows: analysis -> diagnosis -> treatment.” 52
26 Identification (analysis)
50
Prof. Koen van Balen, Lecture
One identifies the manifestation and one characterizes the effect of the da- Building Materials and Conservation
mage or wear. One proceeds with the identification by means of comparison technique, KUL-RLICC, Sep 27, 2006.
Taken from: Moreno Badillo, Edmundo,
based on examples and definitions (the Damage Atlas). “Preservation of the Heritage of the Re-
publican Period in Quito; Identification
Required information and procedure of Damage Patterns”, Thesis to obtain
the degree of Master of Conservation
of Monuments and Sites, KU Leuven,
-- Composition of the used materials in the elements with damage or wear June 2008, pp. 1
-- Type of damage 51
Prof. Koen van Balen, Lecture
Building Materials and Conservation
-- Magnitude / dimensions technique, KUL-RLICC, 2007
-- Location of the damage 52
“Sistema de Referencia y Meto-
dología para establecer el nivel de
Diagnosis daños” Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC-
Universidad de Cuenca – RLICC-KU
Leuven-Bélgica. Presentación en Power
One establishes through the application of the technical-scientific procedures, the cau- Point. s/f. pp.19
ses and the mechanism (physical-chemical) through which the damage occurred.
Required information and procedure
-- Proposal of the hypothesis of cause and mechanism, by means of compa-

rison based on examples and definitions (the Damage Atlas)
-- Collection of data and of samples
-- Analysis and technical/scientific tests, based on methodologies or accep-
ted protocols
-- Verification of the hypothesis
Treatment
One formulates recommendations to prevent/stop/revert the identified

damage in relation to the cause and identified mechanism. One determi-
nes the consequences of replacing the element. One gives recommenda-
tions about the most suitable materials (compatible) for the intervention.
Control or monitoring
The monitoring system involves the definition of the following parameters:
-- Determination of indicators (present condition)

-- Taking of the magnitude/dimension data
-- Monitoring frequency
-- Reporting the information to the controlling entity
-- Determination of actions53
1.5.3 Causes of deterioration in earthen architecture
Because of their nature, earthen materials are easily damaged by environ-

mental and biological factors. This fact, combined with the lack of mainte-
27
53
Presentación:”sistema_atlas_da- nance and the decrease in builders’ knowledge in the field, make adobe very
CHARPTER 1
ños”. Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC- damage susceptible.
Universidad de Cuenca. s/f. Área de
tratamiento de daños. pp. 1
54
Achig, María Cecilia and Moscoso, In general we can state that the principal deterioration and pathologies in
María Soledad, Adobe: Properties,
Damages and Treatment, for Master or
adobe are caused by elements like water (humidity and vapor), salts, biolo-
Conservation of Monuments and Sites. gical growth, and earthquakes.54 Some of the damage produced by these
K.U. Leuven, Belgium, 2009 causes are a.o.: erosion, spalling, cracks, efflorescence, powdering, exfolia-
tion, leaning, collapse, deformation and loss of bounds.
In the Damage Atlas, which is added as annex, a detailed classification is

shown of damages and its causes in the different materials (including walls
of earth), which are used in the heritage architecture of the city of Cuenca. In
this classification, one can see how possible causes correspond to specific
damages. The most common causes for damages are of mechanical, physi-
cal, chemical and biological origin.
Next, one of the principal causes of damage to walls of adobe is discussed:

the presence of water.
Water deterioration
Most of the causes of damage to earthen structures are dependent on elevated

moisture content in the walls. Four water related processes causing deteriora-
tion are known: wet/dry cycles, capillary rise, condensation and freeze/thaw
cycles.
1
28
There are no examples of condensation found in Cuenca and frost damage is 1. Water deterioration in earthen
excluded in advance, since Cuenca does not experience periods of frost.55 architecture. (Casa Dr. Arízaga in the
Historical Center of Cuenca)
Wet/dry cycles are known to cause harm through three stages: saturation or
softening of the wall through rain; evaporation and migration of soluble salts
in the outer surface; crystallization of these salts leading to surface erosion.
The most important sources of water are rain, groundwater and washing and
splashing water.56
The most common damages caused by water penetration are: staining, softe-
ning and erosion or loss of bond. These damages can be found in the damage
atlas in annex Nº 1.
Through the risk assessment the threats which the earthen buildings face are
analyzed. Part of the solution to prevent damage from occurring is based on
eliminating these threats and by doing so reducing the levels of risk. The stra-
tegies for eliminating these threats should be included within a program of
preventive conservation.
1.5.4 Damage Atlas
The damage atlas is a classification of damage patterns encountered in di-

fferent parts of a building, such as for example masonry. It is a complete
illustrated set of damage types with an explanation of its possible causes.
Damages are divided by typology and according to intensity, allowing the
users to use a more correct definition. The main sources to produce a Da-
mage Atlas are literature, data from in situ investigation and laboratory tests,
organized according to a uniform terminology and description.57
Before realizing the visual description of the damages and its causes in an
illustrated manner, the classification and definitions of the damages should be
clear. Therefore, a general classification and definitions of the damage types
are needed. This classification could start from the surface changing to the
biological growth, according to MDDS.58 A damage atlas has to be able to
describe damage in a visual way using examples and particularities for each
case. For instance, locating the damage in the different elements of the
building, e.g. loss of cohesion was found in a wall belonging to the room no.
4 at 30 cm from the floor.
A damage atlas should include:
-- Identification of the damage in a specific material

-- Description of the damage according to each specific case.
-- Determination of possible causes of deterioration
-- Location of damage in the building
-- Picture of damage (with measurement and color scale if necessary)
29
De Jongn Sam and Wijerendaere
55
CHARPTER 1
Mathías, op.cit.,pp 60 The damage atlas, which is proposed in the present thesis, helps to identify
56
IBID,pp 62
57
Core, Manuela: op.cit., pp 22 the damage and the mechanism(s) responsible for the damage. E.G. which
58
MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnos- kind of damage and mechanism are more common for adobe walls. The
tic System , op.cit aim of the Damage Atlas is not to find the solution to prevent the damage
from occurring, because the solution depends on other factors such as: cost,
priorities, risks, etc.
The Damage Atlas is a fundamental tool for the analysis and diagnosis of da-
mages. Therefore an adequate methodology should be used to make a Dama-
ge Atlas for Cuenca. More information with respect to this is given in chapter
3 and in the annex 1.
1.6 General Concepts: Risk Assessment, Monitoring System and

Preventive Conservation Plan
In this part some concepts are shortly defined, which are necessary to
understand when the methodology is set out to the analysis and diag-
nosis of damages in Cuenca’s heritage buildings, like the determination
of general principles for the Preventive Conservation Plan, including risk
levels and monitoring (chapter 3).
1.6.1 Risk assessment, Vulnerability and Threats
Risk: threat x vulnerability; i.e., the degree to which loss is likely to occur,
as a function of the nature of particular threats in relation to particular
physical circumstances and time.59
The objective of the evaluation of risk is to determine the probability that

a specific threat occurs, within a determined time in the future, as well
as its intensity and zone of impact.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability: estimation of the level of heritage values associated

with particular threats. 60
The vulnerability helps to recognize the sensitivity or intrinsic predis-

position of the elements exposed to the threat of suffering damages or
losses. In this sense, human beings fulfill an important role to increase
or mitigate with their behavior the destructive actions of this type of
situations. The vulnerability of a building is determined by a series of
30 conditions, such as a.o., economical, educational, cultural, social and
environmental. On the other hand, the vulnerability also depends on
technical factors of the building, such as a.o. building materials, cons-

tructive systems, study of damages and its causes (current state), use
and location, which will determine a larger or smaller level of risk of a
building, when confronted with a particular risk.
The threats can be of natural origin or brought on by man. In our part of the
world, the threats of natural origin which are most common are the following:
floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, conditions related to the climate,
such as rain and hail, mudslides, collapses and landslides. Among these
threats there are also hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, snowstorms, heat-
waves, cold spells and avalanches. The most common disasters caused by
man are a.o. explosions, fires, airplane accidents, land and water-transport
accidents, collapses of reservoirs, vandalism, inadequate maintenance and
wars. To this list one could add ‘quasi-natural’ disasters which include pro-
cesses like the contamination of the air and deforestation.
Part of the methodology of chapter 3 consists of determining which of these

threats are most common in our part of the world.
Determination of the level of risk
The level of risk is deduced from the relation between the threat and the
vulnerability of the exposed elements.The building in its physical consistency
is determined by the level of resistance to different exogenous as well as in-
digenous factors (threats), which are present in this part of the world.61 In this
sense it is important to establish the level of risk of the heritage buildings,
which are based on the following objectives:
-- To determine the threats which affect the heritage buildings

-- To know the vulnerability of the heritage building in the construction field
-- To determine the level of risk which the heritage building encounters
-- To define the capacities and resources which are disposable to confront
or manage the risk
Level of risk = threat x vulnerability62 related to heritage values
The proposed methodology to determine the vulnerability and level of

risk should include these aspects .Especially the collected information
should be related with a.o. the materials, construction systems, pre-
sent condition, analysis of damage and causes (diagnosis), uses and
location. This with the objective to analyze which monument is most
vulnerable to a particular threat. In this way, one can conclude if the
building has a high or low level of risk.
1.6.2 Monitoring System 31

59
STOVEL; Herb, “Risk Preparedness: A
CHARPTER 1
management manual for World Cultural General concept
Heritage”, ICCROM - UNESCO - WHC
–ICOMOS, 2003, pp. IX
60
IBID,.pp.IX With monitoring is meant the systematically planned and verified action of
61
“Sistema de Referencia y Meto- observation of each one of the systems and elements which correspond to
daños”,op.cit., pp.20
the public space or the monument. This action is based on a predetermined
62
“Sistema de Referencia y Meto- observation program, registered in a written document and a computer sys-
dología para establecer el nivel de tem which permits its tracking and verification. With the help of monitoring, a
daños”,op.cit., pp.21
63
“I workshop of Monitoring, Mainte- qualification of the element or the observed system can be deduced. Recom-
nance and Preventive Conservation”, mendations can also be made when indications of problems are identified.
Faculty of Architecture, University of It is necessary that the monitoring is done systematically and signed by the
Cuenca, presented by Arch. Fausto
Cardoso, Cuenca – Ecuador May 06th person who carried out the monitoring.63
2010
Monitoring system in relation with damage
Monitoring is a tool for understanding the evolution or transformation process

of existing damage over time. It should result in a curative action (diagnosis
and treatment, which includes maintance if necessary). As it was mentioned,
threats are common to all the buildings, the difference constitutes in the vul-
nerability. The vulnerability will depend on the construction system, materials,
the present condition, use, location, among others; i.e. which monument is
more vulnerable to a particular threat: a cathedral or a small house?
The damage is the result of an action or process of deterioration caused by

any of these circumstances. The damage can be small or large. The frequen-
floods, earthquakes
volcanic eruptions
conditions related to the climate, such as rain and hail
Natural origin mudslides, collapses and landslides.
THREATS
hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, snowstorms

heat-waves, cold spells and avalanches
explosions, fires, airplane accidents

Caused by man land and water-transport accidents
collapses of reservoirs 1
vandalism, inadequate maintenance and wars
cy and accuracy of the updates of the information determines the usefulness

of the monitoring system. The more accurate and the more frequent, the
better one will be able to see potential changes.
1.6.3 Preventive Conservation Plan
32 Preventive conservation through time

1. Classification of the threats
“Take proper care of your monuments and you will not need to restore them”,
is what John Ruskin (1819 – 1900) said more than one century ago. Re-
cently, it seems to have gained a new interest, confirmed by the increase of
initiatives that support and promote preventive conservation,64 for example
in the international charters.
It is useful to highlight the fundamental role of the proactive actions in the

Charter of Athens (1931): “The conference noticed that in different countries
predominated a general tendency to abandon restoration for a system of
regular and permanent maintenance to ensure the preservation of the buil-
dings”. The Charter of Venice (1964) mentions in art. 4: “It is essential to the
conservation of monuments that they be maintained on a permanent basis”
and it represents the reaction to the mass destruction during the urban de-
velopments of the postwar period.65
Another significant insight, concerns the role of traditional craftsmanship. In

fact, in the period following the Amsterdam convention (1975) that promoted
an integral approach in conservation, the importance of traditional knowledge
in repairing (and restoring) buildings was underlined. The need for preventive
care and maintenance comes with the recommendation of the Council of Euro-
pe to revive or preserve traditional crafts. As a consequence, several crafts
centers were set up in the mid-1980s (Paix Dieux, Belgium, ECR, Belgium,
Fulda, Germany) which were the initiators of preventive care of monuments.66
Currently, several organizations in different countries base their activity on the
principles of preventive conservation and maintenance as best therapy for our
heritage. Some of them are: Monumentenwacht in Belgium and in The Ne-
therlands (see more details in chapter 2). More recent examples of projects
that promote the new attitudes in conservation are the Seminar on Preventive
Conservation and Monitoring of the Architectural Heritage (SPRECOMAH) and
the International Network on Preventive Conservation, Maintenance and Moni-
toring of Monuments and Sites (PRECOMOS), started in 2007.67
Preventive conservation as a measure or policy to anticipate the

appearance of damage
Preventive conservation represents all those measures and actions which

have as objective to avoid or minimize future deterioration or losses.68 It is
a measure or policy to anticipate the appearance of potential damages in
heritage monuments.
Visual inspection - first stage69
The visual inspection of a monument should be seen as the first step in a

maintenance, restoration or improvement process – in short, the preserva- 33
64
Core, Manuela, op.cit., pp. XI tion of a monument. The aim of the visual inspection may be twofold.
CHARPTER 1
65
PHD Seminar on preventive con-
servation, RLICC, Leuven – Belgium;
February 25th, 2010. Presentation:
First, there is the “one-off” inspection, occurring for example after calami-
“Monumententenwachten – defining ties such as earthquakes or floods. In such an event, the visual inspection
preventive conservation and mainte- is the first step in ascertaining the level of damage, what additional inves-
nance by Neza Cebron Lipovec
66
IBID tigations need to be carried out and the measures to be taken in order to
67
Core, Manuela, op.cit., pp. , 8. prevent further damage.
68
“I workshop of Monitoring, Mainte-
nance and Preventive Conservation”,
op.cit Second, there is the regular maintenance inspection, In Flanders and Ne-
69
“Seminar on condition reporting therlands there is a differenr frequency of visits defined by capacity of the
systems for the built cultural heritage”,
document of Monumentenwacht NL: organizations, every certain number of years. This will be part of a structured
“Visual inspection applied to historic plan to keep the monument in a state-of-art condition. Regular inspection
structures” February 22th-24th, 2010,
Antwerp (Belgium)
can help prevent major disasters identified during an inspection.
Preventive Conservation Plan and Levels of Risk
The vulnerability or risk assessment of a building to certain threats is funda-

mental for the elaboration of a preventive conservation plan.
In a risk assessment needs to be carried out. In a risk assessment not only
damage is analyzed. A good risk assessment (which is basically the diagno-
sis) is necessary to develop strategies for the conservation of the building.
Next to the risk assessment and strategies of conservation, other factors
might also be of importance for the buildings conservation e.g. the cost.
A better understanding of the damage and its causes should give a better
risk assessment. The documentation of the damages should become a tool
for the risk assessment. With this information it is possible to create a mana-
gement strategy for conservation.
It is important to mention the principles of risk-preparedness for cultural

heritage, determined by ICCROM, UNESCO – WHC and ICOMOS.70 These
principles are the following:
-- The key to effective protection of cultural heritage at risk is advance plan-

ning and preparation.
-- Advance planning for cultural heritage properties should be conceived
in terms of the whole property, and provide an integrated concern for its
buildings, structures, and their associated contents and landscapes.
-- Advance planning for protection of cultural heritage against disasters
should integrate relevant heritage considerations within a property’s ove-
rall disaster-prevention strategy.
-- Preparedness requirements should be met in heritage buildings by means
which will have the least impact on the heritage values.
-- Heritage properties, their significant attributes and the disaster-response
34 history of the property should be clearly documented as a basis for appro-
priate disaster planning, response and recovery. 70
STOVEL; Herb, op.cit., pp. 29
71
“Sistema de Referencia y Metodolo-
This information should establish priorities for protection of a property. gía para establecer el nivel de daños”,
op.cit
-- Maintenance programs for historic properties should integrate a cultural-

heritage-at-risk perspective.
-- Property occupants and users should be directly involved in the develop-
ment of emergency-response plans.
-- Securing heritage features should be a high priority during emergencies.
-- Following a disaster, every effort should be made to ensure the retention
and repair of structures or features that have suffered damage or loss.
-- Conservation principles should be integrated where appropriate in all
phases of disaster planning, response and recovery.
1.7 Reference system for the determination of damage in heritage

buildings
The reference system or information system is part of a monitoring system

and is included in a preventive conservation plan. The information system
can be used, considering that it is updated and that the history of updates is
stored, for monitoring. Besides, in monitoring it is important to have a base
line, which is a first survey/documentation that serves as basis to evaluate
changes (for the better or for the worse).
1
35
1. Regular maintenance can help to The reference system should include all aspects being analyzed in the pre-
CHARPTER 1
prevent major disasters. “Casa de los
Arcos” recetly restored. sent chapter: traditional construction systems, the study of damage and its
causes in the different elements of the buildings, levels of risk, monitoring
systems and preventive conservation for the heritage buildings in the city of
Cuenca. These matters should be analyzed with a critical point of view and
with a clear application to our context. The concept of reference systems
is thoroughly described in chapter 2. The methodology of developing a
system which registers, systemizes and organizes information relating to
damage in the heritage buildings of the city of Cuenca will be dealt with
in chapter3.
It is worth emphasizing that in the conceptual outline of the reference

system, it is proposed that to study the building in the field of damages
those relations to their physical consistency are analyzed.
1.8 Levels of inventory and their link with the damages in the he-
ritage buildings of Cuenca 71
Within the VLIR Project, different levels of inventory are determined,

where each level has a part linked to the damage. The register files
are being applied by the city and the catalogue files are being applied
by the project people in one block. For the application of the records in
the different levels, it is important to design a reference system which
organizes the information, like mentioned before.
1
36
In accordance with the study, in the different inventory levels, the fo-
llowing will be determined:
Register level:
-- To identify natural and anthropogenic threats

-- To analyze the general construction systems
-- To evaluate the level of risk and to determine in which buildings it is
necessary to undertake actions in the medium and long term.
Catalogue level:
-- To analyze the construction systems in detail with the location of the elements
and the register of materials.
-- To determine vulnerabilities based on damage analysis.
-- To do in-depth studies with a first approach of cost analysis
-- To identify damage and the level of vulnerability of the building in a general way.
-- To determine some urgent actions (treatments) that could be implemented
to mitigate damage.
-- To identify if the building is in immediate danger
Monograph level:
-- To analyze damage in specialized studies.

-- The diagnosis of damage (causes and mechanisms) using a Damage Atlas.
2
37
1. Users should be directly involved in -- To define the actions of intervention to mitigate the damage.
CHARPTER 1
preventive conservation plans.
2. Houses included in the VLIR - CPM -- To formulate a monitoring system and a preventive maintenance plan.
Project area, where register records
were applied. It is important to mention that in the level of the catalogue one needs a da-
mage atlas which facilitates the identification of the damages, through the
classification using standard definitions.
The main output of this thesis is related to the catalogue level. However
guidelines are proposed about the relation of damages with a monitoring
system and a preventive conservation plan.
CONCLUSIONS:
To know the values of the heritage architecture realized in earth and timber
in the city of Cuenca is important. Due to the knowledge of these values,
principally in the technical aspect, one can conclude that the buildings,
which contain these materials (earth and timber) and traditional construc-
tion techniques deserve to be preserved.
Furthermore, it is fundamental to know the present situation relating to

the damages in the city of Cuenca. From this analysis one concludes the
necessity to have a methodology which integrates several aspects, such
as: damages and causes, present condition, levels of risk, monitoring
system and preventive conservation plan.
In the present study the damage in relation to the physical condition

of the building is analyzed. To realize this study it turned out to be ne-
cessary to have a Damage Atlas, which facilitates the identification and
classification of the damages in relation with the different components
in the heritage buildings. Furthermore, the existing damages should be
included in a monitoring system and the potential damages should be
38 included in a preventive conservation plan.
In this introduction several aspects and problems in relation to the con-

servation of the heritage buildings were presented, which will be analy-
zed in more detail in the following chapters.
DOCUMENTATION AS A TOOL FOR THE
ANALYSIS OF DAMAGE 2
CHARPTER
INTRODUCTION
Heritage Documentation is an essential tool to protect and to promote the con-
servation of monuments and sites. The adequate registration of information is
important to ensure a correct identification of the damages.
Throughout history there have been several techniques to record heritage build-
ings in general. Some of these techniques are useful to determine the present
condition and the documentation of damage.
The main objective of this chapter is to understand the different techniques

and systems used in international and local contexts to register damage in
heritage buildings.
It is also important to understand the necessary information to determine risk

assessments and monitoring systems to be able to produce a preventive con-
servation plan.
For that reason, this chapter is focused on the experiences used in different con-
texts, where the information is organized and systematized in databases, informa-
tion systems and expert systems with interesting results. The registration tech-
niques, which are described in the first part of this chapter, could be part of the
database. The possibility to apply the advantages of these information systems to
the buildings in the Historical Center of Cuenca will be analyzed in chapter 3.
2.1 BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF
THE DOCUMENTATION TECHNIQUES (TOOLS
AND INSTRUMENTS) FOR THE REGISTRA-
TION OF DAMAGE
2.1.1 General approach
Recording Historic Buildings

44 Good conservation decisions are made with an understanding of the sig-
nificance, history, past interventions, and current conditions of cultural 1. Barranco of the city of Cuenca, with
resources. Records, inventories, and information management tools as- important buildings to be recorded
sist in creating that understanding. These items are continuously being
developed and their use must be considered as a fundamental part of the 1
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/
conservation process.1 field_projects/aris09/index.html
(Accessed May 06th, 2010)
2
Understanding Historic Buildings,
Historic buildings constitute a rich store of information about the past, some A guide to good recording practice,
of it unique; especially if we think that the nation’s historic buildings are English Heritage, pp.3
3
IBID, pp. 3
reaching more than a thousand years of history and therefore have much to
tell about the ordinary lives of past generations. We can also learn from these
buildings how they were constructed (technological value) and the traditions
(intangible values) which are the expressions of the cultures. For those rea-
sons, the documentation should provide clear and practical guidance on how
to register several aspects, such as those mentioned in chapter 1: construc-
tion systems, diagnosis of a building (analysis of damage and its causes),
evaluation of risk, with the aim to develop strategies for the conservation of
a heritage building.
In addition to the reasons mentioned before, records of historic buildings are

generally compiled for one or more of the following reasons:
--
-- To promote the understanding and appreciation of historic buildings, in-
dividually and collectively.
-- To inform the day-to-day and long-term management and use of indivi-
dual buildings.
1
45
-- To secure an understanding of a building and its significance.
CHARPTER 2
-- To document buildings, or parts of buildings, which may have been lost as
a result of demolition, alteration or neglected actions.
-- To assess the significance of groups of buildings, settlements and landscapes,
and provide a basis for strategic heritage management.
-- To deposit a permanent record in an established archive.2
From the historical context a good record should provide and make possible:
-- A record should chart the historical development of the building or site,

explaining and illustrating what is significant and providing dates for sig-
nificant parts or phases of development wherever possible.
-- A record should aim to be accurate, clear and concise.
-- A record should state its scope and level as well as its limitations
-- A record should make a clear distinction between observation and inter-
pretation, thereby allowing data to be reinterpreted at a later date.
-- Wherever practicable, a record should take account of the site’s context,
including its wider archaeology, known and potential, whether in terms of
below-ground deposits or of landscape archaeology.
-- A record should include an indication of any sources consulted.
-- The report and supporting materials should be produced in a medium,
which can be copied easily and which ensures archival stability.
-- A record should be made accessible through deposit in a permanent archive. 3
1
46
The value of recording permits the possibility to know and understand the chang- 1. Municipality of Cuenca (demolished
building), recorded by photography

es that took place in the building. Without a doubt, it will help us to better un- 2. Sketch made by hand
derstand the process of change, with regard to damages and losses, which the
building went through over time. 4
Heras, Verónica: “Development of
a Conceptual Model for a Heritage
In a project for the conservation of a heritage building, it is important to Information System, case of study
Cuenca - Ecuador”; RLICC- KULeuven,
decide how to approach the building. Undoubtedly, the documentation is 2009, pp. 20
an important tool to understand the building and to determine the condi- 5
Illustrated Examples, Recording,
tion assessment, the identification of damage, the diagnosis, the monitoring Documentation and Information Mana-
gement for the Conservation of Cultural
system, all of them components of the preventive conservation plan. The Heritage Places, The Getty Conserva-
information needed for this analysis will be studied in detail in chapter 3. tion Institute., pp. 11
6
IBID., pp. 11
7
IBID., pp. 11
On the other hand, the range, scope and survival of a building will vary con- 8
Heras, Verónica, op. cit., pp. 25
siderably from one period to another, from one building type to another and
from place to place. Ex. “Higher-status” buildings are generally better
documented than “lower-status” buildings. 4
2.1.2 Documentation techniques (tools and instruments) for recor-

ding a building and for the registration of damages
Times have changed, not only in the methodologies available but in the per-
ception of what is required and who will provide it. In recent years, more
appreciation for these procedures seems to have developed and this partly
through raised standards in the conservation field.
2
47
The definition of documentation itself has become 2.1.2.1 Manual Survey Techniques
CHARPTER 2
much wider: “documentation” can encompass ev-
erything from the simplest photographic snapshot Hand Survey
to the most sophisticated laser scan survey. We
should also recognize that the computer has revo- Definition: The hand survey is defined as the pro-
lutionized the way measured survey methods have cess of measurement of architectural detail where
developed in the last 30 years, and not only the com- physical contact is made with the feature being
puter that sits on our desk, but also the embedded measured.6
microchip (a computer in miniature) that powers, for
example, the total station theodolite. 5 Characteristics: It should be made clear that high
quality workmanship is necessary to produce accu-
The following techniques and tools permit us to ob- rate drawings. The tools required may seem simple,
tain different results, such as a.o. plans, sections, but a well-done hand survey, efficient and accurate,
pictures and drawings, which are necessary for the is highly skilled work. 7
analysis of damage in a building. This information,
as it will be seen later, can be included in informa- Hand survey is best suited to small areas, because
tion systems to organize and systemize the data. For in large areas it is very difficult to maintain accuracy
that reason, it is important to understand these tech- and it can become too labor intensive. The same is
niques and tools and their characteristics. true when measuring high or vertical elements from
ladders or scaffolding.
Today, the data collected from hand survey will most

likely be transcribed directly to a computer as a CAD
(Computer Aided Design or Drafting) File, which will
be added to the database.8
2
1
48
Sketch diagram 1. Theodolite
2. Theodolite
3. Total Station
Definition: This is defined as a drawing, often assuming squareness of hori- 4. Laser Scanner
zontals and verticals, of an historic structure or site. 9 5. Laser Scanner
6.Chapel of our Lady of the fivers -
Interior. Leuven – Belgium
Characteristics: Only a few measurements would be taken, possibly just
two or three of the width or length with a few diagonal checks. De-
tails such as windows would be sketched without measurement and wall
thickness would be assessed by the most rudimentary measurement
through door openings.10
The limitation of this kind of surveying is its lack of accuracy. . Because of

this, they can only be included in the database as a reference document.
The first approach of a building could use this technique, to identify the dif-
ferent spaces in a building, using numbers to identify each room. The first
diagnosis of damage can also be added in the drawings (plans or sections).
3
4
6 5
49
9
Illustrated Examples, Recording, 2.1.2.2 Instrument survey tools
CHARPTER 2
Documentation and Information Mana-
Heritage Places, The Getty Conserva- A long time ago, technical instruments where introduced to improve the
tion Institute, pp. 12 accuracy of drawings done in the field related to topographic surveys or
10
IBID., pp. 12
11
Heras, Verónica: “Development of mappings. Those techniques gave good results especially with the accuracy
a Conceptual Model for a Heritage needed, because it relied on measurements with mechanical devices. On the
Information System, case of study other hand it is important to mention that the surveyor did not have direct
2009, pp. 25 contact with the object being surveyed (monument). 11
12
Theodolite
Heritage Places, The Getty Conserva-
tion Institute, pp. 12 Definition: essentially it measures vertical and horizontal angles. With basic
trigonometry, if angles and distances are known then positions or coordi-
nates can be calculated.
Characteristics: these devises were slow and highly error prone and each read-
ing had to be manually written down, then calculated longhand, and laboriously
hand drafted.12
The improvements of this device came after several years when the man-
ual records of horizontal and vertical angles were replaced with electronic
readings and recording devices. From then on, it was possible to read and
measure by only pressing a button and this information was automatically
recorded and stored in digital files. (stored in the database).
1 2
50
Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) 1-2. Rectified photography use for the
identification of damage. Façade of the

Chapel of our Lady of the fivers
Definition: In simple terms, an infra-red wave is transmitted to a prism or
target object. The time it takes for the light to bounce back is measured (be-
cause the speed of light is known) and hence distance is calculated.
Characteristics: The benefits are not only speed and reliability, but measure-
ments could be made over longer distances.13
Total Station Theodolite
Definition: It is valuable for creating building floor plans and site surveys.
This version of Total Station Theodolite still requires the use of a prism
reflector or target and at least two operators. Currently there is a new ver-
sion with some improvements for elevation surveys as it can take distance
measurements straight from a surface without a reflector and requires only
one set-up, or operator.14
Characteristics: This instrument has become the workhorse of modern sur-

veying. In the case of the city of Cuenca and in the frame of the Vlir-CPM
Project the information that we will get from it will be the base in CAD draw-
ings and three dimensional models.15
Laser Scanning
Definition: This Type of laser scanner works by sending out thousands of

pulses of light per second at great speed. It calculates the three-dimensional
(3D) coordinates of points, thereby defining a surface. Horizontal and vertical
angles are being measured, reflector-less EDM measurements are being
made, and the data converted into coordinates.
There are two other types of laser scanners that work on entirely different
principles –phase comparison and triangulation.16
Characteristics: This devise constitutes an important improvement to the

field of documentation, because all the measured data is rapidly stored in
a computer in three dimensions. Furthermore, it provides a unique way of
recording surface details. The only serious limitations are the cost of the
equipment (the software and the hardware are very expensive) and the over-
whelming amount of information collected, making this tool not the answer
to every survey. 17
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Definition: The GPS system of locating positions on the Earth’s surface through 51
13
Illustrated Examples, Recording, radio signals emitted from orbiting satellites, and sometimes ground-based
CHARPTER 2
Documentation and Information Mana- transmitters. In fact GPS follows a traditional method of survey or, more
gement for the Conservation of Cultural strictly, a principle of trigonometry: If the lengths of the three sides of a
tion Institute, pp. 12 triangle are known, the angles in between can be calculated. The satellites
14
IBID, pp. 12 provide the known points and intersections for at least three satellites.18
15
Information System, case of study Characteristics: This device has been used mostly for surveying large
Cuenca - Ecuador”; RLICC- KULeuven, complex or archaeological sites. Nowadays there are two general types
2009, pp. 27
16
Illustrated Examples, Recording, or categories of GPS radio receivers: Hand held GPS: with an accuracy
Documentation and Information Mana- of five to fifteen meters. These devises contributed to the widespread
gement for the Conservation of Cultural use of GPS.
tion Institute, pp. 12 Professional GPS: with astonishing accuracies of less than +/- 10 to
17
Heras, Verónica. op. cit., pp. 27 20 mm. This means that it is possible to make surveys of the external
18
profiles of a building, rather than having to set up theodolites and make
gement for the Conservation of Cultural conventional measurements.
tion Institute, pp. 12
As a conclusion, the survey tools permit to obtain plans, elevations and sec-
tions in a fast and precise way. These plans, elevations or sections could be
useful for the location and representation of damage in 2 dimensions (2D).
This information could be included in the database of the information sys-
tems as attachment files. This process will be explained in detail later on,
during the development of the methodology for the analysis of damage in
the city of Cuenca.On the other hand, GPS could be useful for the location of
damage in space in 3D (3 dimensions). This topic will not be considered in
the present thesis, however it could be developed in future research.
2.1.2.3 Image Based Documentation Methods
For the heritage documentation in the field of conservation, the importance

of the photograph is invaluable especially in the historic aspect.
Pictorial Imagery
Definition: Constitutes the ordinary photographs taken in conservation, usu-

ally with the camera oblique to the subject and utilizing any of a wide range
of everyday cameras from auto-focus cameras to professional models.19
Characteristics: It is important to keep in mind that pictorial photography is

not generally meant to be used for measured survey purposes. Neverthe-
less, it can be used for measurement purposes. The process is to take a
photograph with a scale (metric device). With this, it is possible to make a
reconstruction (drawing) in a CAD program. Technically this process needs
professional software (computer program) where some measurements may
be extracted by the photographer.
These methods are very useful, but as accurate methods they should be
52 treated with caution, because the cameras and lens distortion can affect or
change the real scale or dimension. 20 19

Video photography gement for the Conservation of Cultural
Definition: It refers to any video system which constitutes an invaluable way 20
of recording a great deal of information very quickly. 21 Information System, case of study
Characteristics: The possibility not only to record the building’s fea- 2009, pp 30
21
tures, but also to document its construction, as well as its use and Documentation and Information Mana-
contextual significance. Another characteristic is the advantage of gement for the Conservation of Cultural
documenting images and audio commentaries. Heritage Places, The Getty Conserva-
22
IBID, pp.13
Rectified Photography 23
24
Definition: In its most basic form, it is a photograph with the image plane of gement for the Conservation of Cultural
the camera approximately parallel to the principal plane of the object and then Heritage Places, The Getty Conserva-
printed to scale. In other words, the effects of distortion by perspective are re- 25
IBID, pp.13
moved and the image scaled upon one or more principal planes of the subject. 26
The resulting scale print provides a reasonably true-to-scale image of the

façade, for example. With the help of a computer, in a fraction of the time it
used to take, the digital image can be manipulated, a scale introduced and
tilts and distortion corrected.22
Characteristics: This method can provide reasonably accurate measurements
from photography. It can also be very useful as a rapid and inexpensive form
of documentation, especially if the façade that is being recorded is made up
of small components such as bricks, earth construction or rubble walling.
It is important to mention and to keep in mind that this method is mainly used
in flat facades, ceilings or surfaces. If a high level of accuracy is needed, for
example to assess structural conditions, it is not appropriate.23
Photogrammetry and Stereo Photogrammetry
Definition: This is the science of obtaining detailed measurements from pho-

tographs, often for the purpose of creating drawings. Photogrammetry en-
compasses orthophotography and obtaining measurements from stereo-pair
images of the same object from slightly different vantage points. 24
Characteristics: This method is more complex, even though it was first ap-
plied to building surveying in approximately 1870.
Orthophotography
53
Definition: A true-to-scale process that combines the benefits of a photo-
CHARPTER 2
graph with its wealth of detailed information and the geometric measure-
ment accuracy of a survey with instruments.
This is a complicated process that actually builds on using stereo-
pair. Very simply put, a stereo-pair is captured, and an entire series
of corrections are made to the positions of identical points in the two
photographic images, or orthophotograph.25
Characteristics: Nowadays with the help of computers, this process has be-
come much more inexpensive, easier and faster. It is important to remember
all photographing is done with calibrated cameras and appropriate software.
It is possible to extract accurate measurements from these photos to pro-
duce drawings. However, this method is still expensive, but it is the most
appropriate tool when a high level of detail is needed. 26
For the analysis of damage all of the before-mentioned techniques and tools
relating to photography can be used.
1
54
2.2 Analysis of the main techniques (information system) currently 1. “Seminar on condition reporting

used for documentation and diagnosis of damage in Europe
Antwerp- Belgium. February 2010
The documentation techniques previously described are useful for record- 27

“Seminar on condition reporting
ing heritage buildings in a general way. Some of them could be used for the systems for the built cultural heritage”,
registration of damage, such as photography or sketch by hand. However, Presentation, February 22th-24th,
for the analysis of damage it is necessary to organize and systematize the 2010, Antwerp (Belgium)
28
FONSAL: Budget for rescue of the
required information. In the city of Cuenca, the inventory and restoration Cultural Heritage of the Metropolitan
projects have been using a kind of diagnose records (diagnose cards), Area of Quito
29
Proff. Pérez de Ovalles María
which, as explained in chapter 1, have some limitations. Indeed, in this part Angélica, La Reingeniería, los Sistemas
(1.2.3 Conclusions of inventories and restoration projects) it is concluded de Información y las Tecnologías de
that these documents were not designed to update and compare the in- Información, UNIVERSIDAD SIMÓN BO-
LÍVAR, DEPARTAMENTO DE PROCESOS
formation. Furthermore, they do not have a standard terminology to define Y SISTEMAS, Colomina – Venezuela,
elements, damages and causes. 1998
30
Core, Manuela: “MDDS: Monument
Damage Diagnostic System: The
This in turn is one of the reasons why this subject is discussed in this development of an expert system as a
thesis. Nowadays, it is possible to collect and organize information in data- survey and damage interpretation tool
for the stability of masonry structures”;
bases, information systems and expert systems, which will be shown later RLICC- KULeuven, 2009, pp 13
on in this chapter. 31
IBID, pp 13
In this context, it is important to mention the “Seminar on condition re-

porting systems for the built cultural heritage”, that took place in Belgium
in February 2010 with the aim to present different information systems
used in Belgium, The Netherlands and in Italy. In this seminar the people,
from different organizations: Monumentenwacht (Belgium and The Neth-
erlands), University “Politecnico di Milano” (Italy), “The Information Systems are ensembles of different
RLICC (KULeuven Belgium), and other participants, elements that are focused on gathering, processing,
discussed the condition assessment, maintenance storing and distributing information in a way that
plans and preventive conservation for heritage could be used by adequate personal inside an enter-
buildings. In the present chapter three systems will prise, which will allow them to make their activities
be analyzed in detail.27 in an efficient and effective way” 29
One of the most sophisticated ways to organize all There are specific programs to process and handle
kinds of information is with the help of a so called ex- the information such as among others: ACCESS, OR-
pert system. In Europe, an expert system was creat- ACLE, FORMI, MySQL. An information system uses a
ed specifically for the diagnosis of heritage buildings: database structured in the following way: data input,
MDDS “Monument Damage Diagnostic System”. data process and data output. Each system is always
It will be explained in detail later on in this chapter. designed from the outputs (results); to know what
you want to obtain from it.
On the other hand, it is also interesting to know the
experience in Quito about the analysis and docu- EXPERT SYSTEM
mentation of damage. In this case the experience
of the institution in charge of the heritage buildings KBS, Knowledge Based System, or Expert System
“FONSAL” 28 is analyzed. It is important to see what “is a software system that incorporates concepts
it is doing in a context with similar characteristics as derived from experts in a field and uses their knowl-
in Cuenca. edge to provide problem analysis to users of the 55
software. The most common form of expert system
CHARPTER 2
The main aim of this part of the thesis project is to is a computer program, with a set of rules, which
analyze the experiences in other contexts, its con- analyzes information (usually supplied by the user of
tents, positive and negative aspects and to analyze if the system) about a specific class of problems, rec-
it is possible to apply in Cuenca, taking into account ommending one or more courses of user action”.30
its situation and resources.
This technology has “been the most successful
For a better understanding of the contents of this branch of Artificial Intelligence”31 The goal of artifi-
chapter, it is useful to define some words briefly. cial intelligence was to create a computer program
that could in a certain sense “think” and solve differ-
2.2.1 Preliminary concepts ent kind of problems.
DATABASE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS These information systems are very helpful in gath-
ering and processing information related to damage
Databases are designed to offer an organized mech- in heritage buildings. Some specific examples will be
anism for storing, managing and retrieving informa- studied in the next part of this chapter.
tion. A database is a group of data, organized in de-
fined structure. This structure is made up of a table,
which consists of rows and columns. Each column
contains a different type of attribute and each row
corresponds to a single register.
To insert, change and analyze information within this database

in an efficient and systematic manner, software-programs have
been developed. These are so called information systems.
2.2.2 Information systems in the field of conservation
In the “Seminar on condition reporting systems for the built cultural herita-
ge” as mentioned before, which was organized by Monumentenwacht Vla-
anderen vzw in Belgium, were presented the information systems used in
different contexts for the analysis of the condition and damage in heritage
buildings, as well as the management plan for conservation. For this reason,
it is interesting to know the objectives of this seminar, which contribute to
this work and make a future collaboration possible with the participating
organizations. The objectives are the following:
-- The exchange of methodologies for and best practices in the systems

developed by the participating partners for the purpose of assessing and
reporting the condition of the built cultural heritage and consequently the
cost calculation of maintenance works and works of repair.
-- Comparison, demonstration and testing of the systems developed by the
different institutes in Europe.
-- Exploring future collaboration between the partners.32
Participants:
56
-- MAKSin Condition Reporting System MAKSin 1-2-3. Monumentenwacht inspections
Developed by Mtonumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw – Belgium 4. Monumentenwacht: interior

inspection
-- COMEET Conditie Meting Erfgoed Toepassing

(Condition assessment of historic buildings) 32
Developed by Monumentenwacht Noord-Brabant and Presentation, February 22th-24th,
Monumentenwacht Limburg – The Netherlands 2010, Antwerp (Belgium)
-- S.I.R.Co.P. Regional Information System for Planned Conservation

Developed by University “Politecnico di Milano” – Italy
The different organizations and systems presented in the seminar in Antwerp,

are studied here. In the case of Monumentenwacht in Belgium, the current
information system is analyzed, because the new proposal is based on the
results of the previous report.
It is important to mention that the analysis of these methodologies is crucial

for the development of the methodology to be applied in Cuenca. It will be
studied more in detail in chapter 3.
3
1
4
2
CHARPTER 2
57
2.2.2.1 Information system based on visual inspection
Developed by Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw – Belgium
To understand better how both this current system and MAKSin work, it is
important to know a little more about the organization which is responsible
for their developments: Monumentenwacht.
Monumentenwacht is not a government organization but a group of six

private non-profit organizations. It was based on the Charter of Venice
(1964), which emphasizes that the significance of the Built Cultural Heri-
tage can only be sustained if the physical assets are maintained appropri-
ately and systematically.33
This organization was founded in 1991 after the Dutch model (founded in 1973). By
the end of 1992, five organizations had been founded in the different provinces, con-
nected to each other and to the provincial authorities.
Members are owners, caretakers and managers of heritage sites of which approxi-
mately 60% are listed and 40% non-listed. Members pay a modest annual subscrip-
58 tion fee (40 Euros). Only site visits are charged for (per hour = 46 Euros taxes incl.)
but these fees are substantially under the real cost.34 The voluntary nature of the 33
Information sheet: “Monument
members is of great importance, starting with the owner’s personal commitment, Watch, an integral approach for the
guaranteeing regular and adequate maintenance of the object in question.35 preventive conservation of the cultural
heritage, Belgium: Flemish Region.
(Accessed April 12th, 2010)
Financing: Approximately 10% of the income is generated through subscription. The rest 34
is provided by subsidies from both the five provinces (65%) and the Flemish government document: “The integral approach
(25%). of Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen: a
model for implementing participatory
preventive conservations for historic
Members use the Monumentenwacht reports when applying for grants (46% of the awarded interiors”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
grants are based on these reports) and the government stipulates that all subsidized owners Antwerp (Belgium)
become and remain members to guarantee the sustainability of the investments.
35
MEUL, V., STULENS, A. en VERPOEST,
L., Monumentenwacht. A monitoring
and maintenance system for the
a) Information system currently used by Monumentenwacht Cultural (Built) Heritage in the Flemish
Region (Belgium), in Conservation Pré-
ventive. Pratique dans le domaine du
The system was generated to determine the condition assessment of heri- patrimoine bâti, Actes du colloque, 3-4
tage buildings and to give some recommendations related to monitoring, septembre (2009), Friburgo, pp. 22-26.
36
IBID, pp. 22-26
preventive conservation and maintenance strategy for the conservation of
cultural heritage. It is a general description of the elements. For instance,
if structural problems are found, the report suggests calling a specialist to
solve this problem.
b) Objectives
-- To empower, stimulate, inform and support its members in the care and
preservation of their heritage sites. 36
-- To focus on preventive conservation and maintenance as the optimum
strategies for the long-term conservation of cultural heritage. (Venice
Charter 1964)
-- To support local caretakers and thereby, in the long term, to reduce signi-
ficant losses of heritage and expense for all stake holders.
-- To carry out regular condition and risk assessments.
c) Generated products (Output):
The main results for members of Monumentenwacht, after the inspections are:
-- The reports. The members use the information of these reports to carry
out preventive and monitoring actions in the monuments. Later on they
are explained in detail.
-- On-site advice, publications, helpdesk assistance, workshops and de-
monstrations are other support services for the members.37
Structure of the reports
To determine the condition of the heritage buildings, there are three kinds of
reports related to the inspections with the following information: 38 59
37
CHARPTER 2
systems for the built cultural heritage”, Architectural inspection: report containing
document: “The integral approach
of Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen: a
model for implementing participatory -- Recommendations
preventive conservations for historic --Works to be carried out to ensure an optimal accessibility and safety.
interiors”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
Antwerp (Belgium)
--Works to be carried out in view of the preservation
38
Information sheet: “Monument --Special attention required in view of durable maintenance
Watch, an integral approach for the -- Detailed status report
preventive conservation of the cultural
heritage, Belgium: Flemish Region. -- Rooftop plan
(Accessed April 12th, 2010) -- Pictures
-- Urgent works to repair
Interior inspections: report containing:
-- Recommendations
-- Preventive and curative measures
-- Regular maintenance
-- Best practice advice
-- Detailed status report
-- Condition assessment
-- Damage assessment
-- Monitoring environmental conditions
-- Assessing conservation risk
-- Pictures
-- Emergency or exemplary interventions
60 1 2
Maritime heritage inspections: 1-2-3-4.Monumentenwacht, Flemish

Region reports
-- Set up in 2008
39
MONUMENTENWACHT: Architectural
Inspection Report. July - August 2009.
For the present study, it is important to analyze in detail the structure of the 40
Translation from Dutch to English
Architectural Inspection Report. This analysis could help in the development done by Frank Brinkmann, Mario Santa
Quinteros and Birgit van Laar, March –
of the methodology for the analysis of damage in Cuenca- Ecuador to be May 2010
proposed in Chapter 3.
Structure of the Architectural Inspection report 39
This report contains the following parts and they are explained in detail.
Moreover, the rooftop plan and some pictures are added to this document.
General information 40
Inspection number Object Location

Listed Monument Current function Subscriber
Date(s) of inspection Inspector: Total duration of inspection
(hours)
Kind of Works done Materials used Previous inspections
Remarks
3 4
61
Recommendations
CHARPTER 2
Practical recommendations for the efficient maintenance of the monument,
according to the following points:
-- Optimal accessibility and safety
-- Conservation of the monument: some works/activities will be completed
in a manner:
-- Urgent
-- Within a short time frame
-- Within a longer time frame
-- Maintenance of a monument
-- Several works/activities can be done in combination, contrary to the
above list.
About the report
In the report a percentage assessment is given of the state per item. It is

showed in a grey color. Items which show defects are discussed separately
and get a global assessment. The following criteria are used for this:
G=Good.
For a good maintenance of the monument are no immediate works to be
carried out.
R=Reasonable.
The recorded defects are not acute. However, a raised vigilance is needed
in order to intervene in good time.
M=Mediocre.
Local defects were established. These need to be repaired in a timely manner.
S=Bad.
An urgent and thorough repair is needed
N=Not inspected
The items which have not been inspected, for example because of lack of
safety, are shown in column N (not inspected). You will find a justification in
the explanation column.
The numbering between the rectangular brackets refers to the (site) plan at
the end. The letters refer to the localized defects.
Content
To make the reports, Monumentenwacht uses a general list of construction

parts. These parts are described in a general way and their affected compo-
nents are analyzed in a specific manner.
62
-- Roofing 41
-- Penetrations op. cit., pp. 22-26

-- Trusses and Attics 42
IBID, pp. 22-26
43
IBID, pp. 22-26
-- Rainwater disposal5. Exterior work 44
-- Interior systems for the built cultural heritage”,
-- Other interior elements document: “The integral approach
of Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen: a
-- Technical equipment model for implementing participatory
-- Climate preventive conservations for historic
-- Prevention interiors”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
Antwerp (Belgium)
-- Safety / Accessibility / Hygiene 45
-- Site op.cit., pp. 22-26
d) Relation to damage, risk assessment, monitoring and preventive

conservation plan
The motto of this organization is “prevention is better than cure”. The basic
assumption is that, except for disasters such as fires, earthquakes, wars, etc.
Monuments are gradually degrading and often big damage results of minor
damage that was not addressed in due course.
Attention and regular maintenance can slow the deterioration process (and
in some specific cases, even partially avoid).41 A maintenance plan with cost
estimation was implemented as a test case in a specific house. The plan
indicates what type of monitoring and what maintenance work should be
made regarding the frequency and time and costs. 42
In general, the monitoring is carried out every two or -- The conditions rating (good, reasonable, me-
three years. 43 diocre and bad) are very subjective, the defi-
As it was seen, the risk assessment is one of the objec- nitions are not specific enough, without further
tives of this system. However, it needs to be developed relevance. What to do with this information af-
to reach effective results, for example to understand terwards?
the speed of degradation of the materials.
-- Lack of follow-up and aftercare.
e) Positive points and aspects that could im-
prove the proposed methodology in the pre- -- No integrations between architectural as-
sent thesis sessment and interior assessment. It is hard to
integrate the data.
The positive points about these reports:
-- The information in the report is not searchable
-- They are considered very complete and profound for questions.
for the time spent in the building, which is one or
two days for the assessment. f) Effectiveness
-- The first time the condition is described, a baseli-
ne report is produced as a reference. Therefore, it The Monumentenwacht initiative has proven to be
is possible to have an idea how fast the damage successful and has stimulated a large private re-
could be developing. sponse. In 2009, the organization counted approxi-
-- Photographs and text are useful to inform and ex- mately 5600 sites belonging to 3100 voluntary mem- 63
plain the members (the owners). bers: the vast majority being private owners (47%),
CHARPTER 2
churches (40%) and local authorities (11%).44
The list of aspects that could improve the proposed
methodology in the present thesis: There is indirect evidence indicating that the owners
or managers tend to follow the recommendations of
-- The reports are very time consuming. 1 hour at the Monumentenwacht. Each year about 350 buildings
spot means 5 hours writing the report at the office. are registered.
-- The chapters of the report are considered not Since the beginning, 43 Monumentenwacht spe-
logic, especially the recommendations. They are cialists have performed nearly 12000 architectural
too long (10 -15 pages) and at the moment there inspections and 1100 interior inspections. As a gen-
is no priority ranking. Only the recommendations eral principle, the monitoring is carried out every two
which refer to specialist are ranked in a priori- or three years.45
ty order, but the other advices are listed without
urgency or priority ranking. And the recommen-
dations are very diverse e.g.: how to polish the
floor or do a painting restoration. In other words:
detailed descriptions of work processes vs. con-
cise specialist advices. It is a mix of different kind
of descriptions.
-- They have diverse target groups. They write re-

ports for the members, for the architects, for the
conservative restorers and clean staff.
2.2.2.2 MAKSin: Condition Reporting System
Developed by Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen vzw – Belgium
A new recording system for preventive conservation is being developed,

which aims at taking into account the positive and negative aspects found in
the previous analysis.

a) What is MAKSin?
MAKSin is a condition reporting system, to determine the condition, monitor-

ing and preventive conservation actions for interior inspections. The system
includes recommendations with priority ranking as part of the conservation
strategies of heritage buildings. The risk assessment is also taken into ac-
count in the system. In 2007, Monumentenwacht started building a pilot
project to create a database (MAKSin), to facilitate the recording, the man-
agement and reporting of the assessment information, obtained from interior
inspections.
b) Objectives:
64
The main objective is to create a document to support local conservation 1-2. MAKSin system: left part and
management planning.46 It is considered as a tool to facilitate recording, general aspects
management and reporting of the assessment information: model-oriented

database. In general, one of the main goals is improving the effectivitinees of 46
reporting: efficient, adequate and having sustainable results!47 February 22th-24th, 2010, Antwerp
(Belgium). Presentation MAKSin, pp. 9
The system has these main goals: 47
IBID., pp. 11
48
IBID., pp. 13
49
“Seminar on condition reporting sys-
-- To reduce the recording and reporting time of the assessors; tems for the built cultural heritage”, do-
-- To diversify input (recording) and output (reporting), so tailor-made and cument: “MAKSin, a recording system
for preventive conservation assessment
diversified reporting (related to target group) is possible; by Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen.
-- To diversify reporting, meeting specific needs and questions; Risk- and value-based priority ranking
of conservation strategies in historic
-- Use of standardized terminology (thesauri) in descriptions and recom- interiors”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
mendations; 48 Antwerp (Belgium), pp. 3
-- To make assessment data of all 5200 member buildings uniform and (re)
searchable;
-- To determine the risk assessment base on priority ranking of the recom-
mendations is one of the most important advantages.49
c) Generated products (Output)
The system generates automated reports with a better management of the

information. It was presented during the “Seminar on condition reporting
systems for the built cultural heritage” in Antwerp, Belgium.
1
2
CHARPTER 2
65
Structure of the system: The system basically has 3 parts.
1. Left part (screen)
It has a navigation tool to select interior inspections, architectural inspec-

tions, archeological sites, etc.
Bellow that, we can find the following parts:

-- Name of the building.
-- Location. The location of the element starts from the level of the flor, the
specific room and finally the object to be analyzed. E.g.
-- Inspection Categories. There are different levels to describe the compo-
nents: chapter, subchapter, elements and parts. E.g.
-- Interior element Interior woodwork door
-- Damage factors (causes of damage) E.g. Pollution, water, fire, etc.
-- The cleaning of the building
-- Inventory
-- Accessibility of the building
-- Storage and preservation
-- Overview (E.g. geographical point of the building)
66 -- Reports. Interior and architectural report
-- Management: standard texts in the database, to make it easy and fast to 1-2. MAKSin system: condition, recom-
fill out the reports by the inspectors. They try to standardize as much as mendations and priority of interventions
possible. The standard texts could be applied on the recommendations,
materials, among others.
2. Central Part
Once the object or element is selected for the analysis, there is the possibility
to input data or store information. Voice recorder and video camera are use-
ful tools used with the laptop. The following tool allows adding more reports
and pictures to the system.
It is also possible to find the following information:
-- Summary details: General information about the object such as: name,
object number, description, previous inspection, number of pictures,
among other.
-- Location: level and orientation.
-- Identification: identify the object e.g. altar. Some aspects are analyzed
such as: number, description, accurate location, physical properties, ma-
terial, and techniques, among others.
-- Condition: Description of the state of art and damage. If an object
has 3 damages, all the descriptions are located here. It is possible to
use standard text. It also contains the causes of damage and some
measurements.
2
1
CHARPTER 2
67
-- Recommendations: There are two types of recommendations for curative
conservation and preventive conservation. The system has the possibility
to use standard texts. Other aspects for recommendations are: schedule
for cleaning, frequency, priority: long / short term. The recommendations
are done for specialists and there are publications and fact sheets availa-
ble for the members (owners) of the buildings.
-- Condition score: It is an overview of the elements to be analyzed. The
scale of condition ranges from excellent to extremely bad. The percentage
of damage is also analyzed.
-- Inventory: it includes missing items, inventory of items, description of the
problem using standard texts, source of inventory and pictures. There are
also recommendations for the inventories.
3. Right part
The ranking of priority is analyzed by selecting some items included in four

parameters. The explanation behind these priorities is detailed below.
Priority ranking of recommended conservation strategies.50

68 The risk assessment is analyzed by some organizations like ICCROM, to
determine the magnitude of future risks. In this context, Monumentenwa- 50
”Seminar on condition reporting
cht has recently introduced a priority ranking of recommended conservation systems for the built cultural heritage”,
document: “The integral approach
strategies based on a simple (and simplifying) decision-making matrix with of Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen: a
four parameters using qualitative, verbal scales of magnitude: model for implementing participatory
preventive conservations for historic
interiores”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
1. Speed of degradation: The frequency of incidents or speed of the expected de- Antwerp (Belgium).
cay: is it stable or not? How fast or how often will further loss occur? Although
51
“Seminar on condition reporting sys-
tems for the built cultural heritage”, do-
the rated conditions are not a parameter in the matrix, comparing condition cument: “MAKSin, a recording system
assessment data over the course of time can provide this third parameter. The for preventive conservation assessment
by Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen.
repeated assessments are invaluable in monitoring the speed of change. Risk- and value-based priority ranking
of conservation strategies in historic
2. The heritage significance of the affected element. What is its relative impor- interiors”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
Antwerp (Belgium).
tance to the significance of the whole ensemble? In the past, this was only 52
IBID
occasionally and then vaguely incorporated in the condition scores, causing 53
ambiguity. Currently, Monumentenwacht aims to make this value assessment systems for the built cultural heritage”,
February 22th-24th, 2010, Antwerp
explicit by introducing a sliding scale of relative importance as a priority pa- (Belgium). Presentation MAKSin, pp. 9.
rameter. This implies consultation with local caretakers and incorporating the 54
IBID, pp. 9.
point of view of many stakeholders.
3. Effect of damage: The effect of consequential damage from current defects (from the
condition survey) and of the agents of deterioration (from the risk assessment).
4. Safety risk: A health and safety indicator: to what extent people (inhabitants
and users) are at risk when actions are deferred;
d) Relation to damage, risk assessment, monitoring and
preventive conservation plan
The reports by Monumentenwacht aim to be crucial documents in local con-

servation and maintenance planning. The result of the reports is usually a
long list of conservation actions, as it was seen before. Usually there are not
enough local resources (financially, staff, etc) to deal with them all at once.
When the main goal is to prevent future deterioration and heritage loss, the
crucial questions is: what to worry about mostly and what to do first?
The condition survey in general does not provide information about future
risks. It would be better understandable with an example:51
Object Actual state or condition Preventive intervention action

Statue Bad state. It is broken into pieces Not urgent
Painting Small flake of paint Immediate action
As a conclusion: the actual state of an object is not always immediately relat-

ed to the urgency of doing intervention actions. In the example: the painting
in “good state”, probably needs urgent actions to prevent further losses.
For that reason, Monumentenwacht with MAKSin, integrates condition and 69

damage surveys, environmental monitoring and risk assessment method-
CHARPTER 2
ologies. Effective conservation management planning often is unthinkable
without a reasoned and reasonable ranking of priorities, and risk assessment
is particularly crucial in these.52 Therefore, the system provides a special
space for the priority ranking of recommendations as an important part in
the conservation strategies. It will be shown later in detail in the structure of
the system.
On the other hand, environmental monitoring is part of interior assessment.

Exposure to harmful agents of deterioration (climate, dust, and insects) is
quantified.53 A predictive approach is essential for effective conservation
planning. To avoid future losses, the preventive conservation strategies
should be based on risk assessments, which are not included in the condi-
tion assessment.54
e) Positive points and aspects that could improve the proposed

methodology in the present thesis
The positive points about these reports are:
-- The system integrates interior and exterior inspections in the reports.

-- It is possible to remove or add more information, such as pictures, voice
recordings, video camera, etc.
-- It is possible to add previous reports and compare results.
-- It is possible to determine priorities of intervention.
1
70
1. Whole substitution of roofing, without
attention to authenticity (Italy)

On the other hand, there is no connection between damage and its cause. In 2. Efflorescence, included in UNI 11182
the future, the system would like to integrate interior and exterior inspections (Italian Standard 2006)
in the reports.
55
f) Effectiveness systems for the built cultural heritage”,
presentation of COMEET: Condition
assessment of (historic) buildings, by
This is a pilot system. Currently, the researchers are developing MAKSin Jacques Akerboom, Jan van Heesewijk,
Geert van der Varst and Paul Peeters;
to get better results. The idea is to apply the system this year for interior February 22th-24th, 2010, Antwerp
inspections. Once it has been shown to work well, it would be possible to (Belgium).
create a system for architectural inspections based on the same objectives
56
and structure. This system is based on the experience of Monumentenwacht document of Monumentenwacht NL:
in preventive conservation. For that reason, the results of the application of “Visual inspection applied to historic
structures” February 22th-24th, 2010,
MAKSin could have a high possibility to be effective. Antwerp (Belgium).
57
MDDS: Monument Damage Diag-
Milano (I) and TNO Building and Cons-
truction Reserach (NL).
2
71
s2.2.2.3 COMEET: Condition assessment b) Objectives:
CHARPTER 2
of (historic) buildings
-- To create a system, for analyzing the condition
Developed by Monumentenwacht Noord-Brabant assessment of historic buildings, easy to use by
and Monumentenwacht Limburg – MastersInform - inspectors and easy to understand by customers.
The Netherlands -- To make (complete) the inventory of the historic
buildings in The Netherlands.
a) What is COMEET? -- To prevent major disasters or serious damage by
regular inspections.
COMEET is a system developed by Monumen-
tenwacht Noord-Brabant, Monumentenwacht Lim- c) Generated products (Output)
burg and Masters Inform in The Netherlands whit
the aim to analyze the condition assessment of his- The outcome of a visual inspection consists of an
toric buildings. They work under the same process observation report (recommendations for the main-
as Monumentenwacht – Vlaanderen vzw. tenance or restoration work on the monument) and
The difference is that the interior inspections of inspections report.
buildings in Flanders seem more advanced that in
The Netherlands. COMEET is based on 35 years of For larger monuments a visual inspection is gener-
experience and knowledge of Monumentenwacht ally carried out by two inspectors and for smaller and
NL, an organization which started working in the more easy-accessible buildings such as residences,
1970s.55 In the Netherlands, inspections costs can farms etc., a single inspector is often sufficient.56
be kept to a minimum for owners, thanks to finan- For the inspectors MDDS 57 program is a useful tool,
cial support from the government. specially the visual damage atlas.
The system generates a report based on one database for all types of buildings.
There is an integration with photos, drawings and maintenance plans. A build-
ing inventory has to be made before starting the inspections. It is possible to
start with a basic inventory. The building inventory becomes more detailed with
repeated inspections.
Structure of the system: The system works in the following way:
A new inspection generates object data. Then the architectural inspection

and normal architectural inspection are opened. The inspector needs a
drawing with the number of the different rooms of the building before the
inspection; otherwise he/she needs to do it during the visit. The information
for the report is organized in the following way:
-- Elements and components are selected. E.g. building – roof.
-- Materials and location (for each element)
-- Description, damage and recommendations with some free fields to fill
in. This system has its own damage list, based on the NEN. Damage is
related to severity and intensity % (percentage of damage)
-- Every picture has a code. It is possible to link a picture to a description
-- The report shows: inspection date, priority of recommendations and the
72 inspection report.
1. S.I.R.Co.P: Maintenance, inspections
d) Relation to damage, risk assessment, monitoring and and repairs

2. Erosion, included in UNI 11182
preventive conservation plan (Italian Standard 2006)
The system allows the description of damage and their causes, but not in a
systematic way. The risk is not part of the system. There is not a direct link
between damage and recommendations. It is important to understand that
the owner is the center in the system, all other users are additional. In brief,
the first step is the condition assessment (based on observation), that is
how the system is put up so far. Risk assessment and the elaboration of a
maintenance plan is the next step to be developed. The monitoring is based
on the comparison of the reports generated during the inspections.
e) Positive points and aspects that could improve the

proposed methodology in the present thesis
Positive points:
-- If something changes, the system re-calculates to obtain the results.

-- The system calculates the cost of the intervention.
-- The system can calculate the condition assessment (output). Then, the
monumentwatcher should not decide about the condition on his own.
-- The system keeps former reports, so it is possible to monitoring the
information.
1
2
CHARPTER 2
73
Some aspects, which could improve the made proposal:
-- The condition and damage are not linked to the recommendations.

-- The system was developed to do damage assessment, but the risk is not
part of it.
-- There is a possibility to link the system to a maintenance plan, but it is
not developed yet.
-- There is no glossary and no standardization in the system.
-- The possibility to integrate different systems (Monumentenwacht in Bel-
gium and Monumentenwacht in The Netherlands)
-- They are planning to make the report in pdf format; then the users could
download it from the internet.
f) Effectiveness
They make approximately 600 inspections each year. They are making some
improvements to the system to be applied during this year (2010).
2.2.2.4 S.I.R.Co.P.: Regional Information System for Planned

Conservation
74
Developed by University “Politecnico di Milano” - Italy 1-2. S.I.R.Co.P. system
a) What is S.I.R.Co.P.? 58
S.I.R.Co.P. is a regional information system for planned conservation. This (Belgium). Presentation and demonstra-
system is able to store all kinds of information which is useful in the con- tion of Sircop – software of Politecnico
servation process (prevention, maintenance, restoration). For that reason the di Milano by Stefano Della Torre and
Rossella Moioli
system analyzes each element of the building in detail and thoroughness. 59
IBID
It allows for determining the condition of a single building and gives some
specific actions and recommendations for the conservation plan. Its purpose
is to support the architect, not the inspector. This information system for
Planned Conservation was created in 2001.58 It is interesting to analyze to
context for the creation of S.I.R.Co.P. in Italy.
Planned Conservation in Italy
According to the Italian regulations, the maintenance plan is a document to

be filled out as part of any project. However, the regulations are the same
for new buildings as for restoration projects. Is important to mention that
in Italy there is UNI 11182 (Italian Standard 2006) with the description and
definition of damages and alterations. Therefore there is the risk of a sub-
stitution-oriented maintenance, which would reduce the authenticity of built
heritage.59 There is a good knowledge of conservation, but in practice, the
maintenance plan is not useful.
2
1
CHARPTER 2
75
On the other hand, in general in Italyt, a lot of money and work have been
spent on restoration projects with a short term vision and with loss of infor-
mation.
For that reason the researchers of the University “Politecnico di Milano” are
developing S.I.R.Co.P. to improve the current situation. It is important to
mention that Monumentenwacht system was developed mostly as a tool to
serve owners; while S.I.R.Co.P has its focus on regional development.
b) Objectives:
-- To integrate the information of the restoration projects, by creating guide

lines to make the architect’s task easier. It comes from the need for a
systematic vision.
-- To do research about good maintenance practices.
-- To give information about benefits of preventive maintenance.
-- To support the designer in filling out the maintenance plan, producing not
the static document required by the law, but an information system which
can be updated and implemented
-- To provide a system with forms for inspection reports as well as for repair
76 reports, and so all events can be stored in a historical series, where infor-
mation can be retrieved when needed.60 1-2. S.I.R.Co.P. system
-- To provide a scientific report at the end of the works.

60
c) Generated products (Output) systems for the built cultural heritage”,
(Belgium). Presentation and demonstra-
The system generates inspection reports and repair reports. These are sci- tion of Sircop – software of Politecnico
entific reports created at the end of the work. The result is the creation of di Milano by Stefano Della Torre and
Rossella Moioli, pp. 10
a dynamic information system. For each element it is possible to describe 61
IBID., pp. 10
materials and techniques (what kind of element), its role in building systems 62
IBID., pp. 11
(interactions), its conditions (damages) at the moment.61
S.I.R.Co.P.’s logic is focused on “critical issues”, both for conservation and

performances of technological elements. From each critical issue of an ele-
ment, specific instructions are given for inspections (where to look and what
to look for), for activities and procedures (what to do, when and how) and for
the evaluation of costs.
S.I.R.Co.P. has been developed solely for Built Cultural Heritage. Therefore
it is possible to specify each element in great detail.62 E.g. it is possible to
describe the condition of each window instead of all windows together.
1
2
CHARPTER 2
77
Structure of the system: The system of S.I.R.Co.P., has the following
parts:
Initial page
The system starts with the selection of a new building and the filling out
of its general features, i.e. name of building, date of construction, etc. It is
also possible to remove data. In this window the user can go easily to the
conservation plan and attachments. A complete picture of the building is
shown here.
It is necessary to give a name or code to each element of the building,

choosing from a list. This code is given alphabetically on the class and tak-
ing into account the element name, room number and number (if there is
more than one element).
After that, the system shows three different columns to organize the information.
1. Left column: Navigation Menu

78 S.I.R.Co.P. can describe the building by classes of elements or by building-
type, i.e. a church or a palace. 1-2. S.I.R.Co.P. system
-- Classes: Such as: decorative elements, vertical connections, roofing, plant 63

- systems, outer doors – windows, inner doors -windows, inner flooring, systems for the built cultural heritage”,
outer and inner coatings. The option of “other” is always included. The list (Belgium). Summarized by Birgit van
is taken from a norm (thesaurus and description of building elements).63 Laar: Architectural advisor. Monumen-
tenwacht Vlaanderen vzw
64
-- Building articulations: type: rooms (list of rooms), type: roofings, type: systems for the built cultural heritage”,
floors, type: elevations and type: sections. February 22th-24th, 2010, Antwerp
(Belgium). Presentation and demonstra-
tion of Sircop – software of Politecnico
2. Central column: Selection di Milano by Stefano Della Torre and
Rossella Moioli. pp .23
-- General information allows the adding of different kind of information
about the building.
-- Technical handbook: The building is approached by rooms. In each room

there are several elements such as doors, windows, coatings, etc, which
are different and therefore require different forms. For each element (se-
lected on this column) there are forms focused on:64
--Materials and techniques

--Damages
--Interventions
--Diagnostics
--Problems or critical issues
2
1
CHARPTER 2
79
-- Scheduled interventions: Planning of monitoring, control and preventive
actions. The control and maintenance are determined by who (restorer,
technician, user), when, where, which tools, etc, are needed for the con-
servation plan. To do that, two aspects are necessary:
-- Planned operation: They are specific actions like cleaning of pluvial-roof

gutters.
-- Resources.
The Maintenance Program is generated by scheduling operations (repairs

and/or inspections). By checking “Resources” and already “Scheduled in-
terventions” it is possible to optimize the use of resources (human and
instrumental)65
-- User’s handbook: It is information for the users.
Some recommendations for the owners such as: use of the heating system,
cleaning, participation to the control actions, among others.
80 3. Right column: Properties

65
For every element selected in the central column (selection) it is possible systems for the built cultural heritage”,
to describe their properties and to add attachments on each level such as: (Belgium). Presentation and demonstra-
drawings, other reports, texts, etc. tion of Sircop – software of Politecnico
di Milano by Stefano Della Torre and
Rossella Moioli, pp .32
-- Properties denomination: general information of the building.
-- Properties type room: general, descriptions, elements.
-- Properties materials / techniques: materials, technology, critical state
(free description)
-- Properties damage: type of damage, free description+ brief cause, gravi-
ty, urgency, diffusion (%) of damage.
-- Properties interventions: type of intervention (E.g. non destructive reco-
very), description, cost.
-- Properties diagnostics: general, tendency, actions, result (description)
-- Properties problems: expected anomalies, instructions, areas at risk,
actions (specific operational procedures) and interactions. The risk as-
sessment is not deducted from a standardized list, because each building
is different.
-- Properties schedule intervention: inspection element name, action, sche-
duling, typology for preventive and monitoring actions: preventive action
(maintenance), visual inspection, control of the functionality (empiric con-
trol or inspection) and diagnosis (instrumental control - scientific appro-
ach), norms or instructions (description). They also make a cost analysis
of the monitoring works.
d) Relation to damage, risk assessment, monitoring and
preventive conservation plan
Usually a maintenance plan is supposed to follow a restoration project, col-

lecting data from it. However, in the vision of S.I.R.Co.P., it is possible that the
conservation process starts slowly by surveying and investigating, by storing
knowledge, by maintaining the building, and then, when needed, project in-
formation results from the system in which the information was filed.
The risk assessment is analyzed in the system in the technical hand book:
problems or critical issues, to determine possible risk in the future. E.g. new
cracks or re-opening of old cracks. Then it is important to study which risks
and in which area they could appear to see all elements that are related to
this problem.
Also in the technical hand book or manual there is a part for inspections to
do preventive and monitoring actions. E.g. to check on restored cracks; this
is a first and cheap aid to monitor the danger zone. If new cracks should
appear, it is possible to use a more sophisticated monitoring system on the
new cracks. The manual contains guidelines on how to examine this part of
the building and how to look for cracks. It is also important to program the 81
frequency and date of the inspections as well as the resources needed to do
CHARPTER 2
the control, such as: technicians, tools or materials. The system includes how
to do the cost analysis of the monitoring works.

methodology in the present thesis.
Some positive points:
-- The reports can be stored in a historical series, from which information

can be retrieved when needed.
-- It is possible to add or remove data from the system.
-- Analysis of risk assessment.
-- The system includes preventive and monitoring actions and their costs.
-- The system provides a scientific report.
Aspects that could improve the proposed methodology
-- It is important to have a maintenance plan for a group of buildings, but

this is not developed yet.
1
82
f) Effectiveness 66

Between 2001 and 2003, main pilot cases were done while developing the tool: (Belgium). Notes took from the pre-
sentation and demonstration of Sircop
in Mantua , Palazzo Te; and Pavia and S. Salvatore church. During 2005 - 2008, – software of Politecnico di Milano by
S.I.R.Co.P. was tested in some restoration projects financed by the Region and the Stefano Della Torre and Rossella Moioli.
architects were asked to give comments on the system. Dissemination and training 67
K.V.Balen, J.Mateus, L.Binda,
G.Baronio – “Expert system for the eva-
courses for professionals and owners were done. However, test conditions were unfair, luation of the deterioration of ancient
as it was not a systemic action: tests were a burden for professionals, without any real brick structures” – Research report n.8
advantage, no payment was foreseen for architects working on maintenance plan. On vol 1 – 1997
68
MDDS-COMPASS. User Manual
the other hand, interface was not so user friendly because it was a test version.66 It is of the program. RLICC- KULeuven,
possible to see some difficulties for the implementation of the system. Lecture by R. Van Hees / S. Naldini,
March 2009
69
2.2.3 EXPERT SYSTEM IN THE FIELD OF CONSERVATION Damage Diagnostic System: The
development of an expert system as a
survey and damage interpretation tool
2.2.3.1 MDDS – COMPAS for the stability of masonry structures”;
RLICC- KULeuven, 2009, pp. 21
Developed by KU Leuven (BE), TU Hamburg Harburg (D), PdM Milano (I) and
TNO Building and Construction Research (NL).
a) What is MDDS – COMPASS?
MDDS, Monument Damage Diagnostic System, is a prototype of expert sys-

tem developed for the first time in 1994 under the name of Masonry Damage
Diagnostic System. This project, developed by the European Commission
(number EV5V-CT92-0108), focused on the evaluation of deterioration of
ancient brick masonry structures.67 The project based on a scientific interdis-
ciplinary approach is the result of cooperation between KU Leuven (Belgium),
Technische Universität Hamburg (Germany), Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and
TNO Building and Construction Research (The Netherlands).68
The expert system that included a damage atlas (for brick, plaster, natu-
ral stone) was considered the appropriate tool to support the professionals
(architects, engineers and technician), involved in the analysis of ancient
buildings, in order to conduct a correct analysis of the most common dam-
age cases.
The project started from the main concept of the understanding of damages
as indispensable support tool in conservation practice. It was limited to the
evaluation and interpretation of damages and their mechanism. Furthermore,
the expert system was considered to be used as a database of different case
studies. From the first version created for the E.C. project some modifica-
tions have been done, in order to respond in a better way to the demand of
different possible end-users.69
The System has been completely redesigned and a new module focussing on
83
1. MDDS: Table of the different damage plasters and salt damage has been created within the EU project COMPASS.
CHARPTER 2
types The system was structured in a flexible way, in view of further development
and updating.70 Compare to the first version, the new prototype includes ad-
70
MDDS-COMPASS. op.cit ditional materials, besides brick masonry, like plasters and natural stones.
71
Core, Manuela. op.cit., pp. 21
72
MDDS-COMPASS. op.cit
MDDS is an instrument to collect scientific knowledge in such a way that it can
73
Core, Manuela. op.cit., pp. 25 - 27 be made available to experts and non experts in the field of conservation.71
b) Objectives
Aim of the project was to improve the knowledge of the effects of envi-
ronmental factors on damage occurred to Europe’s cultural heritage and to
guarantee better treatment and protection of that heritage.
“The system is meant to help the user carry out thorough investigations and
make a sound diagnosis.” 72
c) Generated products (Output)
Each consultation ends with a standard report, in which all relevant data for
the investigation is included. The way of functioning of the system is further
explained in the user’s manual.
Structure of the system: The program includes a manual for users to explain
how MDDS works. However it is interesting to know how it is structured.73
84
1
2
The system is based on scientific research and its elaboration was guided by
description and deduction of physical mechanisms that cause damages.
The knowledge of the experts has been translated into a computer language.
Specific to MDDS is, that, after the user has inserted basic information about
the building and answers to the main questions, the system will generate a
list of new questions which are relevant to the problem.
The information contained in the atlas, is schematized into a relation between

damage types, causes and the phenomena related to a set of deterioration
processes. Two main branches of decision tables were developed (damage
types and damage causes); the link between the two is the basic idea of how
the system works.
The structure of the MDDS reflects the way of reasoning of an expert, is

based on the first step an expert would take to recognize damages: the
visual inspection. Once the visual inspection is completed by the expert, the
system guides the user to gain references (through the illustrated atlas) and
to structure his observations.
The visible damage can be easily recognized according to the definitions

listed in the damage atlas and the provided pictures. Once the t ype of
85
1-2. MDDS: Visual representation of damage is defined, the system poses questions to the user, in order to dis-
CHARPTER 2
the South wall and the areas in which miss the processes which cannot take place and to locate the mechanism
damage concentrates
responsible for the damage.
All information considered relevant can be inserted in the system. The user is
free to make annotations on the building, even if they are not directly related
to its decay and will serve other purposes such as statistics or building his-
tory. Pictures and drawings can be located in the consultation file, which will
eventually become part of the dossier file of the building, as well as in situ
test and laboratory test.
Through the data available and through the information the user will give
to the questionnaire, the system will search for the causes that create the
damage that has been investigated.This procedure guarantees that all re-
ports produced by the system are articulated in a coherent way and that no
fundamental aspect of the investigation is neglected.
All the cases for which the expert system is used can be stored in the data-
base and create documented new case studies for an archive.
Each wall or architectural element can be separately described, as well

as the materials of which it is composed and the damage types present.
Furthermore, it is possible to subdivide the wall into areas, in relation to
decay types and the damage present within these areas can be evalu-
ated in terms of intensity.
86
4
1
5
2
Damage may be described at several levels of detail, with the assistance of a
damage atlas: from the wall as a whole to the level of the material.
The system will guide the user to the correct diagnosis of damage by means
of deductions and inferring procedures, on the basis of the information given
referring to the context in which the damage occurs.
In other words, the system can relate the damage to one or more processes,
and assess the presence of the required conditions for each process to take
place, under the given circumstances. Different types of damage can be
related to each other or handled separately. An overview of the damage to
the building is eventually reached, which needs to be quantified in terms of
extension and severity, per location and also globally.
The user may be confronted with different situations dependent on the type of
damage, its severity and extension. For instance, the damage may concentrate in
the plaster or involve the substrate; it may be local or spread, it may be at an initial
stage or have developed into more severe forms. The system allows the user to
go into detail as much as required, including all information relevant to the as-
sessment and the diagnosis of the damage. Documentation (report) of the system
includes the input of systematic information for damage assessment, including 87
1-2. FONSAL: “Casa de la Calle help from the system. There is also the possibility to input ‘free’ information, which
CHARPTER 2
Cuenca”; Restoration projects; Historic is more or less general context information. Both types of information may have
Center of Quito
3. FONSAL: Restoration of “Palacio
very different reliabilities.
Presidencial”
4-5. FONSAL: “La Ronda” neighbour- The system is able to document the monument or building in a complete
hood and Restoration of some houses
way by the collections of data, like historic information, drawings, structural
elements, details, materials and damages.
74
MDDS-COMPASS. User Manual
of the program. RLICC- KULeuven,
Lecture by R. Van Hees / S. Naldini, d) Relation to damage, risk assessment, monitoring and
March 2009 preventive conservation plan
75
Damage Diagnostic System: The
development of an expert system as a The report generated by this expert system “including the state of conserva-
survey and damage interpretation tool tion of the building may be preserved in an archive and can be made easily
for the stability of masonry structures”;
RLICC- KULeuven, 2009, pp. 28 accessible for all people involved in conservation. If new investigations are
carried out, the reports, being easily comparable, may allow the monitoring
of the building and the judgement of the effectiveness of the restoration
measures taken.” 74

methodology in the present thesis.
At a general level, MDDS, as knowledge based system has the same advan-
tages and disadvantages of all expert systems. Reports can be stored and
used as archives. In this sense the advantages that can be related to the use
of this instrument are the following:75
1
88
-- The system offers support in making a correct diagnosis of the damage. 1. FONSAL: Damage table.
-- It contains a complete damage atlas for historic buildings materials which

can be used as a reference into the analysis of the damages. 76
http://www.fonsal.gov.ec/inicio/
-- It contains background information of the damage processes and techni- quienes-somos (accessed April 19th,
2010)
ques for intervention to help the user understand the cases. 77
IBID
-- Even non-experts can use the system to make a primary analysis of the 78
Interview to Arch. Gonzalo Checa.
FONSAL Work Manager, Quito – Ecua-
damages. dor, May 3rd, 2010
-- It is possible to generate reports on the state of preservation of a building 79
IBID
and the planned conservation measures.
-- Reports can be stored and used as archives.
-- The system can be used to collect case studies that can be stored in the
database and be used as examples.
-- It has the possibility of storing data and creating reports. It is then possible
to use the MDDS as a monitoring tool, through the direct comparison of
the data collected at different times. Comparing the data will show the
changes in the building in different aspects, for example if the deteriora-
tion process is worsening or not.
At the same time the system can be, and has to be, updated through the
insertion of new case studies. The atlas as well, can be developed with
further information like the introduction of more materials and their char-
acteristics.
Generally the use of the system not only helps in finding a better and more
easy way to recognize damages in historic buildings but also, throughout
the analysis of the damage processes, it allows to However the preliminary studies include plans and
understand which kind of future steps have to be facades, where damages are represented using
taken in the conservation procedure. symbols. The location and the severity of damage
are also included in the plans. The analysis of the
On the other hand, it contains a dictionary of damages elements always starts in the roof, ceiling, floors, etc.
in five languages (English, French, Italian, Dutch and During the execution of the projects it is also possible
German) but not in Spanish. In the proposed Damage to carry out the diagnosis of the building. 79
Atlas, the damages are translated into Spanish (see
Annex 1). It is important to mention that the document, which
shows the representation of damage through sym-
2.3 Quito – Ecuador: general criteria for bols, is not always given to the consultants. It de-
documentation of damage pends on the significance of the Monument to be
restored. For example, if the monument has a high
2.3.1 FONSAL: “Fondo de Salvamento del value (determined by themselves), FONSAL gives
Patrimonio Cultural del Distrito Metropoli- the architects the document about the representa-
tano de Quito” tion of the damages. Otherwise each architect is
free to use his/her preferred methodology to make
Budget for rescue of the Cultural Heritage of the the diagnosis.
Metropolitan Area of Quito
The legend for the representation of materials includ-
a) What is FONSAL? ing number, causes, effect, percentage and localiza- 89
tion of damage, are shown in the table Nº 1.
CHARPTER 2
FONSAL (Fondo de Salvamento del Patrimonio Cul-
tural del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito) is an institu- This table also shows the assessment condition of
tion which registers, preserves and gives promotion the monuments in a subjective way.
to the Cultural Heritage, and in particular to the His-
torical Centre of the Metropolitan Area of Quito. This Most of the time, this analysis is complemented with
objective is to reach agreements with the community laboratory tests to check the resistance of an adobe
and with the owners of the monuments.76 wall for example. There are also earthquake resis-
tance tests to determine the structural re-enforce-
FONSAL was created after the earthquake of March ment of the building. On the other hand, during the
1987, which affected the structures of many build- preliminary diagnosis, the level of risk and priorities
ings. 77 of intervention based on the condition assessment
and the significance of the heritage buildings are de-
b) Relation to damage, risk assessment, termined. The aim is to avoid future disaster.
monitoring and preventive conservation
plan The maintenance and follow-up of the projects is
something that FONSAL does not yet do. The reason
FONSAL 78 determines the frame of reference for the resto- is the lack of resources.
ration projects. The restoration projects and their execution
are done by consultants, which are hired by FONSAL. The The preventive actions are done in two phases. The first
analysis of damage most of the times is made by these phase includes emergency works before the intervention
consultants and sometimes it is made directly by FONSAL such as a.o. shoring, protection against water penetration
inspectors. In both cases, there is not a specific methodol- and debris removal. The second phase takes place after the
ogy for the study of damage. intervention. This second phase is the creation of a mainte-
nance manual for the owners of the restored buildings.
This manual includes a description of the building and basic recommenda-
tions for maintenance of the different elements of the buildings such as:
electric installations, treatment of wood, floors, among others.80
After several years of work, FONSAL realized that the owners do not read the
manuals and as a consequence they do not follow its recommendations.81
c) Positive points and aspects that could improve the proposed

methodology in this thesis
As positive aspect it is important to mention that FONSAL has several spe-

cialized professionals in the field of Conservation. They use laboratory tests,
which gives the projects a scientific approach. For example, tests are done
of different plaster materials or the adobe’s resistance.
On the other hand, FONSAL does not have a methodology for the anal-
ysis of damage, and the information is not collected in a systematic
way. For that reason it is not possible to apply a monitoring system of
damage over time.
90 Maintenance and follow-up after the restoration project has finished, is
something that FONSAL does not yet do. Preventive actions are included in 80
Interview to Arch. Gonzalo Checa.
the project, but regrettably, the owners do not follow the recommendations FONSAL Work Manager, Quito –
Ecuador, May 3rd, 2010
of the maintenance manuals.82 81
IBID
82
IBID
d) Effectiveness
83
IBID
The book “Quito, patrimonio y vida”, (Quito, heritage and life) published in
2008 included all the restoration and rehabilitation projects made by FON-
SAL during 2001 – 2008. In total there are about 5000 heritage buildings
which have been intervened. As a policy of this institution, they do not make
projects for private owners.83
On the other hand, FONSAL has collaborated and published about 50 books
about heritage conservation.
CONCLUSIONS
After reviewing the evolution until today of the different documentation tech-
niques, it is important to study the information systems, because they are
useful tools to be used today for analysis and diagnosis of damage and these
systems can be applied in the context of Cuenca. The information system is
an appropriate tool to organize and systematize information about damage.
The methodology proposed in the next chapter is based on this. Some spe-
cifics about these topics:
About the information systems:
-- There are four systems which analyze the condition. Besides this, MAK-
Sin analyzes the recommendations with priority ranking as part of the
conservation strategies. S.I.R.Co.P does a thorough and detailed analysis
of damages, including works related to prevention, maintenance and res-
toration.
-- All of them have specific objectives and work for the conservation of
heritage monuments exteriorly as well as interiorly, with the exception of
MAKSin, which works specifically on the interiors.
-- Monumentenwacht generates a report in one or two days. S.I.R.Co.P does 91
a thorough analysis of each element of the building, including specialized
CHARPTER 2
studies (structural) which can take several weeks.
-- The four systems generate reports including the condition assessment
and recommendations for the conservation of the heritage. However
MAKSin and S.I.R.Co.P generate more outputs, such as respectively prio-
rity ranking and a maintenance plan.
-- Risk assessment needs to be developed in the current system used by
Monumentenwacht BE and in COMEET.
About the expert system:
-- The expert system allows getting a complete diagnosis of a heritage

building in a scientific way. This system is based on a well structured
database. This is the starting point. For this reason the present study will
create a database with information useful in the context of Cuenca. On
the other hand, this thesis proposes a damage atlas. It could be interes-
ting to analyze the possibility to integrate or to compare this information
with the data studied and described in the MDDS program.
It is important to mention that information systems and expert systems are

not used in Quito – Ecuador. FONSAL is doing a lot of restoration projects
with interesting results without a methodology for the documentation, analy-
sis and diagnosis of damage.
92
3
METHODOLOGY FOR THE ANALYSIS AND THE
DIAGNOSIS OF DAMAGE AND PREVENTIVE
CONSERVATION ACTIONS BASED ON APPROPIATE
DOCUMENTATION
CHARPTER
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this chapter is to present a methodology for the analysis, dam-
age diagnosis, and to establish general principles for the elaboration of a pre-
ventive conservation plan, which includes monitoring actions and levels of risk.
These issues were described in chapter 1 and in the present chapter they will
be analyzed in greater detail, presenting the design and validations of the meth-
odology for which the fieldwork was fundamental.
This method is supported by and can be used in an information system. It is

a tool used with the purpose to facilitate processes, to store, to systematize
and to organize the damage information, its possible causes and other related
components, which can be applied and tried in the heritage buildings of the city
of Cuenca.
With this aim in chapter 2, several systems in use in other countries were ana-
lyzed (Belgium, Holland, Italy) that have methodologies for the study of damages,
each with somewhat different approaches. Of these systems one can take those
aspects that support or strengthen the proposed methodology in the present
thesis.
This chapter begins by identifying the problems that led to the formulation of this
thesis, which was broadly described in chapter 1.
3.1 GENERAL ASPECTS
3.1.1 Background of the problem
As observed in chapter 1, in the city of Cuenca in the official documents (res-

toration inventories and projects sponsored by the municipality) no deep and
systematic damage analysis has been done. In general the main problems
are the following:
-- The information contained in these documents in general are not com-

parable and were not gathered to be updated, for this reason it is not
possible to determine the changes or alterations in the heritage buildings
over time.
96 -- The restoration projects and inventories do not include risk assessment,

monitoring and maintenance plans, which permit preventive actions.
1. The restoration projects in Cuenca
do not include monitoring and main-

-- These documents do not include a norm or a standard. For that reason it tenance plans. Aerial photography of
is not possible to identify possible causes and mechanisms that generate Cuenca
the damage under the same conditions. Also, the elements and compo-
nents of the architecture are mentioned in a different way. To generate
this standardization in the damage register, the development of a Damage
Atlas would be of great help.
-- The damage analysis is approached in a subjective manner. E.g. it indi-

cates the relative (as a percentage), but not the absolute severity of the
damage.
3.1.2 Methodology based on Analysis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Control

and Maintenance
In chapter 1, it was defined that the analysis of the damages corresponds

to the identification and register of the damages, in terms of comparing the
damage with other examples and definitions for which a Damage Atlas is
very helpful.
In this chapter the information and procedures required for the identification
of damages are detailed, with which one can begin to understand a heritage
building like a system composed of different parts and elements with its re-
spective materials. Furthermore it is necessary to know the type of damage,
1
97
its magnitude and its location. This information is included in the reference
CHARPTER 3
system for the study of damage, specifically on the subject: field procedures
for the collection of information. In this part several aspects are included,
such as: building elements: elements, sub-elements, and components and
materials.
In the diagnosis, the causes or mechanisms of why a certain damage oc-

curs are established. In this investigation, the diagnosis is realized through a
visual approach. The damages were classified based on proven methodolo-
gies (MDDS) and verified through field visits (some damages which were
not in the initial list were added, while other damages which were in the list
were removed), where furthermore a damage was related to its possible
causes. Following this procedure, 4 damage causes were identified: physi-
cal, chemical, biological and mechanical. To facilitate the identification and
understanding of damages and its possible causes, a Damage Atlas was
developed, based on the proposed methodology and verifying the informa-
tion with field visits.
The analysis and the diagnosis are related to the condition (state of conser-
vation) of a heritage building. It is a broad study that does not include treat-
ment, which could be the subject of another investigation.
At this point, it is important to study the monitoring as a tool for understand-

ing the evolution of an existing damage over time. To establish a control or
monitoring system it is necessary to take into account several parameters
or indicators such as: magnitude, frequency, etc. in existing damages with
the aim of determining curative actions. All these are inputs for the develop-
ment of a preventive conservation plan, where furthermore one could
include the level of risk to a determined threat. The evaluation of risk is a
preventive action, which needs to be done before it happens. The preventive
actions will be discussed further on in this chapter.
Following is a table summarizing the above:
3.1.3 Brief analysis of the different systems developed in Europe in

relation to the proposed methodology for the analysis of damage
in Cuenca
From this problem arises the need to create a reference system, which or-
ganizes, analyzes and summarizes information referring to the damages and
the causes that originate in the heritage buildings of Cuenca. The objective
98 is to improve the way the damage analysis has developed until now with a
proposed methodology, which tries to solve the problems mentioned before.
In chapter 2 different systems used in Europe were broadly described, which

showed how different elements of a building can be documented. In this
chapter the idea is to build on these systems, analyze them in a critical man-
ner and create an appropriate reference system for Cuenca, which suits our
necessities, taking into account the available resources and its applicability.
Comparative analysis of the techniques and results of the

European systems
Figure No. 1 (pp. 100-101), shows the analyzed systems discussed in chapter
2 and which are developed by Monumentenwacht - Belgium and The Nether-
lands and the University “Politecnico di Milano” in Italy. This figure shows the
function, objectives, time, outputs, evaluation of risk, monitoring and preventive
conservation plans, efficiency, positive aspects and that what can be improved
and implemented according to the proposed methodology in this chapter.
Aspects of the systems presented in the seminar in Antwerp, which

strengthen the proposed methodology
Some of the developed aspects by MAKSin, COMEET, S.I.R.Co.P and MDDS,

can be very useful for the proposed methodology for the damage analysis
in heritage buildings in Cuenca. The analysis was based on the presentation
during the mentioned seminary, which highlighted several points of which
some served as conclusions of the seminar:
-- It is important to think about the possibility to integrate data systems with
the responsibility for updating the information. It is possible to decentra-
lize information and then put it together in a working chain. For example:
it is known that MDDS is an expert system specialized in doing diagnoses
when certain information is inserted in the system. Then one can generate
a kind of dialogue, collaboration with other institutions who are managing
systems for determining i.e. the condition or level of risk.
-- In the European standard there is an ambiguity when one thinks that

something is very damaged, since it is not necessarily urgent to act upon
it. There is a lot of confusion with regard to the European Standard. In the
proposal the relation between the damage severity and the intervention
priorities should be clear.
-- The elements of the risk assessment cannot only be based on monitoring.

Other items should be added as well. For example the economic factor
is key in our part of the world, where in general no monitoring system is
proposed in heritage buildings due to the high cost of it.
-- Looking on a wider scale (Europe or even wider) there is the need for
standardization of definitions and recommendations. This is fundamental. 99
For this reason the proposal is a reference system where many elements
CHARPTER 3
of the building, such as damages and causes, are defined and codified.
The idea is to establish a general classification of the mentioned aspects
that is closer to the particular and specific.
-- In relation to data management, there are a lot of similarities, especia-

lly how things are approached. When they are dealing with repeating
assessments, everybody knows that the stored information should not
be thrown away. The reason is that it helps in making updates or new
assessments of the information. The proposed system takes this aspect
into account by storing the information, which therefore can be monitored
and updated over time.
-- The time spend on the collection of data is different for each system. The
MAKSin reports take about 1 to 2 days, collecting the basic information
needed to determine preventive actions. Instead, S.I.R.Co.P. collects infor-
mation in several weeks with a higher level of detail in the investigation. In
the case of Cuenca, one should take into account that the produced infor-
mation had as goal to support the project VLIR-CPM “World Heritage City
Preservation Management” in the application of the catalogue records
(damage register). For this activity the gathering of data of a building were
planned to take one morning. It is worth mentioning that the proposed
system for Cuenca is open and its complexity can increase due to the
combination of the variables and parameters originally set.
100
CHARPTER 3
101
1
102
-- The 4 analyzed systems use different ways of classifying damages, which 1. To determine the condition of a
heritage building, an adequate damage

are not directly linked to its causes (like MDDS). In this sense, the pro- analysis and diagnosis is required. New
posed reference system for Cuenca links damages and possible causes, Cathedral of Cuenca
information that supports in the development of the Damage Atlas, which 2. Methodology to describe the present
condition: objectives
is attached at the end of the document.
As we can see, the conclusions of the workshop have an important impact

on the proposed methodology.
3.2 Proposed methodology to describe the present condition (analysis,

diagnosis and damage monitoring) IR2.
3.2.1 Objectives
The main objectives of the proposed methodology are the following:
-- To determine the condition of a heritage building, realizing an adequate

damage analysis and diagnosis, with the goal of raising general prin-
ciples for the development of a preventive conservation plan. It will
be based on appropriate documentation and registered damage in the
heritage buildings.
-- To develop a reference system for the better management of information.
-- To develop a proposal of a Damage Atlas for Cuenca, which is a useful tool for
the identification and classification of damages and its possible causes.
Methodology to describe the present condition:
2
103
-- To establish a connection to the previous work: GIS in the “World Heritage
CHARPTER 3
City Preservation Management” project. The information of this thesis do-
cument should serve as support in the research of the damage field.
-- Apply this methodology to a previously selected study case.
3.2.2 Methodology based on a reference system
The methodology is part of the development of a reference system, which

organizes, systemizes the information, as seen in chapter 2. For this meth-
odology one can take certain criteria’s that are considered relevant in other
systems (such as those shown in chapter 2). After having analyzed the docu-
mentation systems and damage registers of Monumentenwacht in Belgium
and Holland and “Politecnico di Milano” in Italy, I think that there are some
aspects which could be very useful for the methodology raised in this chap-
ter. At the same time, I seek to improve and implement other aspects of the
studied systems, to provide a methodology for the analysis, diagnosis and
damage monitoring, applied in our part of the world and with the limited
resources available.
3.3 Reference system as a tool to help in the documentation of
damage
3.3.1 Objectives and advantages of the system
-- Follow the outline proposed at the beginning of the thesis project: to do

a good Analysis, Diagnosis, and Monitoring of damage, to reduce signifi-
cant losses of heritage buildings in Cuenca.
-- Develop an affordable system, which can register, analyze and update

information. If there are changes it will be possible to compare the ob-
tained data.

-- Propose a comprehensive system, which includes and relates the various
aspects related to the damages in the heritage buildings. This provides
the basis for the determination and definition of the elements of the buil-
ding up to the components in which is the damage. The photos greatly
clarify the damage descriptions.
-- Link information in different types and formats.

104
-- Proposal for the standardization of the terminology used in the damage
register, for which the development of a Damage Atlas is a great help.
-- The system will contribute to the improvement of synthesizing informa-

tion. With this information better risk assessments could be made and
strategies of intervention can be developed.
-- To get a good monitoring system the documentation (reference system)

is essential. It helps to determine the frequency, the accuracy and the
updating of the information. The more accurate it can be made, the more
precise in time, the better changes can be detected.
-- Addition of digital media for storing information in an orderly manner to

permit a wide and easy access. This can be done through the use of
alphanumeric databases, photographic surveys and GIS, which facilitate
the processing and therefore the use of the information.
-- Develop a system that is a support for the application of the catalogue

record of the VLIR-CPM project “World Heritage City Preservation Mana-
gement”. One should take into account that this system will be applied in
a building block in the Historic Center of Cuenca.
3.4 Design of the reference system for the damage register
3.4.1 Outputs of the system
The design of a reference system starts with the determination of the out-
puts, what results are wanted. The damage register, in general terms in-
cludes the following outputs:
-- To determine the present condition (the constructive condition per ele-

ment and the general condition of the building).
-- To rate the level of risk of a building (vulnerability).
Once the outputs are established, it is important to know what information is

necessary to include in the database. At this point it is worth mentioning that
in this thesis the present condition will be studied in detail. This is because
in the case studies, the main problem is related to the state of conservation
and therefore it has been developed in detail.
3.5 Reference system for the determination of the present condition of

a heritage building
105
First it should be noted that the reference system to determine the present condi-
CHARPTER 3
tion was designed to be applied at the level of a single monument. It should be
remembered that the aim of the system is to support the process of analysis and
diagnosis of damages present in a valuable building and in this way contributes
to the conservation of the heritage buildings in the city of Cuenca.
3.5.1 Information to be inputted in the reference system

(data input)
The reference system will allow the determination of the general present
condition of a heritage building, through the processing of the information to
be included in the system, with the following parameters:
General information
-- Identification of the building: in which the damage will be registered. In

Cuenca this identification corresponds to the cadastral code, which all
buildings in the Historic Center of Cuenca possess.
-- Location: it is important to localize the historical building in the city, and the atmos-
phere inside the building in which the damages will be registered. For this previous
reason one should encode the different spaces that make up the heritage building.
-- Type of analysis: one should establish the method of analysis used to identify the
damages, which can be visual, analyzed in-situ or analyzed in a laboratory.
1
106
Information related to the damage register 1. REFERENCE SYSTEM: building
elements.
-- *Building elements: the heritage building is seen as a system build up

from different parts, ranging from general to particular. In this way one
has: elements, sub-elements and components. Each element is made up
of sub-elements and these sub-elements are made up of components.
Moreover, the damage will be registered at a component level, meaning
getting the maximum specification within the elements in the building.
-- *Traditional construction materials and systems: it is important to leave

evidence of the traditional construction techniques and materials, which
are unique to our culture. It is one of the most significant values (technical
value), which is the result of an ancient wisdom that should be preser-
ved. To process this information, of the general list of materials that are
included in the system, one should take into account constructive mate-
rials and systems that possess technological value and that should be
previously indicated. These are a.o. adobe, bahareque, mud, empañete,
revoque, wrought iron, brass and murals. It is not the same if a damage
is in stucco ceiling or in a mud ceiling with murals.
-- *Geometric data of the element: describe the dimensional characteristics

like: length, section and depth.
-- *Present condition of the element: determines the physical condition

and can be bad, regular, good.
-- *Identification and classification of damages: there must be a classifica-
tion of damages in which these are related with their possible causes. The
classification of damages (as will be explained further on in the part of the
development of the Damage Atlas) is based on the one used by MDDS,
which is a prototype of an expert system. This classification was applied
to several heritage buildings in Cuenca (approximately 30) through a
fieldwork where adjustments were made: adding or eliminating damages
and causes. Finally, the damages were classified in: 1. Surface changes,
2. Degradation and detachments, 3. Cracking and 4. Deformation.
-- *Identification and classification of possible causes: the causes of dete-

rioration have mechanical, physical, chemical or biological origins.
-- *General quantification of damage: with the purpose of establishing the

severity of the damage, it is planned to rate the impairment, for which the
unit of measurement and the corresponding quantity will be determined.
-- *Level of severity: refers to the relation of the analyzed element with all
other elements in the building. The damaged element could affect the
other elements, especially if the structure of the heritage building is affec-
ted. The levels of severity can be high, medium or low. 107
CHARPTER 3
-- *Plan of actions: the recommended frequency of interventions in the he-
ritage buildings. This with the aim of guaranteeing the conservation of
the components and the building. The actions can be immediate or at
medium term.
-- *Monitoring of alerts - initial recommendations: is applied in those cases

in which the valuables of the building are compromised by damages or
threats or those that put the stability of the building at risk. The type of
monitoring will be explained more in detail in the field procedure for the
collection of the information and can be: permanent, regular or sporadic.
-- Photographic register: completes the description of the elements. To faci-

litate the organization it is recommended that each photo is encoded, of
both the damage as the area around the damage.
-- Inadequate construction process: there are several aspects of the general

structure of the building that will depend on the construction process.
Among them are: absence of ring beam, bonding faults or bad interlocked
in the walls, instability in the foundation and bad configuration or ditribu-
tion of the structural elements.
It is necessary to differentiate between the general data about the building and
other data that will allow us to determine the present condition of a building (*).
The parameters mentioned above are summarized in the figure No. 1, pp. 121.
The reference system should include the previously mentioned information
and all that is related coming from other sources. Subsequently this informa-
tion should be processed and in this way one can show the results of the
analysis.
It is important to note that, the following aspects are developed in detail:

building elements, materials and identification & classification of damages
and causes.
This information was validated through a field procedure for collecting this
data, which will be shown further on. In this way one can incorporate, if
necessary, aspects that were not covered initially.
3.5.2 Field procedure for collecting information
In the practice, to access the required information, one can establish field
procedures that start with the encoding of the building and the room. Fur-
thermore, it is necessary to determine the building elements, where one
registers the damage and its possible causes and the sub-elements and
components with its respective materials.
108
Encoding of the building and the room 1-2. Example of encoding the room and
the element.
In the first place it is necessary to define a building code where the damages
will be registered. In the case of Cuenca the buildings are encoded through a
cadastral code, but they also should be encoded by its geo-position, mean-
ing through the UTM coordinates.
Furthermore it is important to identify in what room the damage is encoun-

tered. It is therefore essential to have the drawings of the building or if these
are not available, then one can make a sketch by hand. In these surveys one
should put a code for the level in which the room is found, a code for the
room and for each element where the damage occurred.
Code of floor level B Basement

GF Ground floor
1F First floor
Room code 01, 02, 03…etc.
Element code B.1. Column
(see fig. No. 1, pp. 110. Building elements)
1
2
109
For example: A column located in the first floor, in room No. 04 is showed in
CHARPTER 3
the drawings above.
It is interesting to mention that the system S.I.R.Co.P describes the damages

starting from the detailed element (particular) that makes up the room, to
later know what is happening in the whole of the building (general). In this
way one could even do a study to obtain global data of a city. The proposed
reference system uses this same methodology, since it is useful according
to the objectives.
Building elements: elements, sub-elements and components
With the purpose of adequately structuring the study of damages in Cuenca,

the heritage building is seen as a system build up from different parts or ele-
ments, which should be included in the reference system.
The most general level defines that the building is constituted by the follow-
ing elements: foundation, structure, vertical divisions (interior and exterior),
roof, floors, ceiling, stairs, woodwork, metalwork and installations. For each
one of the elements the reference system provides a set of sub-elements
and components. The classification of the elements, sub-elements and com-
ponents can be seen in the following table, which also includes a encoding:
110
Traditional materials:
Each component has main materials or that are prevalent of which it is made, in which the analysis of dam-
ages and its possible causes is done. In the system these materials are encoded, as seen in the following
table:
2
Based on the results of chapter 1, where the traditional construction materi-
als and systems were established (*), this proposal of materials has been
structured.
The identification and description of damages and possible

causes
Once the elements, sub-elements and components have been identified, for
the latter one should do an analysis to characterize the damages that affect
them. For this level of work the proposed analysis method is visual and in-
situ. This is considered sufficiently because it is a form used and tried for
the damage register. Indeed, in the Master of Conservation of Monuments
and Sites (RLICC) in the practical work IPW3, the same procedure is used.
Furthermore, the factors of time and resources should be taken in account
in the analysis.
On the other hand, a reference system has been defined, that tries to system-
ize the level of deterioration and severity of the mentioned components, and
the relation of the affected element with the rest of the building. Furthermore
one can evaluate present condition of the element based on the following
conditions: bad, regular, good. It is also important to register geometric data, 111
1. Building elements such as: slenderness, section of the elements and their heritage value.
CHARPTER 3
2. Traditional materials
To each component a code is assigned and one could register more than
one damage to each of them. To facilitate the identification of the elements
and damages, a written document is presented (see annex 1 of the Damage
Atlas) in which the terms and a table with encoding classifications is defined.
It is worth mentioning that these damages are the most important and most
frequent. There could be other damages, which could be added to the sys-
tem after the information is checked. The same happens with the damage
causes, materials and elements. For this reason the reference system is
open, meaning that one could add more information if needed on top of the
base system.
1
For each type of damage one could identify the possible cause(s) responsible
for the damage. In the same way, in the reference system (see table 1) and
the Damage Atlas (see annex 1) a comprehensive set of possible causes and
characteristics are established that could help to determine a hypothesis
of the cause of the damage, using photos and descriptions. In most cases,
the damages are the result of simultaneous or successive combination of
causes. In principle the following groups or categories of causes are deter-
mined: physical, chemical, biological and mechanical (see table 1, pp. 114).
The determination of the damages and its possible causes is based on the
methodology used by MDDS and the explication of the proposed damage
classification for Cuenca is shown in the development process of the Dam-
age Atlas (see 3.6.6)
In the description of the cause the mechanism or process should be includ-

ed, meaning how the cause produces the damage, as seen in the following
figure:
113
1. Classification of types of damage It is important to make the damage register in each element. In this way gen-
CHARPTER 3
and their possible causes.
eral analyses are avoided, which would not allow the proper determination of
the present condition of a building.
114
1
Level of severity of the damage and the plan of action
The level of severity is the relation between the analyzed component with
the rest of the elements of the heritage building. In order to establish the
severity of the damage it is planned to rate the damage present in the com-
ponent with which the unit of measurement and the corresponding quantity
will be determined. The level of severity can be high, medium, low or not
applicable.
Finally the type of action, deemed relevant to guarantee the conservation

of the component, sub-element, element and the building, will be recom-
mended based on the made observation. The plan of action contemplates
immediate and medium term actions. For example, if there are damages
in the structure of the building, the actions to be taken will be immediate. If
the damages are superficial, the actions to be taken will be for the medium
term.
Monitoring of alerts – initial recommendation
It is recommended to apply a monitoring program in those cases where

the values or the stability of the building are endangered by damages or 115
1. Categories of causes and their threats.
CHARPTER 3
relation with damages
The following codes are used as monitoring type:
1. Permanent: when actions to be taken are recommended to take place

within a month.
2. Regular: when actions to be taken are recommended to take place bet-
ween one and six months.
3. Sporadic: when actions to be taken are recommended to take place after
6 months.
All established according to the severity of the problem and the technical
criteria of the team that applied the work field.
Photographic register
It is important to make some basic instructions about the taking of photos

as part of the damage documentation. The subject is very broad and could
therefore include a complete instruction, however for the objectives of this
investigation one should take into account the following aspects:
Facade photography: should be taken technically, trying to take the photo per-
pendicular to the facade. The complete photos of the facades should later be or-
tho-rectified to obtain real dimensions and to eliminate distortions. These photos
will be made with the highest possible resolution, reaching 3800x2500 pixels.
Interior photography: one should be able to identify general views of the
rooms and suffered transformations as well as the damages that show the
current deterioration of the building. They should be taken with the maxi-
mum possible resolution, reaching at least 3600x2700 pixels, with the aim
to facilitate the analysis of the building. One should indicate in the drawings
from where and towards where each photo was taken, assigning a number
to each photo. 1
In this way the description of the element could be complemented with pho-
tos that support or facilitate the analysis of the component’s condition. In the
description one should list all that is not shown on the photo.
One should also list the corresponding identification code. For each reg-
istered damage a photo will be taken, whose code will be the same for
the damage and its possible causes, for example: 1.1.1_Q1 (fading through
ultraviolet rays). To get an adequate documentation it is suggested to take
a general and a detailed photo of the damage, with the codes as shown in
the following example: 1.1.1_Q1_1_d (for the detailed photo) and 1.1.1_
Q1_1_g (for the general photo)
116 Another important aspect is to put a ruler or other reference scale in the
detailed photo, to get an idea of its dimension. 1. Outline of the documentation of
damage in the Reference System.

At this point it is worth mentioning that all the systems analyzed in chapter 2-3. Erosion caused by the pre-
sence of water. Photography code:
2 use photos along with descriptions in order to complement and better 2.1.3_F2_1_d (detail) 2.1.3_F2_1_g
understand what has been described textually. (general).
Inadequate construction processes 1

Manual of Documentation for the
application of the catalogue records,
VLIR-CPM Project, University of Cuen-
There are various aspects that help to understand the present condition and ca, July 2010.
the stability of the structure, and as a consequence, the whole building, such
as a.o.: absence of a ring-beam, bonding faults or bad interlocked in the
walls, instability of the foundation and the bad configuration or distribution of
the structural elements.
3.5.3 Summary of the damage register in the reference system
Summarizing the information described before, results in the following dam-

age register:
3
2
1
CHARPTER 3
117
3.5.4 Processing of the information and expected results
With the information entered in the system, there is the possibility of doing
different analyses. In this case the information was compiled especially to
determine the present condition of a building.
The lowest level of analysis is the component, based on which can be deter-
mined the overall condition of the heritage building. In this sense it is interesting
that the system gives alerts about those aspects (information included in the
system) that will be at risk. These elements can be related with other elements,
getting a model, in which one could even add values. This is because any of the
preset parameters could greatly influence the severity of the problem.
The idea is to analyze the information in a grouped way (not only determining
the present condition of an element). One can even arrive at the urban level,
because the system gets information from different buildings. However, this
is not the objective of this investigation. The present condition will be deter-
mined based on the processing of previously gathered information, which
allows for the determination of alerts that could put the building at risk. This
analysis is done by the combination of the following parameters:
118
Building elements – Level of severity
Alert (K1 and D1): if the structural element (column, beam, bearing wall and
arches) is given a level of severity of medium or high, the whole building will
be in immediate danger.
Building elements – Present condition of the element
Alert (G1 and D1): when a structural element is in a bad condition, it is im-
minent to know if the damage is putting the whole building at danger.
Building elements – Identification and classification of

damages – general rating of the damage
Alert (D1, H1 – H2 – H3 and J1): when a structural element is affected by a dam-

age that could be: degradation or detachment, cracking or deformation with high
percentage affected. For example: a column that is affected by beetles in 80% of its
structure, puts the element and possibly the whole building at risk.
Traditional construction materials and systems – identification

and classification of the damages
Alert (E1 – E2 and H1- H2): the materials and traditional construction sys-
tems are characterized by their vulnerability and if to that the presence of damages
such as cracking or deformations is added, the problem is aggravated.
Identification and classification of damages – present condition
of the element
Alert (H1- H2 and G1): it is important to know if the damage is affecting a

structural element in a bad condition. This situation could make the problem
worse.
Identification and classification of possible causes – plan of

action
Alert (I and L1): the cause or possible causes that are generating damage
could be included within a plan of action. If we are dealing with causes that
produce damages and are affecting structural elements one should take
immediate actions. If this is not happening, then one should give an alert
indicating this situation.
Geometric data of the element – building elements
Alert (F1 and D1): one should consider the dimensional characteristics, es-
pecially of the structural elements, of a heritage building. In this case it is
necessary to know the basics of the materials and loads that the elements 119
could support before failing. For example in an adobe wall the ratio of height
CHARPTER 3
and thickness may not exceed 8. This information is given in chapter 1 under
the properties of adobe. For this reason it is important to also gather these
data when gathering the damage information.
Monitoring alert & initial recommendation – level of severity –

Identification and classification of damages – Present condition
of the element
Alert (M1, K1, H1 – H2 and G1): one should have a permanent monitoring,
since the level of severity of the heritage building is high and the present
condition of the structural elements is bad.
Inadequate construction processes – elements
Alert (O1 - 02 - 03 - 04 and D1): it is necessary to know some basic aspects

of the structure, such as: the absence of ring-beams, bonding faults or bad
interlocked in the walls, the state of the foundation and the bad distribution of
the structural elements. If any of these aspects is present, an alert should be
indicated within the system, since the present condition of the whole building
could be in serious danger.
Results
The result is based on a qualitative analysis, which will depend on all these
parameters and their combinations. In this way the general condition of a
heritage building is determined, defined by the following terms: bad, regu-
lar or good. This is achieved by classifying the different parameters in the
most objective manner possible, through a model, which helped to define the
“alerts” that put the building at risk. After the processing of the information
the following results were obtained:
Bad: the present condition is considered “bad”, when all previously men-
tioned alerts are present. This situation should be studied in detail, depend-
ing on each case, on the combination of parameters and their magnitudes,
since they could result in the collapse of the building.
Regular: the present condition is considered “regular” when:

-- The structural elements (columns, beams, bearing walls and arches) pos-
sess a low or medium level of severity.
-- The structural elements (columns, beams, bearing walls and arches) are
in regular present condition.
120 -- The structural elements of the building do not show visible damages. The
non-structural elements show damages, such as: cracking, degradation 1. Reference system to determine
and detachment and superficial changes. the present condition of the heritage
-- The traditional construction materials and systems can show the pre- buildings.
viously described damages.

-- The dimensions of the structural elements in general are adequate, but they should
be checked due to the presence of damages in other non-structural elements.
-- The cause or possible causes that are generating a damage should be
included within a medium term plan of action.
-- It is necessary to have regular monitoring, because of the medium and
low level of severity and the regular condition of non-structural elements,
which could cause severe damages in the future.
-- The construction processes in the structure are adequate, meaning: there
is a ring-beam in the case of adobe and bahareque walls, there is good
interlocked between walls and the foundation is stable.
Good: the present condition is considered “good” when:

-- The structural elements (columns, beams, bearing walls and arches) pos-
sess level of severity not applicable.
-- The structural elements (columns, beams, bearing walls and arches) of
the building do not have damages.
-- The dimensions of the structural elements are adequate.
-- It is necessary to have sporadic monitoring to prevent future damages.
-- The construction processes in the structure are adequate, meaning: there
is a ring-beam in the case of adobe and bahareque walls, there is bonda-
ge between walls and the foundation is stable.
1
CHARPTER 3
121
3.5.5 Case study for the application of the methodology: steps
For the reference system to be effective it should include all previously de-
tailed information and the methodology should be applied to the heritage
buildings of Cuenca. In summary the steps of the fieldwork and the office
work are the following:
Fieldwork:
-- Visit the building with the drawings of the building. If this information is
not available, use sketches made by hand.
-- Encode in the survey: floor level, room and elements where damages are
found, according to the reference system.
-- Application of the system is facilitated by using diagnosis records. In this
part one should gather all information needed by the system to determine
the present condition of the building.
-- Collect other additional information, provided that it is required for the
damage study, such as: the history of the building.
-- Take general photos of the building, one for each damage and another for
the context around the damage.
122
Office work:
-- Input the information in the database, including previously encoded

photos.
-- Process the information; in this case generate the condition assessment.
-- Present the results.
This is summarized in table 1.
1
This methodology is designed to survey the information related to the dam-
ages in heritage buildings and is part of the investigation used for the ap-
plication of the catalogue record of the VLIR-CPM project.
The level of depth of the investigation gets to the components of the heritage
building and allows, combining parameters, to set the present condition of
the whole building. In this way, one can take curative and preventive actions
with the aim of preserving the heritage building in the city of Cuenca.
3.5.6 Proposed methodology linked to the GIS system and urban

analysis
If an analysis at the urban level is required, for example determining the

present condition of the heritage of Cuenca, the system HIS2, which is an
information container, could be useful. For this it is important to start from
the determination of the general condition of each one of the buildings. This
information should be firstly stored and later analyzed through the system
GIS3. The advantage of using this system is that one can do the analysis
combining information of different forms and show through for example alert
maps, which allow the taking of future actions.
123
1. Case study for the application of the For example in a layer one could show the used materials in order to estab-
CHARPTER 3
methodology: steps lish which uses could represent eminent risk for the building. Another case:
one layer showing the values of the city in a whole plan and another showing
2
HIS Heritage Information System the building with a high degree of alteration, in order to establish zones in the
developed by the VLIR-CPM project at city that are more affected to architectonical changes.4
the University of Cuenca
3
“GIS analysis is a process for looking
at geographic patterns in your data In summary, at the urban level it is necessary to know what result one wants
and at relations between features”. to get to determine the attributes, meaning the information that should be
MICHELLE Andy, The ESRI Guide to
GIS Analysis, Volume 1: Geographic put in the system (HIS). For example, if the level of vulnerability of a certain
Patterns & Relationships, 1999, pp.11 sector of the Historic Center is required, one could input the various param-
4
Heras, Verónica: “Development of eters, such as: a map which indicates the present condition of each one of
Information System, case of study the buildings, a map which indicates the vulnerabilities of the materials, an-
Cuenca - Ecuador”; RLICC- KULeuven, other map showing the location of the damages, etc. This subject is included
2009, pp. 123
5
IBID
within the VLIR-CPM project and was discussed in a master’s thesis of the
RLICC and the University of Cuenca, called: Development of a Conceptual
Model for a Heritage Information System, case study Cuenca-Ecuador.5
3.6 Damage Atlas for heritage buildings in Cuenca
3.6.1 General approach
This part starts with the definition of a Damage Atlas and which information
should be included. After this the importance of the Damage Atlas within the
conservation of the heritage buildings in the city of Cuenca is highlighted.
With this objective 4 different designs of damage atlases are analyzed, of
which 2 are international (MDDS – The Netherlands y UNI- Italy) and 2 are
national (Damage Atlas of historical Cuenca, Ecuador and Damage Atlas for
Cuenca).
These studies start with a classification of the type of damage, using differ-
ent parameters. The information included within these atlases also varies,
showing different levels of depth.
A methodology to make a Damage Atlas for the city of Cuenca was done,
based on the mentioned studies, taking the MDDS as principal reference.
Furthermore several visits were made to different buildings, made of earth,
to verify the collected bibliography data on site.
124
In this way a classification of the types of damages with its respective prob-
able causes is produced, which serves as a base for the elaboration of the
Damage Atlas. Through the investigation the most possible information is
gathered, with which the identification of the damages and its causes is
clear and the information within the Damage Atlas is easily useable for those
who need it.
The Damage Atlas, included within the objectives of this thesis, will be ap-
plied in the catalogue records (of 1 city-block in the Historic Center) of the
VLIR-CPM project. This work has as objective to contribute to the conserva-
tion of the heritage buildings in the city of Cuenca.
It is important to mention that the work developed for the Damage Atlas
is explained with the most detail, because the damage classification and
possible causes that are used in the reference system had their origin in
the development of the Damage Atlas for Cuenca. The classification of the
elements, sub-elements and components is also made for this document,
since it was necessary to know in what element the damage is found. In
other words, in this part the methodology will be developed to determine
the damage diagnosis, for which the development of the Damage Atlas is
of great help.
3.6.2 What is a Damage Atlas?
A damage atlas is a classification of damage patterns encountered in differ-

ent parts of a building, such as for example masonry. It is a complete illus-
trated set of damage types with an explanation of its possible causes. It is set
up in a technical way to register damages using protocols and standard defi-
nitions. Damages are divided by typology and according to intensity, allowing
the users to use a more correct definition. The main sources to produce a
Damage Atlas are literature, data from in situ investigation and laboratory
tests, organized according to a uniform terminology and description. 6
Before realizing the visual description of the damages and its causes in an
illustrated manner, the classification and definitions of the damages should
be clear. Therefore, a general classification and definitions of the damage
types are needed. This classification could start from the surface changing
to the biological growth, according to MDDS 7
A damage atlas has to be able to describe damage in a visual way using ex-
amples and particularities for each case. For instance, locating the damage
in the different elements of the building, e.g. loss of cohesion was found in a
wall belonging to the room Nº. 4 at 30 cm from the floor. 125
6
Core, Manuela. op. cit., pp. 22
CHARPTER 3
7
MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnos- 3.6.3 Information included in the Damage Atlas
tic System developed by: KULeuven
Milano (I) and TNO Building and Cons- A damage atlas should include:
truction Reserach (NL).
-- Identification of the damage in a specific material
-- Description of the damage according to each specific case.
-- Determination of possible causes of deterioration
-- Location of damage in the building
-- Picture of damage (with measurement and color scale if possible)
The damage atlas, which is proposed in the present thesis, helps to identify
the damage and the mechanism(s) responsible for the damage. E.G. which
kind of damage and mechanism are more common for adobe walls. The
aim of the Damage Atlas is not to find the solution to prevent the damage
from occurring, because the solution depends on other factors such as: cost,
priorities, risks, etc.
CRUST
The crust in this example is mainly
present on the mortar joints. Conver-
sion of time into gypsum look place.
BLACK CRUST
Black crust on plaster.
2
126
3.6.4 Importance of a Damage Atlas 1-2 .Example of damages (crust –
black crust) found in MDDS
The Damage Atlas represents a fundamental tool for the identification and 8
Core, Manuela, op. cit., pp. 24
diagnoses of damages through comparisons using photos and descriptions.
9
VLIR-CPM Project: “World Heritage
City Preservation Management” is
Furthermore, it is a valuable guide for architects, restorers and other people part of the Institutional University
who need to work in a heritage building. If they all use the same uniform Cooperation (IUC) between Belgium
and countries in the South. University of
information, it will permit the updating and comparison over time of data with Cuenca, Faculty of Architecture
other data, which will be useful when applied in inventories. For this reason,
a Damage Atlas could be helpful for the city of Cuenca.
Furthermore, as mentioned, the Damage Atlas served as basis to obtain the

information included in the database, especially the classification of damages
and causes, and the determination of the elements up to the components.
3.6.5 Examples of Damage Atlas
Damage Atlas MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnostic System

Developed by: KULeuven (BE), TU (Hamburg Harburg (D), PdM Milano (I) and
TNO Building and Construction Reserach (NL)
This expert system mentioned in chapter 2, includes damage atlas and it

was considered the appropriate tool to support the professionals (architects,
engineers and technician), involved in the analysis of ancient buildings, in
order to conduct a correct analysis of the most common damage cases.
The different damage atlases included in the system are:
-- Brick damage atlas: It contains examples of damages on bricks, with illus-

trated examples from different buildings.
-- Plaster damage atlas: It contains examples of damages on different types

of plaster.
-- Natural stone damage atlas: It is still under construction in the actual ver-
sion of the software, but already contains some case studies. The MDDS
natural stone damage atlas is one of seven glossaries which have been
set up by the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Stone (ISCS)
glossary. ISCS aims to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge in the
field of stone conservation.
-- Pointing damage atlas: It covers aesthetical damage, surface deteriora-

tion, poor craftsmanship and environmental attack, shrinkage of brick or
pointing, frost and salt damages.
-- Sea salt damage atlas: This atlas is a contribution from the research
project ASSET, Assessment of Suitable products for the conservative 127
treatments of Sea-Salt decay, by the European Commission.8
CHARPTER 3
Classification of damage types
To realize these damage atlases, the system starts with a general classi-
fication of damages, from surface changes to biological growth. Most of
the damages included in this classification were translated to Spanish, (See
annex 1 Damage Atlas: Contents) to facilitate the use between the members
of the VLIR-CPM9 project, as well as all people interested in the use of the
Damage Atlas.
128
From this general classification one can arrive at more detailed classifica-
tions, depending on the type of Damage Atlas which is needed. For example,
the MDDS system shows a classification for the elaboration of the brick
damage atlas (see table 2).
2
129
1.Classification of damage types UNI (Italian National Unification)
CHARPTER 3
contained in MDDS
2.Brick damage atlas (MDDS)
Developed by Cultural heritage - Natural and artificial stone. (Italy)
This normative published in Italian on 13 April 2006 substitutes the previous.

The normative indicates the definition of terms useful to indicate the differ-
ent forms of alteration and degradation in heritage buildings. The information
contained in this normative, according to the proposed definition, constitutes
a Damage Atlas, although in the normative this term is not mentioned.
The normative begins with an introduction and the approach of the objec-
tives. In them it is shown that it is important to determine the state of the
materials, to define the causes of the damages to, afterwards, realize an
adequate diagnosis in a heritage building. Furthermore it is emphasized that
this normative is applied to both natural (rock) as well as artificial (mortar,
plaster and ceramic products) stone.
Classification of the damage types
The classification of the damages is presented in alphabetical order and is

illustrated with photos. A nomenclature is used for the different materials,
like:
nat. = natural stone
mal. = mortar
cer. = ceramic material (brick, ceramic, etc.)
Crosta:
Modificazione dello strato su-

perficiale del materiale lapie-
deo. Di spessore variable,
generalmente dura, distin-
guibile dalle parti sottostanti
per le carateristiche morfo-
logiche e spesso per il colore.
Puó distaccarsi anche spon-
taneamente dal substrato
che, in genere, si presenta
1
130 disgregato e/o polverulento.
Some damages included in this normative are a.o. chromatic alteration, al- 1. Example of damage: crust (costra)
found in UNI (Italy)

veolization, biological growth, crust, deformation, degradation, superficial
deposit, disintegration, spalling, efflorescence, erosion, exfoliation, cracking,
graffiti, incrustation, staining, patina, pitting and bulging.
10
De Jongh Sam and Van Wijnen-
daele Matthias: “Earthquakes and
other damaging mechanisms to earth
Damage Atlas of historical Cuenca, Ecuador structures (Cuenca, Ecuador)”. Master
thesis Civil Engineering KULeuven
Damage patterns found in (mainly earthen) building materials 2008-2009., pp.1
Developed by Sam de Jongh and Matthias Van Wijnendaele : “Earthquakes

and other damaging mechanisms to earth structures (Cuenca, Ecuador)”.
Master thesis Civil Engineering KULeuven 2008-2009.
This Damage Atlas wants to be a helpful tool in defining damages and their
causes in historical building materials. Research methods and solutions for
occurring problems are integrated as well. A manual will lead the reader
through this atlas which should be used preferably in situ and in an active
way. SaMat is the Systematical Analysis of these Materials and Their dam-
ages through centralizing and validating data on an engineering level. 10
This atlas is intended for students and professionals (architects, engineers,

among others) involved in historical buildings in Cuenca. The atlas is a guide
in determining damage causes and proposing some solutions, but it can’t
replace the expert.
This document has two parts. The first part consists of environment and cli-
mate, material and its values, definitions, explanations and classifications of
type of damages. Part II consists of the damage atlas itself. The components
of the damage atlas are:
Damage
Cause
Building
Description of the damage
Solution and Prevention (only if necessary)
Further research (only if necessary)
Pictures (damages and the building were they are located)
In some cases images or drawings exist of some building elements, which

permit to better understand the damages and its causes.
Classification of damage types
According to this atlas, the damage is classified according to:
-- The material (which material is affected?) 131

-- Damaging mechanism (What is the cause?)
CHARPTER 3
-- Damaging pattern (What do we see?)
-- Building state (What is the actual state?)
The classification by damaging pattern is based on MDDS and it is showed in

table No. 1, pp. 132. The classification by damaging mechanisms (or causes)
has origen mechanical, biological, physical and chemical.
With the help of these two classifications, a Damage Atlas is presented,

which collects information of the different buildings in the Historic Center of
the city of Cuenca. The description of the damages and its causes are linked
to the images (put in the same page) using codes, which, at a glance, are
not easily related with another. Nevertheless, this is the first Damage Atlas
developed for this city, whose information is included in a database, which
permits it to be systematized and updated.
132
Damage Atlas for Cuenca
Developed by Nelson Galán y Juan Carlos Iñiguez : “Preventive Conservation

of heritage buildings with Historical Value. Study Case: the Historical Center
of Cuenca”. Pregrade thesis project. Faculty of Architecture, University of
Cuenca. Thesis project unpublished.
An important aspect of this thesis that may be useful for the proposed meth-
odology is the fieldwork, for which one took a representative sample of heri-
tage buildings within the study area of the VLIR-CPM project.
2
133
1. Damage Atlas of Historical Cuenca- The selection took in account the heritage values of the buildings given by
CHARPTER 3
Ecuador. Damage patterns found in
(mainly earthen) building materials. the Municipality to be able to make the application of a designed record.
2. 29 buildings were defined for the For this work were considered the buildings valued like: immediate, archi-
analysis in the study area of the VLIR- tectural value A and architectural value B (being the most representative for
CPM project
the analysis). Of a total of 265 buildings, using pre-established mathemati-
cal formulas and processes, a sample of 29 buildings were defined for the
11
De Jongh Sam and Van Wijnendaele
Matthias. op. cit., pp.1
analysis.
The classification of the causes of damages was based on the previously

mentioned thesis 11 and finally the students developed a Damage Atlas. The
classification of the type of damages is not presented.
The data collected by the students in the 29 buildings helps to understand

first what elements have been affected by damages (see table 1 pp. 134)
and second the traditional construction systems used in walls, being mostly
adobe and bahareque (see table 2 pp.134).
Furthermore are determined the most frequently found damages in the sam-
ple, being cracking, chipping, deformation, staining, peeling, detachment
and soiling, produced in bearing wall, ceiling, facade, floor, and roof (more
details see table No. 3, 4 and 5 pp.134). Other damages only show up once
in a while.
The processing of this information is validated for this thesis, since it contributed
to the development of the reference system and the proposed damage atlas.
RESULTS OBTAINED OF THE DAMAGE ATLAS FOR CUENCA
1 2
134 3
NOTE: other damages only showup once in a while

3.6.6 Methodology for the elaboration of a Damage Atlas for Cuenca
based on MDDS
It is important to learn about the Monument Damage Diagnostic System

(MDDS)12 methodology for the elaboration of a damage atlas and to elabo-
rate one specific for the city of Cuenca. In MDDS the causes of damage are
analyzed in a scientific way. (See chapter 2 for more details of the function
of the program)
As we can see, MDDS does not include a damage atlas for earthen materi-
als. For that reason it is also important to analyze how we can input data in
MDDS and how we can output data. The idea is to know if it is possible to
integrate the information generated in Cuenca with MDDS program (IO Intel-
ligent Objects).
The proposed methodology in this part of the study supports the two damage
atlases developed for Cuenca, but were mainly based on the damage clas-
sification proposed by the MDDS, analyzing which of those damages exist in
our part of the world. In fact, the damages taken in the investigation of the
selected 29 buildings were compared with those from the MDDS. In this way,
to the initial classification, damages were added that were not listed, or ruled 135
out inexistent damages from the sample.
Result for Damage Atlas for Cuenca:
CHARPTER 3
1. Damage elements
2. Traditional construction systems Validation of the Methodology
3. Most frequent damages
(mechanical causes)
4. Most frequent damages The proposed methodology is validated in 3 case studies, selected by tak-
(physical causes) ing into account the heritage value, the level of severity of the damages and
5. Most frequent damages
(chemical causes) the ease of access. Each selected house has a particular history, one was
affected by a fire, another was abandoned during 15 years and another was
in use, but without an adequate maintenance. Below are given the details of
12
MDDS: Monument Damage Diag- the houses.
Milano (I) and TNO Building and Cons-
“Neira Carrión” House
truction Reserach (NL)
13
Studies of Intervention and Conser- Location: Mariano Cueva and Sangurima (corner).
vation of the “Neira Carrión” House,
Unidad Técnica Fundación Municipal The year of construction of this building is not exactly known. One knows
“El Barranco”. Enero 2010. only that in approximately 1950 it was sold to Madame Lucila Carrión.13
It is a building with a great heritage value, constructed from adobe, baha-
reque and brick, with an interior patio that integrates all its rooms. Its façade
combines the French neoclassical style with the use of traditional materials
and techniques. During the last years this house was rented and the renters
didn’t give it adequate maintenance. Later it was bought by the Municipality
of Cuenca and currently it is in the process of restoration. Because of the
work that is being done, it is possible to access to the trials pits for investiga-
tion (prospections) and observe damages in the foundation, roof, walls and
other elements, that are normally not easy to access.
House of the Province - Former Convent of “Buen Pastor”
Location: Tomás Ordoñez and Simón Bolívar (corner).

The building of the Convent of “Buen Pastor” was built between 1870 and
1920, by German priest Juan Bautista Sthiele. This building of adobe and
bahareque has important scale and dimensions for the San Blas neighbor-
hood where it is located, since its 2 two facades occupy a considerable part
of the block. As a result of the decree of the Emergency of Heritage build-
ings, dictated by the state of Ecuador, processes of preservation of valuable
heritage buildings is undertaken; this is the case with this house, which was
abandoned during approximately 15 years14. For this study it was interesting
to go to the house and register the damages, which were mainly caused by
the abandonment and lack of maintenance.
“San Cristóbal” Building
Location: Sucre and General Torres (corner).

This building belongs to the republican period and constitutes one of the
examples of the French style in the Historic Center of Cuenca. It is a build-
ing that combines different materials, such as: brick, adobe and bahareque
136 using traditional construction techniques. In 2007 an accident happened
caused by defect electric installations that started a fire, which affected ap- 1. “San Cristobal” Building
proximately 15% of the building; nevertheless the most severe damages 2. House of the Province - Former
in the building were not caused by the fire, but by the abundance of water Convent of “Buen Pastor”
3. “Neira Carrión” House
used to control the fire, leading to the collapse of the 2 highest floors of the 4. Map in which these 3 buildings
building due to the weakening of the bearing walls at the lower floor15. For are located in the Historic Center of
Cuenca.
this study it is interesting to know how the building reacted to the fire, water
and other causes of deterioration. Due to the ease of access, it was decided
to take this house as a case study. 14
Restoration Project: “House of the
province. Former Convent of “Buen
Pastor” , Provincial Government.
The damages registered in these 3 buildings are located in the drawings and December 2009.
serve to feed the damage atlas in this thesis. Furthermore, it is interesting to
15
Lic. María Tómmerbakk, Cuenca,
November 2008 - January 2009
observe how for example due to the presence of water, in some cases there
are more than one damage. There is a map in which these 3 buildings are
located in the Historic Center of Cuenca. (Fig Nº. 4.)
To facilitate the systematization of the information, the damage atlas should

be structured within a reference system. In this system all the information of
the atlas is stored and it can be found as appendix at the end of this thesis.
1
3
4
2
CHARPTER 3
137
3.7 Application of the reference system (included Damage Atlas) in the
Catalogue records in the VLIR-CPM Project in Cuenca
It is important to mention that the reference system of this thesis is inserted

within the investigation developed in the area of damages of the VLIR-CPM
project “World Heritage City Preservation Management”, under the direction
of Architect Marcelo Zúñiga.
In the month of July 2010 it was planned to apply the catalogue record in 1
block within the area of study of the project VLIR-CPM. A part of this docu-
ment constitutes the reference system to determine the present condition
(analysis, diagnosis and monitoring of damage). As part of the system a
Damage Atlas was developed, which is a key document for people interested
in the identification of damages and causes, in this case the surveyors took
care of the application of the catalogue record. At the end only structural
damages are registered in the selected buildings.
In this point, it is important to mention that the VLIR-CPM Project is part of

the Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) between Belgium and countries
in the South. (FAUC - University of Cuenca – RLICC-KU Leuven – Belgium).
138 In this way this thesis has an application directly within the objectives given
by the VLIR-CPM project, whose fundamental goal is the conservation of the 16
Prof. Elena Charola, Lecture Intro-
heritage architecture of the Historic Center of Cuenca. duction to conservation interventions,

cleaning, desalination and conservation
3.8 General principles for the development of a preventive conservation treatments, KUL-RLICC, February,
2009.
plan, through the analysis of the condition, level of risk and monitoring
of the building
Within the management programs of the heritage buildings, the develop-

ment of a preventive conservation plan is fundamental. In this one should
establish a collection of actions, which have as aim to anticipate a situation
that could put a heritage building at risk. It tries to avoid the deterioration
and/or the disappearance of the values, for which it determines or suggests
intervention strategies.
As a general rule, for the intervention in heritage buildings, it is important to

take into account the following aspects:
-- Minimum intervention principle: a minimum amount of intervention in the

materials is required to achieve the aims.
-- Compatibility principle: Materials and techniques should be compatible
with the original respecting traditional practice.16
-- Reversibility: the intervention should be reversible, in case it is not consi-
red appropriate in the future.
For the development of a preventive conservation plan, it is necessary to
define those aspects that will take part in the conservation process of the
heritage buildings. In chapter 1 the concepts of level of risk and monitoring
were defined and in this chapter a methodology to determine the present
condition is proposed. In summary, the general principles involved in heritage
buildings take into account the following aspects:
-- Present condition
-- Level of risk
-- Monitoring
It is considered useful for the city of Cuenca, to determine actions or raise

certain principles involved in heritage buildings, based on the analysis of
each one of the mentioned aspects. Later it will be analyzed what information
should be included, how this information will be processed, what results are
expected and what will be the actions or general principles, which should be
included in the preventive conservation plan.
3.8.1 Present condition of an earthen heritage building
In this thesis a methodology to determine the present condition of an earthen 139

heritage building is analyzed. This starts from the proposed reference system
CHARPTER 3
and furthermore the collected information was processed and results about
how to qualify the condition of a heritage building were presented.
Information included in the system (parameters)
-- Building elements
-- Traditional construction materials and systems
-- Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth)
-- Present condition of the element
-- Identification and classification of the damages
-- Identification and classification of the possible causes
-- General quantification of the damage
-- Level of severity
-- Plan of action
-- Monitoring of alerts – initial recommendation
-- Inadequate construction processes
Processing of the information and the results
The processing of the information was through the combination of these

parameters, determining alerts that put at risk the stability and valuables of
a heritage building. This analysis gave as results the determination of the
present condition of a heritage building as bad, regular and good.
Suggested follow-up actions
At this point it is especially interesting to know the “alerts”, which were de-
termined through the reference system and which are related with the bad
condition of a building. This will allow the taking of certain actions, related
with the interdependent damages and are linked with the other established
parameters. It is also important to know the actions that are suggested in the
case of buildings that are in a “regular” or “good” condition.
Buildings in bad condition and where “alerts” are determined
The present condition is considered “bad” when all previously analyzed alerts
are present (see table 1, pp. 121). This situation should be studied in detail,
depending on each case, the combination of parameters and its magnitude,
since it could lead to the collapse of the heritage building. In this case, apart
from determining preventive actions, solutions for controlling the present
damages should be proposed. Some general actions:
in a bad condition and the level of severity of the damages is high, and
140 therefore the building is in immediate danger. In this case one should
reinforce the structure, replace pieces that are in a bad state with the aim
of returning the stability of these elements.
-- The traditional construction materials and systems are characterized by

their vulnerability to the presence of damages like cracks and deforma-
tions. Because of the value of these elements one should take immediate
action to control the damages.
-- If there are causes that produce damages and structural elements are
affected, one should take immediate actions with the aim of understan-
ding and eliminating the cause which is provoking the damage.
-- The dimensional characteristics of the structural elements are not ade-

quate. Then the structural elements should be reinforced to get the requi-
red dimensions and resistance.
-- One should have permanent monitoring, since the level of severity of the
heritage building is high and the condition of the structural elements is
bad.
-- The absence of a ring-beam, the bonding faults or bad interlocked in the

walls, the bad condition of the foundation and the bad configuration or
distribution of the structural elements, put at risk the whole building. The
recommendation is to design and apply constructive details that could be
used to solve the problems.
Buildings in regular condition
For this type of buildings the following actions are suggested:
in a regular condition. In this case one should reinforce the structure,
especially those of which the level of severity has been determined as
medium.
-- The structural elements of the building do not have visible damages and
the non-structural elements have damages like: cracking, degradation
and detachments and surface changes. These damages should be con-
trolled in such way that no other elements, which could weaken the struc-
ture, are affected.
-- If the traditional construction materials and systems show damages one

should analyze the seriousness of the damage. Since generally these
materials are very vulnerable and a superficial damage could over time
deteriorate the condition of the element or the whole building.
-- The dimensions of the structural elements are generally adequate, but 141
should be checked due to the presence of damages in other non-struc-
CHARPTER 3
tural elements.
-- It is necessary to have regular monitoring to prevent future damages,

especially to verify if the structure remains stable. Some aspects consist
of: to verify if the ring-beams are tied to the walls, if there is bondage
between the walls and if the foundation is stable, meaning that there are
no damages like cracks and settlements.
-- The cause or possible causes that are generating a damage should be

Buildings in good condition
These are buildings whose structural elements are in good condition, there
are no damages. The dimensions of the structural elements as well as the
structural processes are adequate.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to have sporadic monitoring to prevent future

damages and above all to check that the different parameters, which deter-
mine the condition maintain stable.
1
3.8.2 Level of risk (risk assessment)
In chapter 1 it was determined that the level of risk consists in the relation
between threat and vulnerability:
142
Level of risk = threat x vulnerability 17
The objective of the evaluation of risk is to determine the probability that a

specific threat occurs, within a determined time in the future. In that sense,
a risk assessment of a building would be considered as a preventive action
and it is fundamental for the development of a preventive conservation plan.
For example, when a seismic risk assessment is done, it is necessary to an-
ticipate what could happen with the aim of conserving the heritage valuables
of the buildings.
Like the determination of the present condition, the risk assessment can
be an output of the system. Fundamental is to determine what information
needs to be included in the system and how it will be processed to obtain the
required results. This information is linked to the threats and to the vulner-
abilities of the heritage buildings.
Threats
In table 1 one can see the natural and men-made threats most frequent in
our part of the world.
Vulnerability
In a determined area all the buildings are subjected to the same threat, for
example an earthquake. Nevertheless the buildings could behave in different
2 143
1. Natural and men-made threats ways. This is due to several parameters that determine the vulnerability of a
CHARPTER 3
2. Seismic vulnerability rating
building. These parameters were described in chapter 1 and are a.o.: con-
struction system, materials, the present condition, use and location.
17
“Sistema de Referencia y Meto-
daños” Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC- In this context the proposed methodology in this thesis for the condition as-
Universidad de Cuenca – RLICC-KU sessment, helps to determine the vulnerability of a heritage building. This is
Leuven-Bélgica. Presentación en Power
Point. s/f.
because for the analysis of any threat to the monument the present condition
is considered as a base point, which will greatly influence the behavior of the
building.
Level of risk of a heritage building when confronted with

earthquakes
Of the list of mentioned threats, one can take as a model the earthquake
and do a general analysis of the level of risk of the heritage building when
confronted with this threat. This analysis can be very complex, in fact there
are studies dedicated to only this subject.
What is interesting for this thesis, is to indicate how the determination of

the present condition will influence the seismic vulnerability. Therefore, the
information that should be included for the risk assessment when confronted
with an earthquake will be studied in a general way, emphasizing the present
condition. Furthermore, it is important to know how this information will be
processed to get the results and what general actions one can take.
Information to be included in the system (parameters)
It is important to know the level of the threat and the vulnerability of the heritage
building. For example, it is possible that there is a zone with a larger possibility of
earthquakes (level of threat is high) that would affect a building in a bad condition (vul-
nerability is high). Then the level of risk will be a combination of these two aspects.
Threat
The level of the threat, in the case of an earthquake, can be from low to
high. According to the Ecuadorian code of construction, the level of seismic
danger in Cuenca is moderate to high. The parameter with which this value
is determined is the peak ground acceleration18 and corresponds to 0,25g
(gravity). Comparing this with other cities in Ecuador, this value for example
Quito is 0,30g, meaning a higher level of seismic danger.
It is important to know the average period between earthquakes, which is

475 years for Cuenca19. Meaning that for Cuenca on average each 475
years there is a large earthquake (originating from the Girón fault).
144 Seismic vulnerability

1. The level of seismic danger in
The objective of the seismic vulnerability studies is to predict the expected Cuenca is moderate to high. Aerial
damage in the buildings located in a certain area when confronted with seis- photography of the city
mic activity (with different return periods).

18
Jiménez Pacheco, Juan Carlos,
“Vulnerabilidad Sísmica de las
The level of the seismic vulnerability is determined by several parameters, Edificaciones de la ciudad de Cuenca
which could make a structure more or less earthquake resistant. mediante técnicas de simulación”, The-
sis to obtain the degree of Master of
Engineer, Escuela Politécnica Nacional,
According to a group of Spanish experts20, whose study has been proven Quito 2001
and recognized, the level of vulnerability is determined by the weighted sum 19
IBID
of several parameters, which are related with the structural characteristics
20
Yépez F, Barbat, A.H and Canas, J.A,
“Riesgo, peligrosidad y vulnerabilidad
of the building, a.o. the resistance of the elements, the separation between sísmica de edificios de mampostería”
walls, the type of roofs and the present condition (see table 2 pp. 143). Monografía CIMNE IS-12 1995, Centro
Internacional de Métodos numéricos en
Thus this is the information needed and should be collected. Ingeniería, España 1995
One of the parameters to determine the seismic vulnerability is the present condi-
tion. In this part one can see the contribution of this thesis, since this subject has
been extensively developed. In fact, the different aspects involved in the condition
assessment were determined, starting with the building elements, the damages and
their possible causes and the level of severity. In the case of the damages, a detailed
study was done, which included the classification, the linkage between damages and
probable causes and a Damage Atlas was developed for Cuenca.
As one can see in this investigation several subjects were developed that
influence the vulnerability analysis of the heritage building.
1
145
On the other hand, there are also other parameters that determine the seis-
CHARPTER 3
mic vulnerability. Due to its complexity, this can be the subject of a different
study.
Processing of the information and the results
To each building a number is attributed, indicating its seismic resistance

rating. This number is called vulnerability index (Iv) and is determined
through a mathematical formula, which combines the different parameters
of table 2 pp. 143.
The conventional resistance is the parameter with the most impact. Another
important parameter is the present condition (item 11), which is directly
linked with the damages. This thesis contributes with information related to
this parameter, as explained before. With these criteria the seismic vulner-
ability is rated. The system will give “alerts” as a result of a high level of
seismic vulnerability that a building can have. In summary, of this analysis
one can get the following results:
Level of threat (seismic danger for Cuenca)

Moderate - high
Seismic vulnerability (established parameters, in which is included the pres-

ent condition)
High, medium, low and not applicable
1
146
It is a technical and scientific way of determining the level of risk of a heri-

tage building in which the level of threat and the level of vulnerability are
combined.
Suggested follow-up actions
As for the seismic threat, it is important to take into account that the city of
Cuenca is in a moderate (to high) seismic danger zone. This factor should
be fundamental at the moment of intervention in all the buildings, including
those that have heritage value.
As for the level of seismic vulnerability, one should consider as an alert when
the weighting of a parameter is high. Then one should take the necessary
measures, especially in the structural elements. For this type of studies, it
will be fundamental to count on the support of a structural engineer who
could analyze in detail the solutions that reduce the seismic vulnerability
of a heritage building. One should take into account the before-mentioned
criteria about minimum intervention, respecting the heritage values, use of
compatible materials and reversibility.
As the present condition is one of the parameters for the determination of

the seismic vulnerability, all the proposed suggestions for this subject should
also be considered in the case of earthquakes.
In this thesis the subject of damages in heritage buildings in the city of
Cuenca is analyzed and the present condition is determined. A better un-
derstanding of the damages and its possible causes will result in a better
understanding of the risk assessment. This is because the threats put at
risk a building, through the damage that they could cause it. Therefore it is
important that we can anticipate the presence of damages and have some
idea of how to solve them.
Other common threats for the buildings in the Historic Center that could be
analyzed in the same way are a.o.: fire, rain, flood and vandalism. Mean-
ing, on one hand, to analyze the level of the threat and on the other hand,
the level of vulnerability, for which the present condition is fundamental.
The used methodology is interesting and tested. Parameters are determined,
weighted and the level of vulnerability is quantified.
3.8.3 Control or monitoring
Within preventive conservation, one should do some reflections that answer

or anticipate to an event that could happen (preventive identification of a
problem). This situation should be known, since it could affect the heritage
valuables and accelerate the deterioration of the buildings. The monitoring 147
1. Houses in “Plaza San Francisco” system, in this sense, should be included within a preventive conservation
CHARPTER 3
(1950 approx) where the catalogre re- plan.
cord was applied, including monitoring
to observe changes
When talking about monitoring, one not only refers to the control of damage
within a certain period (short, medium or long). As for determining the pres-
21
Presentación:”sistema_atlas_da-
ños”. Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC-
ent condition of a heritage building or the level of risk, for monitoring it is
Universidad de Cuenca. s/f. Área de necessary to compare data, observe changes and give alerts, which put the
tratamiento de daños. pp 1 heritage building at risk.
In the catalogue record applied in the VLIR-CPM Project, a monitoring alert

was only established with the aim of giving an initial recommendation. Nev-
ertheless, to deal with the subject of a monitoring system, several param-
eters are defined, such as:
-- Determination of the present condition

-- Taking of the magnitude/dimension data
-- Monitoring frequency
-- Reporting the information to the controlling entity
-- Determination of actions21
The determination of the present condition is the base of monitoring, since it

is necessary to monitor how the heritage building currently is and later com-
paring the information and determine the changes that could happen in the
future. Finally one should develop a preventive conservation plan that helps
maintain the heritage building in the city of Cuenca.
The monitoring can be classified as “routine or periodic monitoring”, which
is done continually and “special monitoring”, which is done in a special situ-
ation that puts the building at immediate risk.
It is necessary to mention that in this thesis the subject of monitoring has

not been detailed, since it is a very broad subject. The idea is to leave certain
principles for future investigations.
On the other hand, it would be interesting for a preventive conservation plan

to have intervention priorities. Other systems, such as MAKSin, are work-
ing on this subject, combining different parameters to get an output of the
intervention priorities.
In general, the idea is to decentralize the information and that systems are
developed for getting different results. Meaning, that the different institutions
would specialize in the development of specific subjects and later would
create a net for the sharing of this information. An interesting example is
MDDS. By means of this system one can get a good diagnosis of the build-
ing. MAKSin is developing a system for determining priorities in the interven-
tion and so one could create more systems that could be integrated, sharing
148 information and in this way one would work together for the conservation of
the heritage buildings.
CONCLUSIONS:
The methodology for the analysis and diagnosis of damages, starts from the
determination of the present condition of a heritage building. The proposed
reference system for a better storing, organizing and analysis of information
is very useful. On the other hand, this information can be collected and vali-
dated through a diagnosis record obtained via field work.
The used parameters for the determination of the condition integrate sev-
eral aspects related to the analysis and diagnosis of damages in a heritage
building. These are a.o.: building elements, traditional construction materials
and systems, geometrical data of the element, present condition of the ele-
ment, identification and classification of damages and their possible causes,
general quantification of the damage and level of severity. The processing of
this information, through the qualification of the parameters, determined the
condition of the building: good, regular, bad. The idea is that this analysis is
done in the most objective way possible.
It was interesting to know other studies about damage, which were previ-
ously done in the city of Cuenca (inventories and restoration projects spon-
sored by the Municipality). These studies have some limitations such as a.o.: 149
the information is not comparable and it was not gathered to be updated;
CHARPTER 3
risk assessment, monitoring and maintenance plans which permit preventive
actions are not included; these documents do not include a norm or a stan-
dard in the terminology, the damage analysis is approached in a subjective
manner.
Several systems used in other countries (Belgium, Holland and Italy) contrib-
uted to the development of the methodology for the analysis and diagnosis of
damages, applied to the heritage buildings in Cuenca, based on fieldwork.
As a result of this work, a methodology for the condition assessment of a

heritage building as well as a Damage Atlas for the identification and clas-
sification of damages in heritage buildings were developed. In the same way,
some general principles are formulated for the development of a preventive
conservation plan, considering the following aspects: condition assessment,
risk assessment and monitoring, which will contribute to the conservation of
the heritage buildings of the city of Cuenca.
150
4
APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED
METHODOLOGY IN A CASE STUDY: “CASA PEÑA”
IN THE BARRANCO OF CUENCA
CHARPTER
INTRODUCTION
The last chapter of this thesis concludes with an application of the methodology
for the analysis and diagnosis of damages in a specific case: “Casa Peña” in
el Barranco of the city of Cuenca. The methodology includes the determination
of the condition and the establishing of the general principles included in a
preventive conservation plan. All the information was collected by using diagno-
sis records, which include all the parameters to determine the condition of the
heritage building.
The chapter begins with the selection of the building to be analyzed as case
study and deals with general subjects such as its history and values. At the
same time the selected building allows the validation of the methodology with
fieldwork.
In this chapter are furthermore included the contributions of the investigation

for managing heritage buildings in the technical and scientifical field and the
VLIR-CPM project, and the conclusions and recommendations of the complete
thesis project.
4.1 SELECTION PROCESS OF A HERITAGE
BUILDING IN THE CITY OF CUENCA
There were several buildings preselected for applying the proposed

methodology in this investigation. Some of these are owned by the Mu-
nicipality and therefore have the advantage of easy access. Others were
recommended because of their present condition. Finally with the visit
of several buildings in the Historic Center of the city of Cuenca together
with professors Koen van Balen, Mario Santana, Anouk Stulens, Fausto
Cardoso, Marcelo Zúñiga and Sebastián Astudillo, the building known as
“Casa Peña” was selected. For the selection of the building several crite-
ria were taken into account, which determined that the heritage building
has the following characteristics:
154
-- To be included within the area of the study of the VLIR-CPM project.
1. “Casa Peña” facing El Barranco
-- Traditional construction materials and systems.

1
“Guía de Arquitectura de Cuenca”,
Junta de Andalucía, Municipalidad de
-- Adequate scale and proportion for the analysis. Cuenca, Embajada de España, Cuenca,
Sevilla, 2007, p. 28
4.2 General aspects of the selected building
The methodology for identifying, analyzing, monitoring of damages and its

documentation will be applied in a heritage building called “Casa Peña”.
It is located in the area of “El Barranco de Cuenca” (Calle Larga 8-15 and
Luis Cordero). Currently, this building belongs to the Ortiz family and it was
built at the beginning of the 20th century using adobe and wattle and daub
(bahareque) in the walls with wooden structure. It is a building of high heri-
tage values, simple with harmonious proportions, which is part of our
vernacular architecture, giving identity to the city of Cuenca, both for
the materials and traditional building techniques and for the use of local
craftsmanship as well.
This building is included in the selected area of the VLIR project in the His-
torical Center of the city of Cuenca. Casa Peña was register with contextual
value (valor ambiental).
Before beginning with the analysis of the proposed methodology for the study
of damages, it is interesting to know some aspects of the selected building,
1
155
4.2.1 Location of the “Casa Peña”
CHARPTER 4
The house of the Peña family is located in one of the most privileged parts
of the city, the Barranco, which is the limit between El Ejido (lower part of the
city) and the Historic Center of Cuenca. For this reason this zone is consid-
ered a viewpoint to the banks of the river Tomebamba.
4.2.2 Historical context and chronology
This building was built at the beginning of the 20th century (1900), therefore
it is interesting to know what type of architecture was used in that period.
Towards 1860, several demolitions were made (colonial houses), due to an

economic prosperity related to the export of husk and later the export of
straw hats. The new social class was born and the exporters had the need
to improve their houses. Then the craftsmen had to adapt their abilities to
satisfy the tastes of the exporters, who wanted to change their houses to
the European habits, which caused the demolitions of one floor houses and
colonial mansions. In their place were built villas with Paris style façades,
with windows and balconies of forged steel.1 It is worthwhile mentioning that
the European influence was caused by the many travels of wealthy people to
Europe, from where photographs and drawings of European buildings were
brought.
Nevertheless this house has maintained traditional features.

1
156
Chronology 1. Location of the “Casa Peña”
2-3. First stage (1900)

4. Second stage (1920)
The history of this building is presented in several stages according 5. Fourth stage (1959)
to its owner.2 6. Fifth stage (1960-1965), facing to
Calle Larga
First stage (1900)

2
Work done by students of the faculty
of Architecture of the University of
At the beginning of 1900 Mister Alfonso Peña Jaramillo acquired a property Cuenca
in the sector of El Barranco.
At his date the building had 2 floors, of which one was a basement. This
building didn’t reach “Calle Larga”, where existed only a wall of adobe cov-
ered with tiles, with 2 entries: one for the animals and one for the owners.
Second stage (1920)
In 1920 the house was already changed into the home of the Peña family.
Its owner built another floor, and thus having a three story building facing the
river. With the aim of maintaining the same look of the house, the new floor
was a copy of the first floor.
Third stage (1958)
In 1958 la casa Peña had one of its most determining interventions. For
reasons of heritage and division of family assets, the house was divided
2
6
5
3
CHARPTER 4
157
1 2
158
between two heiresses, the daughters of Sir Alfonso Peña, who not only 1-2. Palm trees next to the river were
removed
decided to divide the house legally but also physically. They built a wall that 3. Highlight moment of “la Casa Peña”,
divides the house from north to south. by Patricia Cortéz (approximately 1958)
Fourth stage (1959)
In approximately 1959, one of the balconies facing the river was removed to
increase the size of the room and change it in a large music room.
Fifth stage (1960-1965)
In the 1960’s two facades (since there were two heiresses) facing “la Calle
Larga” were built. Both facades were built according to modern architecture.
In this way the old adobe walls were replaced by these walls, characterized
by straight lines, which differ from the vernacular facades facing the river.
From this moment till today, the building has been maintained and con-
served in the same way and no other interventions, which would substan-
tially change the building, have been done.
Nevertheless in 2007 some palm trees next to the river were removed, which
modified the relation of this building with its surroundings.
Until June of 2010, two of its owners live in this building in the part facing
the river. The part facing “Calle Larga” is rented out and being used as two
3
159
bars. As one can see this building lost the reason why it was built: its
CHARPTER 4
use as a home.
A drawing by Patricia Cortéz, captures the highlight moment of “la Casa

Peña” with a view towards El Barranco (approximately 1958).
4.2.3 Values of the “Casa Peña”
Historical value
The different chronological stages show an interesting development of the

building according to the needs of the owners.
Expressive Value
From the characteristics of “Casa Peña” one can say that its construction
was a transitional period between the colonial and republican architecture.
Indeed, it has colonial characteristics such as the use of materials like adobe,
wood and tile. Furthermore, it possesses modest volumes and is protected
by a sloping roof. On the other hand, it is a pioneer of a new type of archi-
tecture: the republican, in which the technology allows the presence of large
windows for the entry of light into the rooms.
Originally this house had a patio, which later was divided when a wall was
built to divide the house in two parts.
1
160
Resuming, it is a building that has vernacular characteristics, which give the 1-2. Current pictures showing the
context of “Casa Peña”

Casa Peña a harmonious expression between its parts, unique, with clear
characteristics of authenticity and identity.
Technological value
The walls of the “Casa Peña” are constructed of adobe for the lower part and
bahareque for the higher part. The constructive system is combined between
bearing walls of adobe and partition walls of bahareque. The roof is of wood
covered by tiles.
As one can see, this building has been constructed using traditional tech-
niques and materials characteristic to the buildings in the Historical Center
of the city of Cuenca. Below are the construction elements and materials in
greater detail of the “Casa Peña”.
Traditional construction materials and systems
This building consists of a basement, ground floor, upper floor and a bal-
cony. As is known through history, la Casa Peña has a part which was built
relatively recently (approximately 1960) when materials such as a.o. bricks,
concrete and cement were used. In the older part traditional techniques and
materials common to the buildings in the Historical Center of the city of
Cuenca were used, which give the building its heritage value. The traditional
techniques and materials used in this building are:
2
161
The traditional techniques and materials Elements Materials
CHARPTER 4
used in “Casa Peña” (pp. 162-163)
1. Balaustrade and bahareque wall Bearing walls (at lower part) Adobe
2. Balaustrade made of wood Walls (at higher part) Bahareque
3. Balaustrade (exterior view)
4. Bearing walls: adobe Covering (walls) Revoque and Empañete (layers made of earth)
and facade: bahareque Columns and beams Wood
5-6. Ceiling made of wood
7. Columns and beams made of
Façade (Barranco) Bahareque
wood Structure of roof (pitched) Wood, reed and clay and tile
8. Overhang Floor Wood
9-12. Interior doors made of wood
10. Frames of wood (window) Windows Frames of wood
11. Interior balaustre Interior doors Wood
13. Exterior balaustrade Balustrade, staircase Wood
14. Overdoor made of wood
Ceiling Wood
In the oldest part of the building, the damage register is done.
In the next pages there are some pictures showing details of the “Casa Peña”
mentioned before.
162
6
2
4
1
5
3
7
8
10
163
CHARPTER 4
9
12
11
13 14
4.3 Application of the proposed methodology in the “Casa Peña”
to determine the present condition
The reference system developed in chapter 3 is the basis for the proposed
methodology to do the analysis and diagnosis of damages and to determine
the condition of “la Casa Peña”. To this end the field and the office work were
done (see 3.5.5).
4.3.1 Field procedure for collecting information
It is important to get general information of the building, such as the cadas-

tral number and the location to be able to do the fieldwork (see diagnosis
records annex 2).
Subsequently the building was visited with the surveys obtained in advance
of each of the floors. The rooms and the elements in which damages were
found were encoded, according to the reference system (see Fig.1-2-3, pp.
166) and by means of a visual inspection.
164 To get the information included in the system, diagnosis records were used
to determine the condition of the “Casa Peña”. The model of this record is 1. Diagnosis records of the register
shown in Fig. 1. Below are some relevant aspects that make up the param- of damages
eters for determining the condition of this building:
Building elements: for this aspect it is important to know the structural ele-
ments and materials of the building:
Structural elements: Bearing walls Adobe

Columns and beams Wood
Other traditional construction elements, materials and systems were identi-

fied during the valuation of this building.
Geometric data of the element: Of this building some important data, such as
the section of the columns and beams (approximately 20x20cm) are known.
In this aspect it would be interesting to analyze if the loads that these ele-
ments have to support are not larger than the allowable loads of these ele-
ments. A specialized study could indicate this.
Present condition of the elements: The present condition and the level of
severity of the damage is shown below:
1
1
3
Floor level Structural element Present condition Level of severity
Basement 3 Columns Regular Medium

1 Bearing Wall Regular Medium
1 Beam Regular Medium
1 Bearing Wall Bad Medium
1 Beam Bad Medium
Ground Floor 1 Beam Bad High (Alert)
The identification and description of damages and possible causes
It is worth indication that the damages and their possible causes were recorded in the
middle of the building, where it is possible to reach them. Recorded were damages
and structural as well as non-structural elements. However, for the analysis emphasis
was given to damages in structural elements and in the traditional constructional ma-
terials and systems, such as adobe and bahareque. The damages, possible causes
and photos are shown in the records (fichas) included in annex 2.
The identification of the damages and their possible causes were provided with the 167
1. Survey: First floor help of the Damage Atlas.
CHARPTER 4
2. Survey: Ground floor
3. Survey: Basement Inadequate construction process
It was not possible to know the condition of the foundation or if there were ring-
beams. What was possible to check was the presence of bonding faults or bad inter-
locking in the walls. The configuration or distribution of the structural elements seems
to be coherent, as shown in Fig.1-2-3.
Moreover, the history of the building was compiled, which served as support for the
study of damages. Furthermore, during the field visits photos were taken of each
damage and of each damage’s context and their respective encoding was done.
4.3.2 Processing of the information and expected results
The office work started with the organization of the collected information in the diag-
nosis records, after which this together with the encoded photos were entered into
the system (see annex 2).
In accordance with the proposed methodology, the combination of the different pa-
rameters presented in chapter 3 and summarized in table 1 pp. 170, will determine
the present condition of “La Casa Peña”. Below is shown the analysis of each of the
parameters, verifying if there are alerts which could put the building at risk.
1
168
Building elements – Level of severity
(K2 and D1): the structural element (columns, beams and bearing walls) in general
have a medium level of severity. A structural element (beam in the first floor) was
rated as a high level of severity.
Building elements – Present condition of the element
Alert (G1 - G2 and D1): the structural elements are in regular and bad condition,
which could be an alert that is putting the whole building at danger.
Building elements – Identification and classification of damages –

general quantification of the damage
Alert (D1, H2-H3 and J2) (D2, H2 -H3- H4 and J2 - J3): structural and non structural
elements are affected by cracking, degradation and detachment with a medium or
low percentage. An example: a beam (ground floor) was affected by beetles and rot-
ting in 80% of its structure and this puts the element and possibly the whole building
at risk.
Traditional construction materials and systems – identification
and classification of the damages
Alert (E1 and H2) (E2 - E3 - E4 - E5 and H3 - H4): the materials and tradi-
tional construction systems are characterized by their vulnerability. In “Casa
Peña”, the presence of damages such as cracking or deformations increases
the problem.
Identification and classification of possible causes – plan of action
(I and L2): the cause or possible causes that are generating damage could
be included within a plan of action. In this case medium term actions can be
taken to deal with causes that produce damages in non-structural elements
as well as immediate actions in the case of the beam whose level of severity
is high.
Monitoring alert & initial recommendation – level of severity –

Identification and classification of damages – Present condition
of the element
Alert (M1-K1 and H2 - H3) (M2, K2 - K3, H2 - H3 - H4 and G2) one should 169
1. The level of severity of this beam have a permanent monitoring in the beam with a high level of severity and
CHARPTER 4
is high regular monitoring in the other elements where the severity of the damage
does not compromise the overall structure of the building.
Inadequate construction processes – elements
Alert (O2 and D1): “Casa Peña” has bonding faults or bad interlocking in the
walls, which is an alert for determining the condition of the whole building,
which could be at risk.
Results
Table 1 shows the results obtained by combining the different parameters.

Through which was determined that the condition of “La Casa Peña” is reg-
ular tending to bad. This is because some alerts were found that put the
building at risk.
170
1
4.3.3 Suggested follow-up actions for the “Casa Peña”, building in
regular condition
For this type of buildings the following actions are suggested, which can be
included in a preventive conservation plan:
-- The structural elements (columns, beams and bearing walls) in a regular

condition have to be analyzed in detail. They should be reinforced, if
necessary, depending on the level of severity.
-- Attention should be given to damages such as cracking in the structural

elements. These damages should be checked and monitored, because
they weaken the structure.
-- The traditional construction materials and systems (adobe, bahareque

and wooden structure of the roof) show damages; therefore they should
be treated due to the vulnerability of these materials, which can deterio-
rate the general condition of the whole building.
-- It is necessary to have regular monitoring to prevent future damages,

especially to verify if the structure remains stable. Some aspects consist 171
1. Reference Sistem to determine the of: to verify if the ring-beams are tied to the walls, if there is bondage
CHARPTER 4
present condition of the “Casa Peña” between the walls and if the foundation is stable, meaning that there are
no damages like cracks and settlements.
-- The cause or possible causes that are generating damage should be

4.4 Contributions of the investigation
Contributions of the investigation in the Management of Heritage

Buildings
-- The identification and systemization of the traditional construction sys-

tems used in the heritage buildings in Cuenca.
-- The development of the damage atlas is a support of this investigation

for the identification of damages. This tool has already been used in the
application of the catalogue record and is at the disposal of the people
who need to identify or classify damages when diagnosing a heritage
building.
-- This thesis establishes general principles for formulating a preventive

conservation plan for damages in heritage buildings.
Contributions of the investigation in the technological and
scientifical field
-- The technical contribution is the development of an information system

that allows the access, the systematization and the monitoring of infor-
mation with regard to damages, with the aim of determining possible
changes within a certain period. Furthermore, one can include data that
can update the information. This thesis has developed databases for the
damage atlas, as well as for the determination of the present condition of
a heritage building.
-- A methodology based on a reference system is proposed for the analysis

and diagnosis of damages, which allow the determination of the present
condition, using different parameters, such as a.o.: traditional construc-
tion materials and systems, identification of damages and causes, ge-
neral quantification of damage, level of severity, plan of action and initial
monitoring recommendation. This methodology tries to be as objective
as possible, through the combination of the previously mentioned para-
meters.
172 Contributions of the investigation to the VLIR-CPM project

-- To integrate several dispersed studies about the analysis of damage and

its monitoring and preventive conservation.
-- Topics such as analysis of damage, monitoring, and preventive conser-

vation are included in the research areas of the VLIR-CPM Project of the
Faculty of Architecture at the University of Cuenca in agreement with the
Flemish University Council. (IR2, IR4, IR5) Thus, one of the aims of the
present thesis is to contribute to the ongoing research of these institu-
tions.
4.5 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The goals in the general outline of the thesis, with which this investigation
started, were developed over the four chapters and two annexes. In this
investigation were studied the construction system in earthen architecture
and the traditional materials used in the different components of the build-
ing. Also were analyzed the more frequent existing damage in earthen ar-
chitecture, and its causes through the damage atlas, following the outline:
Analysis, Diagnosis, Therapy and Control and with an efficient Monitoring
and Maintenance, which allows for an adequate research and guarantee the
conservation of heritage buildings.3
Moreover this thesis emerged by analyzing the necessity to solve the prob-
lems existing in the city of Cuenca on the analysis and diagnosis of dam-
ages. It was interesting to see other damage studies, which were previously
done in the city of Cuenca (inventories and restoration projects sponsored
by the Municipality). These studies have some limitations such as a.o.: the
information is not comparable and it was not gathered to be updated; risk
assessment, monitoring and maintenance plans which permit preventive ac-
tions are not included; these documents do not include a norm or a
standard in the terminology and, the damage analysis is approached 173
3
Prof. Koen van Balen, Lecture Building in a subjective manner.
CHARPTER 4
Materials and Conservation technique,
KUL-RLICC, Sep 27, 2006. From these problems arises the need to create a reference system, which
organizes, analyzes and summarizes information referring to the damages
and the causes that originate in the heritage buildings of Cuenca. The objec-
tive is to improve the way the damage analysis has developed until now with
a proposed methodology, which tries to solve the problems mentioned be-
fore. In chapter 2 different systems used in Europe were broadly described.
The idea is to build on these systems, analyze them in a critical manner and
create an appropriate reference system for Cuenca, which suits our neces-
sities, taking into account the available resources and its applicability. In
other words, seeking to improve and implement other aspects of the studied
systems, to provide a methodology for the analysis, diagnosis and damage
monitoring, applied in our part of the world and with the limited resources
available.
This investigation proposes a methodology for the analysis and diagnosis of

damage, establishing general principles for the elaboration of a preventive
conservation plan, which includes monitoring actions and levels of risk. To
accomplish these objectives the determination of the present condition of a
heritage building is fundamental. In the present thesis a reference system
was developed, which starts with the determination of the outputs, showing
what results are wanted to be obtained. Investigated in detail in this thesis
as an output of the reference system, was the determination of the general
condition of a monument, through the processing of the information, applied
in a single monument. This is obtained by combining The use of an information system has several advan-
different parameters analyzed throughout the thesis, tages, which greatly help to partially solve the prob-
such as a.o.: building elements, traditional construc- lems of the city of Cuenca with regard to the damage
tion materials and systems, identification and clas- register in the previous years. The idea is to reduce
sification of the damages and their possible causes, significant losses of heritage buildings in Cuenca.
level of severity, plan of actions and, monitoring of
alerts Some of the advantages of the reference system are:
affordable system, which can register, analyze and
The heritage building is seen as a system build up update information, to see and compare changes, to
from different parts, ranging from general to particu- link information in different types and formats. Fur-
lar. In this way one has: elements, sub-elements and thermore is proposed the standardization of the ter-
components. Moreover, the damage will be reg- minology used in the damage register, for which the
istered at a component level, meaning getting development of a Damage Atlas is a great help.
the maximum specification within the elements
in the building. The reference system developed in this thesis is part
of the damage area of the VLIR-CPM project “World
It should be remembered that the aim of the Heritage City Preservation Management” and was
system is to support the process of analysis used in the application of the catalogue record in
and diagnosis of damages present in a valuable a building block in the Historic Center of Cuenca in
building and in this way contributes to the con- July 2010.
174 servation of the heritage buildings in the city of
Cuenca. The methodology is also applied in a heritage build-
ing “Casa Peña” located in the area of El Barranco

The fieldwork was fundamental in validating the pro- of Cuenca. In this building the damage register was
posed methodology. In this way a series of steps were done, which allows the determination of the present
established, which start with fieldwork, where the condition as well as suggested follow-up actions for
required information is collected and subsequently the conservation of its heritage values.
processed in the office. The results of determining
the condition of, in this case, a heritage building are The application of the methodology in a specific case
shown as either bad, regular or good. allowed us to learn the advantages of the reference
system, as well as some aspects which could be im-
Many elements, sub-elements and components as proved for the registration of damages.
well as the damages and their possible causes, are
encoded in the reference system. These codes are
also used in the Damage Atlas, which facilitates the
identification of the damages. It is important to men-
tion that for the development of the Damage Atlas
the fieldwork, with visits to various heritage buildings
in the Historic Center of Cuenca, was fundamental.
Furthermore, this enabled the validation of the infor-
mation in a practical manner. A database was devel-
oped to store, process and update the information of
the Damage Atlas, which is attached to this thesis as
a digital annex/file.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In this thesis general principles for the development of a preventive pres-

ervation plan are proposed, which are recommended to be investigated in
more detail in other studies.
In the application of the methodology in a concrete case (la Casa Peña), the
collection of the required data was done by three persons in approximately
2½ hours, and the subsequent processing of this information was done in
approximately 10-12 hours by one person. Furthermore, the data collected
and processed in this period of time is only the most important data, since
it was not allowed to be present in the building during a long period. Thus,
since this work is taking a lot of time and the owners in general only allow
limited entrance to the building, it is suggested to collect the required data
digitally (directly on a laptop) instead of recording the data by writing and
later passing this on to the system.
The obtained results of the application of the reference system in the cata-
logue records are in process. It would be interesting to know this information
to validate the methodology and make adjustments if needed.
175
In this thesis the contributions of this investigation are shown in the manage-
CHARPTER 4
ment of heritage buildings in the technical and scientifical field. The thesis is
included within the VLIR-CPM project and I believe it is the first time that the
analysis and diagnosis of damages is documented through a reference sys-
tem, which relies on an information system that allows the storage, compari-
son and updating of data. The determination of the condition of a heritage
building is tried to be done in a way as objective as possible.
For this reason it is recommended that this information is shared with insti-
tutions, such as the municipality and the INPC (National Institute of Cultural
Heritage), which are currently linked with the management of heritage prop-
erties.
In this way the subject of damage registration is contributing to the conser-

vation of the values of the heritage buildings in the city of Cuenca.
DAMAGE ATLAS FOR HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN
CUENCA-ECUADOR 1
ANNEX
INTRODUCTION
The Damage Atlas is a guide for the identification of damages in heritage buildings.
In this document a classification of damages in the different parts of a building and
their possible causes are shown. The damages are divided according to type and
intensity. The atlas uses a terminology to define pathologies in a uniform manner,
meaning that damages are described in the same way by all persons using this
document. The first part of this damage atlas includes the definitions of the build-
ing elements as well as the definitions of the damages. The information contained
in the atlas was realized based on field visits to heritage buildings and on informa-
tion from the VLIR-CPM project and MDDS.
The present Damage Atlas includes the following information:
-- Element, sub-element, component, material where the damage is found.

-- Damage, possible causes, description of damage/cause.
-- Name of the building, location, name of the owner, cadastral number and
room where the damage is found.
-- Photographic code (detail / general).
The identification of pathologies is done through a visual approximation with the help
of photos, because it simplifies the comprehension of the damage description.
Fort the identification of the damages and their possible causes codes are used,
which are shown in the table: “Classification of type of damage and causes” (see
chapter 3 pp. 112). The Damage Atlas is presented in the same way as shown
in the contents. (see pp. 195) A data base for the damage atlas was developed.
The pictures have to be installed in the Disc “C”, and they are included as a
digital file.
BUILDINGELEMENTSINHERITAGE
BUILDINGS
In accordance with the analysis done in chapter 3, the heritage building is
understood as a system, formed by elements, sub-elements and components.
Below are some general definitions of these terms, which facilitate the
identification and registration of damages. The used code is the same as
determined in the reference system in chapter 3.
General definitions of the elements
A. FOUNDATION
Definition: The lowest division of a building that serves to transmit and an-
chor the loads from the superstructure directly to the earth or rock, usually
below ground level.1
180
Sub - elements
A.1. Masonry or continuous wall: foundation which is made continuously

following the walls, with a width that exceeds the width of the wall by 10
cm. This type of foundation is generally made of stone and earth mortar or
lime sand mortar. In some cases reaches 20cm above the floor.
A.2. Insulated supports: are a type of foundation that serves as a basis of

specific structural elements, such as columns; so that this element increases
the bearing surface and as a result the floor is capable of supporting the
loads.
Traditionally this system is frequently found in our part of the world and
consists of placing the floor beams directly above some wide stones at all
wall meetings, and to fill them later from the floor to the floor beam with
small rocks and mud to prevent rodents, insects, etc. from entering.
A.3. Upperfoundation: part of the foundation that is visible in the lower part
of the wall.
Components:
Structure or support: is the way in which the different sub-elements

are shaped.
Mortar: mix of cement, water and fine sand which is being used as binding
substance in brickwork.
Covering: process which has as objective to protect the internal structure

of the element.
Finishing: the texture, color, and other properties of a surface that may
affect its appearance.2
These components are common in the majority of the elements. Nevertheless

there are others, such as: base, footing, main structure, secondary structure,
frame, etc., depending on the analyzed element.
B. STRUCTURE
Definition: composed of individual parts that are fitted and joined together
as skeletal structures designed to produce a specific shape, or to provide
temporary or permanent support.3
Sub - elements
181
1
Burden, Ernest, Illustrated Dictionary B1. Column: A vertical structural compression member or shaft supporting a load,
ANNEX 1
of Architecture, Second Edition, which acts in the direction of tis vertical axis and has both a base and capital.4
McGraw-Hill, 2002, pp. 136
2
IBID, pp.128
3
IBID, pp.137 B2. Beam: A rigid structural member whose prime function is to carry and transfer
4
IBID, pp.80 transverse loads across a span to the supports; as joist, girder, or purlin.5
5
IBID, pp. 40
6
IBID pp. 15
7
IBID, pp. 346 B3. Bearing Wall: Supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight
B4. Arch: A basic architectural structure built over an opening, made up

of wedge-shaped blocks, keeping one another in position, and transferring
the vertical pressure of the superimposed load into components transmitted
laterally to the adjoining abutments.6
C. VERTICAL DIVISIONS: INTERIOR
Definition: construction elements of continuous brickwork, which stand on

a floor with the objective of dividing or forming certain spaces and are not
load-bearing elements.
Sub – elements
C1. Wall: A structure that encloses or subdivides a space with a continuous surface: except
where openings occur.7 They are characterized for having a section of less than 30cm.
C2. Partition or dividing wall: An interior wall dividing a room or part of a
building into separate areas: may be non-load-bearing or load-bearing.
D. VERTICAL DIVISIONS: EXTERIOR
Definition: construction elements of continuous brickwork, which stand on

a floor with the objective of dividing or forming certain spaces and can be
either load- or not load-bearing elements.
Sub - elements
D1. Facade: wall or bearing Wall (see previous definitions).
D2. Handrails: A rail providing a handhold and serving as a support at the

side of a stair or elevated platform.
D3. Windowsill: construction of continuous brickwork located outside with

a height of less than 1,2m.
E. ROOF
182
Definition: The external covering on the top of a building, usually of wood 8
Burden, Ernest, op.cit., pp. 276
shingles, slates, or tiles on pitched slopes, or a variety of built-up mem- 9

IBID, pp. 278
branes for flat roofs.8
10
IBID, pp. 280
11
IBID, pp. 131
12
IBID, pp. 350
Sub - elements
E1. Flat roof: A roof having no slope, or one with only a slight pitch so as to
drain rainwater: a roof with only sufficient slope to have drainage.9
E2.Pitched roof: a roof having one or more slopes, surfaces.10
F. FLOOR
Definition: The lowest surface of a room or structure, which can be a

division between one story and another made up of other elements, or
a homogeneous material. It is the base plane of any room or structure,
and is usually characterized by a flat surface or a series of flat surfaces
at different levels.11
Sub - elements
F1. Entrepiso: structure which supports the floor of a second level or higher
level, which in general is made of wood or concrete.
F2. Floor (ground level): the lower or supporting surface of a structure on
which one stands.
G. CEILING
Definition: The under-covering of a roof or floor; generally concealing the

structural member from the room or roof above, or the underside surface or
vaulting. It may have a flat or curved surface, and self-supporting, suspended
from the floor above, or supported from hidden or exposed beams.
H. STAIRCASE
Definition: A vertical element of access in a structure for ascending or

descending from one level to another. The form of the staircase is often
expressed on the exterior of the building, if it is located adjacent to an
exterior wall.
I. WOODWORK
Definition: All the elements that are made of wood, such as a.o.: doors,
windows and railings. 183
ANNEX 1
Sub - elements
I1. Door: A hinged, sliding, tilting, or folding panel for closing openings in a
wall or at entrances to buildings.
I2. Window: An opening in an exterior wall of a building to admit light and

air, usually glazed; an entire assembly consisting of a window frame, its
glazing, and any operating hardware.12
I3. Handrails: A rail providing a handhold and serving as a support at the

side of a stair or elevated platform.
J. METALWORK
Definition: All the elements that are made of steel, such as a.o.: doors,
windows and railings.
K. INSTALLATIONS
Definition: set of facilities that complement each other to distribute,

provide or evacuate elements, for example: potable water, wastewater,
rainwater and energy.
Sub - elements
K1. Potable water distribution network: set of tubes that transports potable water
to the inside of a building and distributes from there to the different rooms.
K2. Wastewater discharge network: set of tubes that collects the used
water and evacuates it out of the building.
K3. Rainwater discharge network: set of tubes that collects the rainwater
of a building and distributes it to a particular site.
K4. Electricity network: set of apparatus and wiring for the production,
transformation, distribution and use of electric energy.
DEFINITIONS OF TYPE OF DAMAGES
1. SURFACE CHANGE (Cambios superficiales)
The surface of the material changes and consequently the material ac-
quires a different appearance from its original appearance.
184
1.1. Chromatic alteration (Alteraciones cromáticas)
1.1.1. Fading (Decoloración)
The color of the material has lost intensity. This damage does not apply
when it comes to the natural color of the material.
Possible Causes: Ultraviolet rays (UV), Increase in the relative humidity.
1.1.2. Staining (Manchas)
Change of look in the surface of a material caused by a physical or chemi-

cal reaction of the internal components of the material when subjected to
external actions.
Possible Causes: Organic materials, increase in the relative humidity,

presence of water, cleaning methods, contaminated water (sediment), fire,
paints and pigments, oils.
1.2. (Deposit) Depósitos/sedimentos
Presence of substances which settled on the surface of the base material,

changing its aspect, but without producing chemical changes in its com-
position. They can be the result of reactions of the material itself (endog-
enous) or the result of an external reaction (exogenous).
1.2.1 Efflorescence (Eflorescencias)
Presence of soluble salts (water), which form part of the same material
(endogenous condition) and due to capillarity is deposited on the surface.
Possible Causes: Presence of water.
1.2.2. Soiling (Suciedad)
Deposits of substances that are present in the environment and that do

not produce physical or chemical transformations in the material. In some
cases these deposits strongly adhere to the surface of the material.
Possible Causes: Contaminated water (sediment), emissions from vehicles,

soot (combustion), dust, and vandalism.
1.2.3. Deposit of paint –graffiti
Deposit of paint, graffiti or similar substances on the surface of the material.
Possible Causes: Vandalism. 185

13
MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnostic
ANNEX 1
System 1.2.4. Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico: presencia de pla-
14
IBID tas y organismos biológicos)
Both higher plants and minute biological organisms can thrive in masonry
and building materials. Higher plants can grow in already deteriorated ma-
sonry. Note: for all biological growth, enough moisture should be present.13
Possible Causes: Presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar), presence of

water, bad execution of work.
1.2.5. Patina (Pátina)
Change of very thin surface layer protecting the underlying material from degradation.
Possible Causes: Emissions from vehicles, soot (combustion), dust, con-

taminated water (sediment) and oxidation.
1.2.6. Encrustation (Incrustación)
Deposits of own components of mortar (calcite and calcium silicate), which

come from the inside, with a dense structure, with a white color and which
adhere well to the surface.14
Possible Causes: Salts: calcite and calcium silicate.

1.3. Transformation (Transformación)
The surface of the material is chemically transformed, so that both mor-

phology and color of the transformed surface portion/layer are different
from those of the original material.
1.3.1. Crust (Costra)
A crust is the chemically transformed surface layer of the material, which

is thick, is not dense and does generally not adhere too well to the under-
lying material. A crust generally shows less cohesion than the underlying
original material.
Possible Causes: Oxidation, emissions from vehicles, air pollution.
2. DEGRADATION / DETACHMENT (Degradación / desprendimiento)
Degradation is understood to be the loss of consistency of material, while

detachment happens when this loss is caused by mechanical actions.
186 2.1. Disintegration (Desintegración)

The integrity of building material is lost. Disintegration can occur inside

a material (cf. layering and loss of cohesion) or between two materials,
which are meant to be attached to each other and forming a system/whole
(cf. detachment, loss of adhesion).
2.1.1 Loss of material
Dust, sand and small fragments (Pérdida de material: material reducido a pol-
vo, arena o pequeños fragmentos): Loss of cohesion between particles causing
material to be reduced to dust, to sand-sized particles or small fragments. The
presence of these damages starts at the surface of the material.
Possible Causes: presence of water, salts: calcite and calcium silicate,

moss, wear due to usage, fire.
2.1.2. Alveolization (Desprendimiento en forma de alveolos)
The detachment shows up in the form of honeycombs and occurs in bricks,

natural stone and plaster.
Possible Causes: Salts: calcite and calcium silicate.

2.1.3. Erosion (Erosión)
The affected material has a different appearance from the original one,
showing relieves, holes, etc. The material particles are lost (abrasive wear).
The erosion happens gradually and is often observed after loss of cohesion.
Possible Causes: Wind, presence of water, increase in the relative humid-

ity, cleaning methods.
2.1.4. Blistering (Expansión en forma de ampollas)
Bubbles that are formed in the surface of a plaster or paint, caused by the
loss of adherence between two materials.
Possible Causes: Increase in the relative humidity, presence of water, salts:

calcite and calcium silicate, dimensional variations (contraction / dilatation)
due to changes in temperature and humidity.
2.1.5. Rotting (Pudrición)
Decomposition of wood caused by fungus or other micro-organisms, which 187

15
MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnostic cause a loss of resistance and change the color and the texture.
ANNEX 1
System
Possible Causes: Presence of water.
2.1.6. Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos)
Deterioration of plant and wood materials generating particles in the

form of dust.
Possible Causes: Beetles.
2.2. Loss of adhesion (Pérdida de adherencia)
The bond between (originally bounded) materials within the masonry is

lost, that is to say the bond between brick/stone and mortar, or pointing
mortar and laying mortar, or rendering and masonry.15
2.2.1 Delamination (Laminación)
Separation of an originally laminated material in more than one layer.
Possible Causes: Salts: calcite and calcium silicate y mechanical actions.

2.2.2. Exfoliation (Exfoliación)
Detachment in the form of layers of material that do not have a laminar

structure. Generally the layers are parallel to the exposed surface.
Possible Causes: Presence of water, salts: calcite and calcium silicate,

frost, mechanical actions and bad execution of work.
2.2.3. Detachment (Desprendimiento)
One material detaches from another within the masonry.
Possible Causes: Increase in the relative humidity, presence of water, biologi-

cal organisms (algae, lichens), Defective material and mechanical actions.
2.3. Mechanical action (Acción mecánica)
In this category are included damages caused by men or another agent or

mechanism that is not directly related with the environment.
188 2.3.1 Scratch (Rayadura)

16
Superficial and line-like loss of material, due to the action of some pointed System
or sharp object made of a harder material than the scratched one.16
17
IBID
Possible Causes: Mechanical action with sharp object
2.3.2 Cut/incision (Corte)
Damage due to penetration in the material with edged instrument causing

line of division, or void resulting from excavation in the material.
Possible Causes: Impact with sharp objects.
2.3.3. Perforation (Perforación)
Penetration into the material with sharp instrument (e.g. drill point),
drilling, perforation.17
Possible Causes: Penetration with a sharp instrument, wind, defective ma-

terial, mechanical actions.
2.3.4 Splitting (Rotura)
This damage occurs when pieces have exceeded their limit of resistance,
which causes separation and rupture.
Possible Causes: Presence of water, overload, bad execution of work and

defective material.
2.3.5. Chipping (Rotura de borde)
One (or more) fragment(s) is (are) broken from an edge of individual

brick(s)/natural stone block(s).
Possible Causes: Impact / blow.
2.3.6. Detachment - loss (Desprendimiento -faltante)
Absence of a piece or component that structure an element.
Possible Causes: Impact / blow, vibrations, fire and faulty fixation.

189
3. CRACKING (Fisuras y grietas)
ANNEX 1
Hair cracks or separations are limited to the surface of the material, while
cracks are deeper. These two types of damages can affect a part of the
whole of an element.
3.1 Hair cracks (Fisura)
A hair crack is a separation of less than 1.5mm which occurs in the sur-
face of the material.
Possible Causes: Dimensional variations (contraction / dilatation) due to

changes in temperature and humidity, defective material, bonding faults or
bad interlocked, point or badly distributed loads, bad execution of work.
3.2 Craquelé (Fisura en forma de red)
Occur as a set of adjacent and interlocking hair cracks. This type of fis-
sures does not structurally affect the material.
Possible Causes: Presence of water, dimensional variations (contraction /

dilatation) due to changes in temperature and humidity, penetration with a
sharp instrument and y defective material.
3.3 Star-hair cracks (Fisura en forma de estrella)
Set of hair cracks that start in a central point and extend in all directions.
Possible Causes: dimensional variations (contraction / dilatation) due to changes

in temperature and humidity and penetration with a sharp instrument.
3.4. Crack (Grieta)
A crack is a separation of more than 1.5mm and goes through the material.
Possible Causes: Defective material, dimensional variations (contraction /

dilatation) due to changes in temperature and humidity, overload, different
settlements, heavy traffic, earthquake Increase in the relative humidity,
corrosion, presence of water, fire, presence of plants (ferns, trees and
similar), bonding faults or bad interlocked, inadequate or incompatible ma-
terials, insufficient dimensions.
4. DEFORMATION (Deformación)
190 Deformation means that the original form or location of the masonry or
material has changed. Deformation may include an increase of volume or 18
a deviation from the original form in various ways, which may involve the System
whole building element or part of it.18
19
IBID
20
IBID
4.1 Bending (Pandeo)
Deformation of a building element or material consisting in a deviation

from its original form, and concerning its whole length or height; the shape
of deviation is a curve. It may appear together with cracking.19
Possible Causes: Overload, different settlements, increase in the relative

humidity, presence of water, frost and bad execution of work.
4.2. Leaning (Desplome / inclinación)
Deformation of building element (wall) not including any increase of vol-

ume, but consisting of an element being out of plumb. It may appear to-
gether with cracking.20
Possible Causes: Different settlements and wind.

4.3. Displacement (Desplazamientos)
Movement of an element from its original position. It can occur together

with cracks.
Possible Causes: Different settlements, point or badly distributed loads,

mechanical actions and frost.
4.4. Settlement (Hundimientos)
Surface depression caused by loads
Possible Causes: Presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar), point or

badly distributed loads, different settlements and bad execution of work.
4.5. Expansion (Expansión)
Change of a constructive element, expressed by an increase of its volume

and section.
Possible Causes: point or badly distributed loads, Increase in the relative 191
humidity, presence of water, and biological organisms (algae, lichens).
ANNEX 1
CONTENTS
1. SURFACE CHANGE (Cambios superficiales)
1.1 Chromatic alteration (Alteraciones cromáticas)
1.1.1. Fading (Decoloración)
1.1.2. Staining (Manchas)
1.2 Deposit (Depósitos/sedimentos)
1.2.1. Efflorescence (Eflorescencias)
1.2.2. Soiling (Suciedad)
1.2.3. Deposit of painting -graffiti (Depósito de pintura o pigmentos- grafiti)
1.2.4. Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico:plantas y organismos biológicos)
1.2.5. Patina (Pátina)
1.2.6. Encrustation (Incrustación)
1.3 Transformation (Transformación)
1.3.1. Crust (Costra)
2. DEGRADATION / DETACHMENT (Degradación / desprendimiento)

2.1 Disintegration (Desintegración)
2.1.1. Loss of material: dust, sand and small fragments (Pérdida de material: polvo,
arena pequeños fragmentos)
2.1.2. Alveolization (Desprendimiento en forma de alveolos)
2.1.3. Erosion (Erosión)
2.1.4. Blistering (Expansión en forma de ampollas)
2.1.5. Rotting (Pudrición)
2.1.6. Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos) 193
2.2 Loss of adhesion (Pérdida de adherencia)
2.2.1. Delamination (Laminación)
ANNEX 1
2.2.2. Exfoliation (Exfoliación)
2.2.3. Detachment (Desprendimiento)
2.3 Mechanical action (Acción mecánica)
2.3.1. Scratch (Rayadura)
2.3.2. Cut/incision (Corte)
2.3.3. Perforation (Perforación)
2.3.4. Splitting (Rotura)
2.3.5. Chipping (Rotura de borde)
2.3.6. Detachment - loss (Desprendimiento -faltante)
3. CRACKING (Fisuras y grietas)

3.1. Hair cracks (Fisura)
3.2. Craquelé (Fisura en forma de red)
3.3. Star-hair cracks (Fisura en forma de estrella)
3.4. Crack (Grieta)
4. DEFORMATION (Deformación)
4.1. Bending (Pandeo)
4.2. Leaning (Desplome / inclinación)
4.3. Displacement (Desplazamientos)
4.4. Settlement (Hundimientos)
4.5. Dilatation, expansion (Expansión)
1. SURFACE CHANGE
1.1.2_Q1 FADING (DECOLORACIÓN)
Element Woodwork
Sub-element Door
Component Wing
Material Wood
Damage Fading (Decoloración)
Possible causes Ultraviolet rays
Description of damage/cause The brown color of the door has faded because of the effect of ultra-
violet rays from the sun. As observation one can mention that in this
door cracks are also observed.
Name of the building House of the province Former Convent of “Buen Pastor”
Location Tomás Ordóñez and Simón Bolívar (corner)
Name of the owner Province of Azuay Prefecture
Cadastral Number 0202033001
Room Exterior hall (C02))
197
ANNEX 1
Photography codes: 1.1.1_Q1_1_d 1.1.1_Q1_1_g
1.1.2_F2 STAINING (MANCHAS)
Element Structure or support

Sub-element Bearing Wall
Component Finishing
Material Latex paint
Damage Staining (Manchas)
Possible causes Presence of water
Description of damage/cause The stain is caused by the presence of rainwater, which has leaked
through the roof and is positioned where the walls and ceilings con-
nect. The damage affects the coating without damaging the struc-
ture.
Name of the building “Neira Carrión” House
Location Mariano Cueva and Sangurima (Corner)
Name of the owner Municipality of Cuenca
Room PA20
198
Photography code: 1.1.2_F2_1_g Photography code:1.1.2_F2_1_d


Component Finishing
Description of damage/cause The stain is caused by the presence of water, which was used to put
out a fire in this building. The wall is affected, but only superficially.
Name of the building “San Cristóbal” Building

Location Sucre and General Torres (corner)
Name of the owner Cristóbal Guerrero
Room PB05A
199
ANNEX 1
Photography code:1.1.2_F2_3_g
Photography code:1.1.2_F2_3_d
Element Ceiling
Sub-element
Component Covering , finishing
Material Wood and latex paint
Description of damage/cause The humidity resulting from rainwater leaking through the roof has
affected the total ceiling.
Room B06_CR01
200
Photography code: 1.1.2_F2_4_d
Photography code: 1.1.2_F2_4_g

1.1.2_Q7 STAINING (MANCHAS)
Element Vertical divisions: interior

Sub-element Wall
Component Finishing
Possible causes Fire
Description of damage/cause In this building there was a fire, which damaged the covers of the
walls and other adjacent elements.

Room 2PA22
201
ANNEX 1
Photography code:1.1.2_Q7_1_g Photography code:1.1.2_Q7_1_d
1.1.2_Q10_M2 STAINING (MANCHAS)
Element Staircase
Sub-element
Component Contrahuella
Material Wood
Possible causes Oil, Cleaning methods
Description of damage/cause The stain was caused by the useage of oil, degrading the esthetics
of the stair without affecting its structure.
Room A10
202
Photography code: 1.1.2_Q10_1_d
Photography code: 1.1.2_Q10_1_g

1.2.2_F5 SOILING (SUCIEDAD)
Element Vertical divisions: exterior

Sub-element Facade: wall or bearing wall
Component Moulding
Material Sand and cement mortar, latex paint
Damage Soiling (Suciedad)
Possible causes Dust
Description of damage/cause In the facade of the building there is a layer of dust caused by the
environment, degrading the esthetic appearance of the building. This
layer can be removed without structurally affecting the building.

Room Facade Mariano Cueva Street
203
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 1.2.2_F5_1_g Photography code: 1.2.2_F5_1_d
1.2.3_O1 DEPOSIT OF PAINTING -GRAFFITI (DEPÓSITO DE PINTURA - GRAFITI)

Component Finishing
Damage Deposit of painting (Graffitti)
Possible causes Vandalism
Description of damage/cause On the facade of the building there is graffiti, which degrades the
esthetics of the building (which is currently in the process of restora-
tion). The damage doesn’t structurally change the element.

204
Photography code: 1.2.3_O1_1_d
Photography code: 1.2.3_O1_1_g

1.2.4_F2_B2 BIOLOGICAL GROWTH (CRECIMIENTO BIOLÓGICO)
Element Roof
Sub-element Pitched roof
Component Gutter
Material Zinc
Damage Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico)
Possible causes Presence of water, presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar)
Description of damage/cause Rainwater collects in the gutter above the facade, and cannot get
out due to the accumulation of sediments resulting in the growth of
plants. This damage could seriously affect the gutter in this façade
of high value.
205
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 1.2.4_F2_B2_1_d
1.2.4_F2_B2 BIOLOGICAL GROWTH (CRECIMIENTO BIOLÓGICO)

Component Moulding
Material Handmade bricks
Damage Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico)
Possible causes Presence of water, presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar)
Description of damage/cause At the base of the balustrade sediments have been deposited, which
together with water facilitate the growth of plants. This esthetic da-
mage affects the surface of the element and could result in deta-
chment.
Room Facade Sucre Street (Balcony 2PA10)
206

2. DEGRADATION / DETACHMENT
2.1.1_F2 POWDERING (PÉRDIDA DEL MATERIAL REDUCIDO A POLVO)
Element Woodwork
Sub-element Handrails
Component Structure or support
Material Wood
Damage Powdering (Pérdida de material reducido a polvo)
Possible causes Fire
Description of damage/cause The balustrade is completely affected by the fire, producing disinte-
gration in the form of powder. Observed is that other elements, such
as the columns, also have been affected.

Room PB23
209
ANNEX 1
Photography code:2.1.1_Q7_1_d
Photography code:2.1.1_Q7_1_g
2.1.3_F2 EROSION (EROSIÓN)

Component Covering
Material Revoque
Damage Erosion (Erosión)
Description of damage/cause The base of this wall at the outside has eroded by the presence of
rainwater, which has led to detachment of the coating and finishing
of the wall.
Room Exterior hall (C05)
210

2.1.3_F2 EROSION (EROSIÓN)

Component Covering, finishing
Material Revoque, empañete and latex paint
Damage Erosion (Erosión)
Description of damage/cause The higher part of this wall has eroded by the presence of rainwater
which has leaked through the roof, leading to detachment of the
coating and finishing of the wall. This damage comes with stains.
Room B10
211
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 2.1.3_F2_2 _g

2.1.4_F2 BLISTERING (EXPANSIÓN EN FORMA DE AMPOLLAS)
Element Ceiling
Sub-element
Component Finishing
Damage Blistering (Expansión en forma de ampollas)
Description of damage/cause The stain is caused by the presence of water used to put out a fire
in this building, causing an expansion of the paint which comes with
stains. The seriousness of the damage is high, since the whole cei-
ling is in danger of collapse.
Room PB. 02)
212

2.1.5_F2 ROTTING (PUDRICIÓN)
Element Floor
Sub-element Ground level
Component Covering
Material Wood
Damage Rotting (Pudrición)
Description of damage/cause Due to the presence of rainwater which leaked through the roof, the
wooden floor is affected by rotting and superficially detachments

Room PA. 22
213
ANNEX 1

2.1.6_B5 BEETLES (DEGRADACIÓN POR XILÓFAGOS)
Element Floor
Sub-element Entrepiso
Component Covering
Material Wood
Damage Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos)
Possible causes Beetles
Description of damage/cause The presence of beetles has resulted in detachments in the wooden
floor, forming small but serious cavities.

Room PA. 26
214
Photography code: 2.1.6_B5_1_d
Photography code: 2.1.6_B5_1_g

2.1.6_B5 BEETLES (DEGRADACIÓN POR XILÓFAGOS)
Element Woodwork
Sub-element Window
Component Window frame
Material Wood
Damage Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos)
Possible causes Beetles
Description of damage/cause The presence of beetles has resulted in detachments which weaken
the wooden window frames in this building
Room Bathroom (B10)
215
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 2.1.6_B5_2_1_g
Photography code: 2.1.6_B5_2_1_d

2.2.2_M19_O2 EXFOLIATION (EXFOLIACIÓN)

Sub-element Wall
Component Finishing
Damage Exfoliation (Exfoliación)
Exfolation (Exfoliación)
Possible causes Mechanical actions, bad execution of work
Description of damage/cause The different paint layers have lost their adherence and they detach
in the form of layers, due to mechanical actions and an inadequate
adherence of the base-paint.

Room PA. 14
216
Photography code: 2.2.2_M19_O2_1_g
Photography code: 2.2.2_M19_O2_2_d

2.2.3_F2 DETACHMENT (DESPRENDIMIENTO)
Element Ceiling
Sub-element
Component Finishing
Damage Detachment (Desprendimiento)
Description of damage/cause The presence of rainwater form the roof has resulted in detachment
of the paint on the wooden ceiling. This damage appears together
with stains.

Room PA. 26
217
ANNEX 1

2.2.3_F2_M19 DETACHMENT (DESPRENDIMIENTO)

Component Covering
Material Lime and sand (mortar) and painting
Detachment (Desprendimiento)
Possible causes Presence of water, mechanical actions
Description of damage/cause The coating of this brick balustrade has detached due to the impact
of rainwater.
Room A20_BA01
218
Photography code: 2.2.3_F2_M19 _1_g
Photography code: 2.2.3_F2_M19 _1_d

2.2.3_M10_M19 DETACHMENT (DESPRENDIMIENTO)

Component Covering
Material Revoque, empañete
Detachment (Desprendimiento)
Possible causes Mechanical actions, defective materials
Description of damage/cause The coating of this adobe wall has come off, due to defective mate-
rials and mechanical actions.
Room B08
219
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 2.2.3_M10_M19_1_d
Photography code: 2.2.3_M10_M19_1_g

2.3.1_M4 SCRATCH (RAYADURA)

Sub-element Wall
Material Empañete, Latex paint
Damage Scratch (Rayadura)
Scratch (Rayadura)
Possible causes Mechanical actions with a sharp object
Description of damage/cause In the wall are scratches from the use of sharp objects. The damage
is superficial and does not affect the adjacent elements.

Room PB. 01
220
Photography code: 2.3.1_M4_1_d

2.3.3_M19 PERFORATION (PERFORACIÓN)

Sub-element Wall
Material Adobe
Damage Perforation (Perforación)
Possible causes Mechanical actions
Description of damage/cause In the past in this room was located a bathroom, for which the wall
was perforated to make installations.

Room PB. 01
221
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 2.3.3_M19_1_g

2.3.4_B2 SPLITTING (ROTURA)
Element Floor
Component Covering
Damage Splitting (Rotura)
Possible causes Presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar)
Description of damage/cause The roots of an adjacent tree destabilize the floor, causing fractu-
res in the bricks. Furthermore, the presence of plants between the
bricks increases the problem.
Room Backyard hall (D01)
222
Photography code: 2.3.4_B3_1_g
Photography code: 2.3.4_B3_1_d

2.3.4_O2 SPLITTING (ROTURA)
Element Floor
Component Covering
Material Cement tile
Damage Splitting (Rotura)
Splitting (Rotura)
Possible causes Bad execution of work
Description of damage/cause The floor tiles are located in the corridor around the patio and are
placed directly above the rammed earth which added to the high tra-
ffic that has this space, has resulted in several fractured elements.

Room PB. 12
223
ANNEX 1

2.3.6_M8 DETACHMENT – LOSS (DESPRENDIMIENTO – FALTANTE)
Element Woodwork
Material Wood
Damage Detachment - Loss (Desprendimiento - faltante)
Possible causes Impact / blow
Description of damage/cause Due to mechanical actions such as knocks, parts of the elements
of the balustrade (lower) are lost. The damage slightly affects the
esthetic part of the element, without risking the stability of the ele-
ment.
Room Hall (PA26)
224

2.3.6_M17 DETACHMENT – LOSS (DESPRENDIMIENTO – FALTANTE)

Component Moulding
Material Marble
Damage Detachment - Loss (Desprendimiento - faltante)
Possible causes Faulty fixation
Description of damage/cause The inadequate fixation of this facade element has caused its deta-
chment. This damage does not structurally affect the facade.

Room Facade General Torres Street
225
ANNEX 1

3. CRACKING
3.1_M9 HAIR CRACKS (FISURA)
Element Woodwork
Sub-element Door
Material Wood
Damage Hair cracks
Hair cracks(Fisura)
(Fisura)
Possible causes Varying dimensions (contraction / dilatation) due to changes in tem-
perature and humidity
Description of damage/cause The changes of temperature and humidity, to which the woodwork
is subjected, generates cracks at the level of the crossbeam. This
damage does not affect the structure of the door, but it does affect
the esthetics – superficially of this element.
Room 1st storey hall (PA26)
229
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 3.1_M9_1_g
Photography code: 3.1_M9_1_d


Component Covering
Material Empañete
Damage Hair cracks
Hair cracks(Fisura)
(Fisura)
Possible causes Bonding faults or bad interlocked
Description of damage/cause A crack exists at the level of the empañete over the complete length
where the walls are united.

Room Ground floor room (PB09)
230
Photography code: 3.1_M13_1_g Photography code:3.1_M13_1_d


Material Adobe
Damage Hair cracks
Hair cracks(Fisura)
(Fisura)
Possible causes Point or badly distributed load
Description of damage/cause The lack of a structural element (ring-beam), which would adequa-
tely distribute the load from the roof generates a point load leading
to cracks in the wall.
Room 1st storey room (PB09)
231
ANNEX 1
3.2_M9 CRAQUELÉ (FISURA EN FORMA DE RED)

Material Empañete and Latex paint
Damage Craquelé (Fisura en forma de red)
Description of damage/cause The presence of rainwater caused the detachment of paint on the
wall and hair cracks in the coating during drying of the humidity. The
adobe wall is mainly affected in the lower part.
Room Exterior hall (C04)
232

3.2_M9 CRAQUELÉ (FISURA EN FORMA DE RED)

Damage Craquelé (Fisura en forma de red)
Description of damage/cause During the process of hardening of the clay it is possible to get this
type of cracks, due to the contraction of the material.
Room 1st storey exterior hall (CO7)
233
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 3.2_M9_1_d Photography code: 3.2_M9_2_d
3.3_M6 STAR-HAIR CRACKS (FISURA EN FORMA DE ESTRELLA)

Sub-element Wall
Component Covering , Finishing
Damage Star - Hair cracks (Fisura en forma de estrella)
Possible causes Penetration with a sharp instrument
Description of damage/cause The punctual action, which is the result of a hard element (nail) cau-
ses a star-hair crack. This damage does not affect the structure of
the bahareque (wattle and daub) walls, but only superficially.

Room Ground floor hall (PB12)
234

3.4_F2 CRACK (GRIETA)

Material Adobe
Damage Crack (Grieta)
The presence of water coming from the roof in the outside part of
Description of damage/cause the wall, causes a loss of material reducing the section of the wall by
50%. This causes cracks due to the weakening of the wall.

Room Interior room (PA23)
235
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 3.4_F2_1_d
Photography code: 3.4_F2_1_g

3.4_M9 CRACK (GRIETA)

Sub-element Column
Component Fuste
Material Wood
Damage Crack(Grieta)
Crack (Grieta)
Description of damage/cause The apparent progressive loss of humidity of the wood has caused
considerable cracking in the structure of the element. The cracks
are located in the total length of the column and could cause the
column to collapse.
Room Central Backyard (PB01)
236
Photography code: 3.4_M9_1_g Photography code: 3.4_M9_1_d


Sub-element Wall
Material Wattle-and-daub or Bahareque
Possible causes Different settlements
Description of damage/cause The settlement causes a horizontal crack in the middle of the Wall.
This type of crack is very serious.
Room 1st storey Interior hall (B09)
237
ANNEX 1


Component Covering
Material Cement - Sand
Possible causes Inadequate or incompatible materials
Description of damage/cause This crack is located where the handrail and the adobe wall meet,
due to the incompatibility of the materials.
Room Exterior hall (CO5)
238


Component Structure or support, covering
Material Adobe / Wattle-and-daub or Bahareque
Possible causes Bonding faults or bad interlocked
Description of damage/cause The lack of bondage causes a crack over the whole length, where
the bahareque wall and the adobe wall meet.
Room Bathroom (B10)
239
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 3.4_M13_1_g Photography code: 3.4_M13_1_d
3.4_M18_M13 CRACK (GRIETA)

Sub-element Wall
Possible causes Inadequate or incompatible materials, bonding faults or bad interlocked
Description of damage/cause Where the adobe and the brick wall meet, there is a crack caused
by the lack of bondage due to the incompatibility between the two
materials.

Room Ground floor hall (PB01)
240
Photography code: 3.4_M18_M13_1_d Photography code: 3.4_M18_M13_2_d

4. DEFORMATION
4.1_F1 BENDING (PANDEO)

Material Adobe
Damage Bending (Pandeo)
Possible causes Increase in the relative humidity
Description of damage/cause Poor ventilation in the room has caused a deformation in the struc-
ture of the adobe wall by keeping more humidity. This damage chan-
ged the vertical position of the element, without collapsing.

Room PB. 09
243
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 4.1_F1_1_g Photography code: 4.1_F1_1_d
4.1_F2 BENDING (PANDEO)

Sub-element Wall
Material Wattle-and-daub or Bahareque
Damage Bending (Pandeo)
Bending (Pandeo)
Description of damage/cause The presence of rainwater has caused a bending in the bahareque
wall, resulting in a deviation in the vertical plane. This damage could
seriously affect the wall.
Room 1st storey room (B08)
244
Photography code: 4.1_F2_1_g Photography code: 4.1_F2_1_d

4.4_M11_B2 SETTLEMENT (HUNDIMIENTO)
Element Floor
Component Covering
Damage Settlement (Hundimiento)
Possible causes Different settlements, presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar)
Description of damage/cause The brick floor tiles are directly positioned above the rammed earth,
which has produced a settlement of this complete element.
Room Exterior hall (D01)
245
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 4.4_M11_B2_1_g
4.4_O2 SETTLEMENT (HUNDIMIENTO)
Element Floor
Component Structure or support, covering
Material Earth, cement tile
Damage Settlement (Hundimiento)
Possible causes Bad execution of work
Description of damage/cause There is no adequate treatment in the floor. The floor-tile is located
directly above the rammed earth.

Room Hall (PB01)
246
Photography code: 4.4_O2_1_d
Photography code: 4.4_O2_1_g

4.5_B2 EXPANSION (EXPANSIÓN)
Element Floor
Component Covering
Damage Expansion (Expansión)
Possible causes Presence of plants (ferns, trees and similar)
Description of damage/cause The presence of the roots of the adjacent tree causes the expansion
of the structure of the floor (at ground level). The level of seriousness
could be high and could affect other elements if it is not controlled.
Room Exterior hall (D01)
247
ANNEX 1
Photography code: 4.5_B2_1_g
4.5_F2 EXPANSION (EXPANSIÓN)

Sub-element Wall
Component Covering
Material Revoque y empañete
Damage Expansion (Expansión)
Description of damage/cause Expansion of the coating material due to the presence of rainwater
coming from the roof, causes a deformation which could affect the
structure of the bahareque wall.
Room Interior (B10)
248
Photography code: 4.5_F2_1_g
Photography code: 4.5_F2_1_d

DATA BASE FOR THE DAMAGE ATLAS
249
ANNEX 1
FIELD PRODECURE FOR THE COLLECTION OF
THE INFORMATION: CASE STUDY “CASA PEÑA” 2
ANNEX
IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTER OF DAMAGE A. IDENTIFICACION OF THE BUILDING 102058008 Page 1 / 5
B. LOCATION OF DE BUILDING: CALLE LARGA 8-27 / 8-15 DAMAGE LOCATION LEVEL FLOOR ROOM C. TYPE OF ANALISIS 1-2 1. Visual 2. In situ 3. Laboratorium
B 01
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS B.1 B.1_01
C. VERTICAL
A. FOUNDATION B. STRUCTURES DIVISIONS D. VERTICAL DIVISIONS (EXT) E. ROOF F. FLOOR G. CEILING I. WOODWORK J. METALWORK K. INSTALLATIONS
A. 1. Masonry or continuos wall B.1. Column C.1. Wall D.1. Facade: wall or bearing wall E.1. Flat roof F.1. Entrepiso 1.1 Doors J.1. Door K.1. Potable water distribution network
A. 2. Isolated support B.2. Beam C.2. Partition or dividing wall D.2. Handrails E.2. Pitched roof F.2. Floor (level of the ground) H. STAIRCASE 1.2 Windows J.2. Windows K.2. Wastewater discharge network
A. 3. Upperfoundation B.3. Bearing wall D.3. Windowsill 1.3 handrails/ balustrades J.3. Handrails K.3. Rainwater discharge network
B.4. Arch K.4. Electricity network
G. PRESENT ELEMENT G. PRESENT K. LEVEL OF L. PLAN OF L. MONITORING OF VALUE
F. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUB - ELEMENT COMPONENTS (CO) E. MATERIAL CONDITION VALUE CONDITION CODE SEVERITY CODE ACTIONS CODE ALERTS CODE CODE
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Structure material 1 27. Wood 2 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
Se trata de una columna de madera de eucalipto de seccion 20x20 cm aproxidamente 2 material 2 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
3 material 3 3. Good 3. Low 3. Sporadic (> 6 months) 3. Low
4 material 4 4. Not applicable 4. None
H - I IDENTIFICATION & CLASSIFICATION OF DAMAGES AND POSSIBLE CAUSES Information system based on visual inspection
H. DAMAGE K. LEVEL OF I. CAUSES M. MONITORING
H. IDENTIFICATION OF DAMAGE J. UNIT J. QUANTITY I. DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE CAUSES L. PLAN OF ACTION N. PHOTO COD
No COD CODE SEVERITY CODE OF ALERTS
No hay peligro de colapso, pues el daño afecta solo B.1_2.1.6_B5_g
1 2.1.6. Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos) % 80 2 B5 a la albura de la madera 1 2 B.1_2.1.6_B5_d
Debido a impacto a golpes, la columna se ha visto B.1_2.3.5_M8_d
1 2.3.5. Chipping (Rotura de borde) % 10 2 M8 afectada en su esquina 1 2
1 La grieta se presenta a lo largo de la columna de B.1_3.4_M9_d
3.4 Crack (Grieta) ml 5 2 M9 manera de forma discontinua 1 2
N. PHOTOGRAPHIC REGISTER
PB.1_2.1.6_B5_g B.1_2.1.6_B5_d B.1_2.3.5_M8_d B.1_3.4_M9_d
CODE OF MATERIALS O. INADEQUATE CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES

1. Adobe * 7. Varnish 13. Cement - sand 19. Wrought iron * 25. Industrial brick 31. Pebble stone 36. Latex paint / vinyl 42. Throws wooden 48. Zinc Note: * tradicionals construction 1. Absence of ring beam
2. Cobblestone 8. Mud, clay * 14. Ceramics 20. Reinforced concret 26. Brass * 32. Minestone 37. Polyethylene 43. Wooden neckband 49. Revoque * materials & systems 2. Bonding faults or a bad interlocked in the walls
3. Sand cement 9. Mud + coaldust * 15. Wooden floor 21. Simple concrete 27. Wood 33. Carved stone 38. Tapial * 44. Travertino 50. Murals * 3. Instability in the foundation
4. (Glazed) tile 10. Whitewashed 16. Empañete * 22. Waterproof asphalt 28. Plywood 34. Earth - based 39. It tiles ceramic 45. I glaze clear 51. Others 4. Bad distribution of the structural elements
5. Bahareque * 11. Lime and sand 17. Enchancleado * 23. Lacquer 29. Marble paint * 40. It tiles glazing 46. I glaze color REGISTER: Author
6. Cement tile 12. Reed 18. Iron 24. Handmade bricks 30. Wallpaper 35. Gloss paint 41. Earth 47. Plaster DATA: July 2010
B 01
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS G.3 G.3_01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Covering material 1 12. Carrizo 1 1 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
El cielo raso realizado de carrizo y barro, se encuentra soportado en vigas de madera de eucalipto 2 Covering material 2 8. Barro 1 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
Existe desprendimiento, tanto en el carrizo, como G_2.3.6_M8_d
1.2 2.3.6 Detachment - loss (Desprendimiento -faltante) % 90 3 M8 en el barro que está adherido a éste 2 2 G_2.3.6_M8_g
G_2.3.6_M8_d G_2.3.6_M8_g

B. LOCATION OF DE BUILDING AND DAMAGE LOCATION: CALLE LARGA 8-27 / 8-15 LEVEL FLOOR ROOM C. TYPE OF ANALISIS 1-2 1. Visual 2. In situ 3. Laboratorium
B 01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Structure material 1 1. Adobe 2 1 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
Se trata de un muro portante 2 material 2 16. Emapañete 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
3 material 3 49. Revoque 3. Good 3. Low 3. Sporadic (> 6 months) 3. Low
No hay peligro de colapso, pues el daño afecta solo B.3_3.4_m7_g
1,2,3 3.4 Crack (Grieta) ml 1 2 M7 a la albura de la madera 1 2 B.3_3.4_m7_d
B.3_3.4_m7_d B.3_3.4_m7_g

B. LOCATION OF DE BUILDING AND DAMAGE LOCATION: CALLE LARGA 8-27 / 8-15 LEVEL FLOOR ROOM C. TYPE OF ANALISIS 1-2 1. Visual 2. In situ 3. Laboratorium
B 01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Structure material 1 27. Wood 2 2 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
Se trata de una columna de madera de eucalipto de seccion 20x20 cm aproxidamente 2 material 2 2. To regulate 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
No hay peligro de colapso, pues el daño afecta solo
1 2.1.6. Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos) % 80 2 B5 a la albura de la madera 1 2 B.2_2.1.6_B5_d
B.2_2.1.6_B5_d

B 01
C. VERTICAL
El cielo raso realizado de carrizo y barro, se encuentra soportado en vigas de madera de eucalipto 2 material 2 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
La grieta sw presenta a lo largo de la unión de los B.3_3.4_M13_d
1 3.4 Crack (Grieta) ml 5 2 M13 muros de adobe 1 2 B.3_3.4_M13_g
B.3_3.4_M13_d B.3_3.4_M13_g

B 02
C. VERTICAL
La grieta se presenta a lo largo de la columna de B.1_3.4_M9_d
1 3.4 Crack (Grieta) ml 2.5 2 M9 manera discontinua 2 2 B.1_3.4_M9_g
B.1_3.4_M9_d B.1_3.4_M9_g
B 02
C. VERTICAL
1 3.4 Crack (Grieta) ml 2.5 2 M9 La grieta se presenta en todo el largo la columa 2 2 B.1_3.4_M9_g
y presenta diferentes espesores. Este daño puede B.1_3.4_M9_g
afectar a la estructura general de la edificación B.1_3.4_M9_g
B.1_3.4_M9_g B.1_3.4_M9_d B.1_3.4_M9_d

B 02
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS H H_01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Contrahuella material 1 27. Wood 1 2 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
1 3.4 Crack (Grieta) ml 1.5 3 M8 La grieta se presenta en todo el largo de la 2 2 H_3.4_M9_g
contrahuella, debido al impacto producido por el
M15 tráfico intenso.
H_3.4_M9_g
B 02
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS F.2 F.2_01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Structure material 1 13. Cement 1 2 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
2 material 2 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 1.2.4 % 80 2 F2 El crecimiento biológico se presenta en 2 2 F.2_1.2.4_F2B3_g
Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico: presencia de platas y organismos practicamentetodo el piso del subsuelo debido a las
biológicos) B3 F.2_1.2.4_F2B3_d
infiltraciones de agua lluvia provenientes del patio.
F.2_1.2.4_F2B3_d F.2_1.2.4_F2B3_d
1. Adobe * 7. Varnish 13. Cement 19. Wrought iron * 25. Industrial brick 31. Pebble stone 36. Latex paint / vinyl 42. Throws wooden 48. Zinc Note: * tradicionals construction 1. Absence of ring beam
B 02
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Covering material 1 49. Revoque 2 3 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
2 Finishing material 2 16. Empañete 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 3.2 Craquelé (Fisura en forma de red) % 60 2 M9 Las fisuras son producidas por cambios de 2 2
temperatura producido por el proceso de secado. B.3_3.2_M9_d
B.3_3.2_M9_d
B 03
C. VERTICAL
2 Covering material 2 49. Revoque 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 3.4 3.4. Crack (Grieta horizontal) ml 2 2 M7 Este daño puede causar serios problemas y poner 2 1 B.3_3.4_M7_d
en riesgo la edificacion patrimonial
B.3_3.4_M7_g
B.3_3.4_M7_d B.3_3.4_M7_g
B 04
C. VERTICAL
La viga tiene una sección de 20x20cm 2 material 2 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 % 80 2 F2 La viga se encuentra en mal estado por la presencia 1 1 B.2_2.1.5_F2_d
2.1.5 Rotting (Pudrición)
B5 de agua y xilófagos lo cual puede poner en riesgo a B.2_2.1.6_B5_d
2.1.6 Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos)
la edificación patrimonial B.2_2.1.5_F2_g
B.2_2.1.5_F2_g B.2_2.1.5_F2_d B.2_2.1.6_B5_d

B 02
C. VERTICAL
1 ML 2 3 F2 La grieta se produce entre el muro de adobe y la 2 2 B.3_3.4_M18_d
3.4 Crack (Grieta)
B5 pared de ladrillo, debido a la incompatibilidad de B.3_3.4_M18_g
estos materiales
B.3_3.4_M18_g B.3_3.4_M18_d
GF 35
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Covering material 1 24. Handmade bricks 2 2 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
1 % 50 3 F2 El crecimiento biológico en el piso de ladrillo se ve 2 2 F.1_1.2.4_F2B3_d
1.2.4 Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico: presencia de platas y organismos
B3 acompañado de hundimiento F.1_1.2.4_F2B3_g
biológicos)
F.1_1.2.4_F2B3_g F.1_1.2.4_F2B3_d
GF 35
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS G G_01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Covering material 1 27. Wood 2 2 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
1 2.2.3 Detachment (Desprendimiento) % 10 3 F2 El daño se presenta debido a la presencia de agua 2 2 G_2.2.3_F2_d
filtrada desde la cubierta
G_2.2.3_F2_d
GF 04
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS C.2 C.2_01
C. VERTICAL
1 2.1.5 Rotting (Pudrición) % 15 3 F2 El daño se presenta debido a la presencia de agua 2 2 C.2_2.1.5_F2_d
filtrada desde la cubierta C.2_2.1.5_F2_g
C.2_2.1.5_F2_d C.2_2.1.5_F2_g
GF 33
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS I.3 I.3_01
C. VERTICAL
1 2.3.6 Detachment - loss (Desprendimiento -faltante) u 3 3 M19 Debido a acciones mecanicas tres de los balaustres 2 2 I.3_2.3.6_M19_d
se encuentran desprendidos del pasamano
I.3_2.3.6_M19_d
GF 33
C. VERTICAL
1 2.1.6 Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos) % 40 3 B5 En la madera de eucalipto del pasamano es comun 2 2 I.3_2.1.6_B5_d
la presencia de xilofagos I.3_2.1.6_B5_g
I.3_2.1.6_B5_g I.3_2.1.6_B5_d
GF 33
C. VERTICAL
1 2.1.5 Rotting (Pudrición) % 50 1 F2 El mal estado de la viga de madera produce una 2 2
B5 inedacuada union con los otros elementos B2_2.1.5_2.1.6_F2B5_d
2.1.6 Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos) (columna, monterilla), lo cual pone en riesgo
a la edificacion. Esto se debe a que son elementos
estructurales. El problema se agrava con la presencia
de instalaciones que afectan a los elementos de
madera
B2_2.1.5_2.1.6_F2B5_d
GF 01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Structure material 1 5. Bahareque 1 1 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
2 Covering material 2 16. Empañete 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 3.1 Hair cracks (Fisura) ml 2.5 3 M18 La fisura se produce en la union de la pared de 2 2 C.1_3.1_M18_g
bahareque con la columna de madera. C.1_3.1_M18_d
C.1_3.1_M18_d
C.1_3.1_M18_g C.1_3.1_M18_d C.1_3.1_M18_d

1F 01
C. VERTICAL
Geometric data of the element (length, section and depth) 1 Structure material 1 5. Bahareque 1 1 1. Bad 1. High 1. Immediate 1. Permanent (<1 month) 1. High
2 Covering material 2 16. Empañete 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular (>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 3.1 Hair cracks (Fisura) ml 2.5 3 M18 La fisura se produce en la union de la pared de 2 2 C.1_3.1_M18_g
bahareque con la columna de madera. C.1_3.1_M18_d
C.1_3.1_M18_d
C.1_3.1_M18_g C.1_3.1_M18_d
1F 01
D. BUILDING ELEMENTS G G_01
C. VERTICAL
1 2.1.5 Rotting (Pudrición) % 30 3 F2 El daño es causado por la presencia de agua 2 2 G_2.1.5_1.1.2_F2_g
proveniente de la cubierta. G_2.1.5_1.1.2_F2_d
1.1.2 Staining (Manchas)
G_2.1.5_1.1.2_F2_d
G_2.1.5_1.1.2_F2_g G_2.1.5_1.1.2_F2_d G_2.1.5_1.1.2_F2_d

1F 35
C. VERTICAL
1 2.1.5 Rotting (Pudrición) % 80 3 F2 La presencia de aguas lluvias a ocasionado la 2 2 I.3_2.1.5_F2_d
Biological growth (Crecimiento biológico: presencia de platas y organismos B3 pudricion de estos elementos del pasamano, I.3_1.2.4_B3_d
1.2.4 produciendo ademas crecimiento biologico.
biológicos) I.3_2.1.5_1.2.4_F2B3_g
I.3_2.1.5_1.2.4_F2B3_g I.3_2.1.5_F2_d I.3_1.2.4_B3_d

1F 34
C. VERTICAL
1 2.1.5 Rotting (Pudrición) % 90 3 F2 La presencia de aguas lluvias a ocasionado la 2 2
2.3.6 Detachment - loss (Desprendimiento -faltante) M19 pudricion de estos elementos del pasamano I.3_2.1.5_2.3.6_F2M19_g
y su desprendimiento
I.3_2.1.5_2.3.6_F2M19_g
1F 38
C. VERTICAL
2 material 2 2. Regular 2. Medium 2. Medium term 2. Regular(>1 month-6 months) 2. Medium
1 2.1.6 Beetles (Degradación por xilófagos) % 30 2 B5 El piso de madera de eucalipto se encuentra afectado 2 2 F.1_2.1.6_B5_d
4.4 Settlement (Hundimientos) M20 por xilofagos y con hundimientos que deben ser F.1_4.4_M20_d
estudiados a profundidad F.1_2.1.6_4.4_B5M20_g
F.1_2.1.6_4.4_B5M20_g F.1_2.1.6_B5_d F.1_4.4_M20_d

DATA BASE FOR THE ANALYSIS AND DIAGNOSIS OF DAMAGE
(PRESENT CONDITION)
278
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Achig Balarezo, María Cecilia and Paredes Castro, María Cecilia. “Arqueología del Color: Historia, Mundo
y Significación. Caso de Estudio: Centro Histórico de Cuenca” (Tesis de Licenciatura; Faculty of University
of Cuenca, 2001)
• Achig, María Cecilia, Moscoso, María Soledad, Adobe: Properties, Damages and Treatment, for Master or
Conservation of Monuments and Sites. K.U. Leuven, Belgium, 2009.
• Albornoz, Boris, “Planos e Imágenes de Cuenca”, Municipality of Cuenca, January 2008.
• Afonso Alvarenga Maria Auxiliadora, “Adobe: Constructive Method and Thermic Characteristics” 6th
International Conference on the Conservation of Earthen Architecture, Adobe 90 Preprints, Las Cruces,
NM October 14-19, 1990.
• Avrami, E and Mason, R, “Los Valores en el Proceso de Planificación”, s/e, s/f.
• B. Saroza*, M. A. Rodríguez**, J. M. Menéndez**, I. J. Barroso “Study of the resistance to simple com-
pression from adobe produced with various soils from Crescencio Valdés, Villa Clara, Cuba”.
• Burden, Ernest, “Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture”, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002.
• BROTO, “Diccionario técnico de Arquitectura y construcción, Editorial MONSA, Barcelona – España,
2001.
• Cardoso, Fausto, “La formulación del Expediente para la Inclusión en la Lista de Patrimonio Mundial:
El caso de Cuenca”. Master in Conservation of Monuments and Sites, University of Cuenca, Faculty of
Architecture, April 2004, Cuenca-Ecuador. 281
• Core, Manuela: “MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnostic System: The development of an expert system as
CHARPTER 1
a survey and damage interpretation tool for the stability of masonry structures”; RLICC- KULeuven, 2009
• De Anglis D’Ossat Guliermo, “Guide to the Methodical Study of Monuments and Causes of Their Deterio-
ration”, Faculty of Architecture University of Rome, 1972.
• De Jongh Sam and Van Wijnendaele Matthias: “Earthquakes and other damaging mechanisms to earth
structures (Cuenca, Ecuador)”. Master thesis Civil Engineering KULeuven 2008-2009
• FONSAL Publication: “Quito, Patrimonio y Vida”, Quito-Ecuador, 2008
• García Moreno, Beatriz, “Región y lugar. Arquitectura latinoamericana contemporánea”, Centro Editorial
Javeriano CEJA, Bogotá – Colombia 2000.
• Heras, Verónica: “Development of a Conceptual Model for a Heritage Information System, case of study
Cuenca - Ecuador”; RLICC- KULeuven, 2009.
• Illustrated Examples, Recording, Documentation and Information Management for the Conservation of
Cultural Heritage Places, The Getty Conservation Institute.
• James R Clifton, , “Preservation of historic adobe structures - a status report,” NBS Technical Note 934,
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1977.
• Jiménez Pacheco, Juan Carlos, “Vulnerabilidad Sísmica de las Edificaciones de la ciudad de Cuenca
mediante técnicas de simulación”, Thesis to obtain the degree of Master of Engineer, Escuela Politécni-
ca Nacional, Quito 2001.
• Larsen, K.E. Ed. “Nara Document n Authenticity” Proceedings of the Nara Conference on Authenticity,
UNESCO – ICCROM-ICOMOS, Japan 1994.
• MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnostic System developed by: KULeuven (BE), TU (Hamburg Harburg (D),
PdM Milano (I) and TNO Building and Construction Reserach (NL)
• Manual of Documentation for the application of the catalogue records, VLIR-CPM Project, University of
Cuenca, July 2010.
• MDDS-COMPASS. User Manual of the program. RLICC- KULeuven, Lecture by R. Van Hees / S. Naldini,
March 2009.
• MEUL, V., STULENS, A. en VERPOEST, L., Monumentenwacht. A monitoring and maintenance system for
the Cultural (Built) Heritage in the Flemish Region (Belgium), in Conservation Préventive. Pratique dans le
domaine du patrimoine bâti, Actes du colloque, 3-4 septembre (2009), Friburgo.
• MICHELLE Andy, The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 1: Geographic Patterns & Relationships, 1999.
• Patrick De Sutter Esquenet, La utilización del adobe en la construcción, Quito: Instituto Nacional de
Patrimonio Cultural, 1986.
• Piedras, César, “Soluciones a daños en edificaciones patrimoniales construidas con tecnologías tradicio-
nales”, Master Thesis, Faculty of Architeture of University of Cuenca. 2008.
• Prof. Elena Charola, Lecture Introduction to conservation interventions, cleaning, desalination and con-
servation treatments, KUL-RLICC, February, 2009.
• Prof. Koen van Balen, Lecture Building Materials and Conservation technique, KUL-RLICC, Sep 27, 2006.
Taken from: Moreno Badillo, Edmundo, “Preservation of the Heritage of the Republican Period in Quito;
Identification of Damage Patterns”, Thesis to obtain the degree of Master of Conservation of Monuments
and Sites, KU Leuven, June 2008.
• Prof. Pérez de Ovalles María Angélica, La Reingeniería, los Sistemas de Información y las Tecnologías de
Información, UNIVERSIDAD SIMÓN BOLÍVAR, DEPARTAMENTO DE PROCESOS Y SISTEMAS, Colomina –
Venezuela, 1998.
• Project: VLIR-CPM: Faculty of Architecture of the University of Cuenca: “El registro de daños de la
edificación patrimonial en la ciudad de Cuenca”, unpublished document, Director of damage area: Arch.
282 Marcelo Zúñiga, Cuenca-Ecuador, May 9th 2009.
• Proyecto ECU-87-004, Como hacer nuestra casa de adobe, Quito: Emergencias Sismos Marzo 1987 de
Naciones Unidas/Junta Ecuatoriana de la Vivienda, 1987.

• Restoration Project: “House of the province. Former Convent of “Buen Pastor” , Provincial Government.
December 2009.
• S. Boubekeur, H. Houben (eds.),Compressed Earth Blocks Standards, Brussels: CRATerre-EAG, 1998.
• Santana Quintero, Mario, “The use of three –dimensional techniques of documentation and dissemina-
tion in studying built heritage”, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2003.
• Sam de Jongh and Matthias Van Wijnendaele, Earthuekes and other damaging mechanisms to earth
structures (Cuenca, Ecuador) Pregrade thesis project. KULeuven 2008-2009.
• Specially in buildings from colonial times see: Patrick De Sutter Esquenet, La utilización del adobe en la
construcción, Quito: Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural, 1986. This information was confirmed by
Arch. Lourdes Abad.
• Some authors refer to other values of density from 1570-2000KG/m3 see: Paul Wencil Brown and
James R. Clifton, “Adobe. I: The Properties of Adobe” in Studies in Conservation, International Institute for
Consevation fo Historic and Artistic Works. Nov., 1978), pp. 139-146.
• STOVEL; Herb, “Risk Preparedness: A management manual for World Cultural Heritage”, ICCROM -
UNESCO - WHC –ICOMOS, 2003.
• Studies of Intervention and Conservation of the “Neira Carrión” House, Unidad Técnica Fundación Muni-
cipal “El Barranco”. Enero 2010.
• Translation from Dutch to English done by Frank Brinkmann, Mario Santa Quinteros and Birgit van Laar,
March – May 2010
• Understanding Historic Buildings, A guide to good recording practice, English Heritage, pp.3Van Balen, K.
“Mortar Characterization, from values to compatibility; Pointing Project Report Contribution” Leuven, 2001.
• Varoujan Arzomanian, Patrick Bardou, “ Arquitecturas de Adobe Tecnologóa y Arquitectura”, 2da Edición,
Editorial Gustavo Gili S,A, Barcelona 1981
• VLIR-CPM Project: “World Heritage City Preservation Management” is part of the Institutional University
Cooperation (IUC) between Belgium and countries in the South. University of Cuenca, Faculty of Architec-
ture
• Wencil Brown Paul and James R. Clifton, “Adobe. I: The Properties of Adobe” in Studies in Conservation.
• Yépez F, Barbat, A.H and Canas, J.A, “Riesgo, peligrosidad y vulnerabilidad sísmica de edificios de
mampostería” Monografía CIMNE IS-12 1995, Centro Internacional de Métodos numéricos en Ingeniería,
España 1995.
Scientific Journal
• Correira Mariana, “Teoría de la conservación y su aplicación al patrimonio en tierra”, Department of

Architeture of Brookes University, Reino Unido, 2007.
• Fitzner Bernd and Heinrichs Kart, “Damage diagnosis on stone monuments – weathering forms, damage
categories and damge indices“, Geological Institute, Aachen University of Technology, Aachen – Ger-
many.
• Information sheet: “Monument Watch, an integral approach for the preventive conservation of the cultu-
ral heritage, Belgium: Flemish Region. (Accessed April 12th, 2010)
• Matero Frank, “Lessons from the Great House: condition and treatment history as prologue to site con-
servation and management at Casa GrandeRuins National Monuments”, University of Pensilvania, 1999.
• MONUMENTENWACHT: Architectural Inspection Report.
• Oliver Anne, “Fort selden adobe test wall project phase I, final report” Historic preservation and architec- 283
tural conservation, Socorro – New Mexico, July 2000.
CHARPTER 1
• Rotondaro Rodolfo, “Arquitectura de tierra contemporánea”, Faculty of Architecture of the University of
Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires – Argentina, 2007.
• Tolles Leroy, Kimbro Edna and Ginell William, “Guias de planeamiento e ingenieria para la estabilización
sismorresistente de estructuras históricas de adibe”, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles.
• Tolles Leroy, Webster Frederick, Crosby Anthony and Kimbro Edna, “Survey of damage to historic adobe
buildings after the January 1994 Northridge Earthquake”, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles,
1996.
Web Page
• Cité Maison, Bibliothèque des matériaux de construction, http://www.citemaison.fr/scripts/bibliotheque-

materiaux.php (accessed February 22th, 2009) based in Hugo Houben, Hubert. Guillaud, Traité de
construction en terre, Marseille: CRATerre-EAG. Editions Paranthèses, 1995.
• Greensprec“Rammed Earth”: http://www.greenspec.co.uk/html/materials/rammedearth.html (accessed
February 28th, 2008).
• http://www.tecno-point.com/es/5/2102/estandares-de-bloques-de-tierra-comprimida-cdi-craterre-eag-
1998-144-p.html (accessed February 22th, 2009).
• http://whc.unesco.org/archive/opguide08-en.pdf “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of
the World Heritage Convention” UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organiza-
tion. Intergovernmental Committee for the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Art. 77,
January, 2008, pp. 20
• http://www.getty.edu/conservation/field_projects/aris09/index.html (Accessed May 06th, 2010
• http://www.fonsal.gov.ec/inicio/quienes-somos (accessed April 19th, 2010).
• http://www.construmatica.com/construpedia/Zapatas_Aisladas (accessed 07th July 2010)
• http://www.construnatica.com/construpedia/Desplome
• http://www.parro.com.ar/definicion-de-prudici%F3n+seca (accessed 17th June 2010)
Conferences, seminars and presentations
• “I workshop of Monitoring, Maintenance and Preventive Conservation”. Faculty of Architecture, Universi-

ty of Cuenca, presented by Arch. Fausto Cardoso, Cuenca – Ecuador May 06th 2010.
• PHD Seminar on preventive conservation, RLICC, Leuven – Belgium; February 25th, 2010. Presentation:
“Monumententenwachten – defining preventive conservation and maintenance by Neza Cebron Lipovec.
• Presentation: “Monumententenwachten – defining preventive conservation and maintenance by Neza
Cebron Lipovec.
• Presentación:”sistema_atlas_daños”. Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC-Universidad de Cuenca. s/f. Área de
tratamiento de daños.
• “Sistema de Referencia y Metodología para establecer el nivel de daños” Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC-
Universidad de Cuenca – RLICC-KU Leuven-Bélgica. Presentación en Power Point. s/f.
• Presentación:”sistema_atlas_daños”. Proyecto VLIR-Citypres. FAUC-Universidad de Cuenca. s/f. Área de
tratamiento de daños. P. 1
• “Seminar on condition reporting systems for the built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010, Ant-
werp (Belgium). Presentation and demonstration of Sircop – software of Politecnico di Milano by Stefano
Della Torre and Rossella Moioli.
284
Interviews
• Interview to Arch. Gonzalo Checa. FONSAL Work Manager, Quito – Ecuador, May 3rd, 2010.
• Interview with Arch. Lourdes Abad.
Other Documents
• Universidad Central, “Rehabilitación Arquitectónica Integral Administración Central Teatro Universitario,

Biblioteca General y Plaza Indoamérica, Quito – Ecuador, April 2010. 8
LIST OF PICTURES, TABLES AND SCHEMES
Front Page Page 16-17
Fig 1. Fig 1-2-3-4
Arch. Lourdes Abad Collection “Escuela Central”
Back Page Page 18-19

Fig 1. Fig 1.
Students of the U. Cuenca Collection “Escuela Central”
Fig 2. Fig 2-3-4
Collection “ Fundación Barranco” Author
Fig 3. Fig 5.
Students of the U. Cuenca Lourdes Abad
CHAPTER 1 Page 20-21

Fig 1-2-3-4
Page 4-5 Varoujan Arzomanian, Patrick Bardou, “ Arquitecturas
Fig 1. de Adobe Tecnologóa y Arquitectura”, 2da Edición,
Collection “ Fundación Barranco” Editorial Gustavo Gili S,A, Barcelona 1981
Page 6-7 Page 22-23 285

Fig 1. Fig 1.
CHARPTER 1
Author http://www.joseluisluna.com/Las_cosas_de_ayer/
FIG 2. Arquitectura_popular/Images/Tapial2%201.jpg (ac-
David Achig cessed: July 6th 2010)
Fig 2.
Page 8-9 Author
Fig 1-2-3-4-5-6 Fig 3.
Albornoz, Boris, “Planos e Imágenes de Cuenca”,
De Jongh Sam and Van Wijnendaele Matthias:
Municipality of Cuenca, January 2008: 69-71.
“Earthquakes and other damaging mechanisms to
earth structures (Cuenca, Ecuador)”. Master thesis
Page 10-11
Civil Engineering KULeuven 2008-2009
Fig 1.
Avrami, E and Mason, R, “Los Valores en el Proceso Fig 4.
de Planificación”, s/e, s/f. PIEDRA, César, “Soluciones a daños en edificaciones
Fig 2. patrimoniales construidas con tecnologías tradicio-
Collection “ Fundación Barranco” nales” Master Thesis, Faculty of Architecture of the
University of Cuenca, 2008.
Page 12-13
Fig 1. Page 24-25
Collection “ Fundación Barranco” Fig 1-2
PIEDRA, César, “Soluciones a daños en edificaciones
Page 10-11 patrimoniales construidas con tecnologías tradicio-
Fig 1-2 nales” Master Thesis, Faculty of Architecture of the
Collection “ Fundación Barranco” University of Cuenca, 2008.
Fig 3. Fig 3-4
De Anglis D’Ossat, Guliermo , “Guide to the Methodi- Professor Mario Santana
cal Study of Monuments and Causes of Their Dete- Fig 5.
rioration”, Faculty of Architecture University of Rome, Professor Mario Santana IPW3, 2008 RLICC.
1972. Fig 6.
Professor Mario Santana
Page 28-29
Fig 1. Page 50-51
Author Fig 1-2
Liesbeth Lacroix, Karolien Vanwing, María Cecilia
Page 32-33 Achig. IPW3. RLICC, 2008.
Fig 1.
Author Page 54-55
Fig 1.
Page 34-35 Fausto Cardoso
Fig 1.
Collection VLIR-CPM Project, Faculty of Architecture, Page 56-57
University of Cuenca, Cuenca – Ecuador. Fig 1-2-3
MONUMENTENWACHT Flemish Region. Manuals.
Page 36-37 Fig 4.
286 Fig 1. Information sheet: “Monument Watch, an integral
Franco Medina approach for the preventive conservation of the cul-
Fig 2. tural heritage, Belgium: Flemish Region. (Accessed

Collection “Fundación Barranco” April 12th, 2010)
CHAPTER 2 Page 60-61

Fig 1-2-3-4
Page 44-45 MONUMENTENWACHT Flemish Region. Architec-
Fig 1. tural Inspection Report, July - August 2009.
Collection “ Fundación Barranco”
Page 64-65
Page 46-47 Fig 1-2
Fig 1. “Seminar on condition reporting systems for the
Collection “ Fundación Barranco” built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
Fig 2. Antwerp (Belgium). Presentation MAKSin
Bill Blake (Manual for Disto, 09,05,2008).
Page 66-67
Page 48-49 Fig 1.
Fig 1. “Seminar on condition reporting systems for the
Mario Santana workshop Documentation techniques built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
for the conservation of Heritage Building. Cuenca Antwerp (Belgium). Presentation MAKSin
June 2008.
Fig 2. Page 70-71
h t t p : / / w w w. d a t u m i n g e n i e r i a . c o m / C ATA L- Fig 1.
OGO2006V3_archivos/image019.jpg “Seminar on condition reporting systems for the
built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
Antwerp (Belgium). Presentation S.I.R.Co.P Page 88-89
Fig 2. Fig 1.
UNI 11182 (Italian Standard 2006) Universidad Central, “Rehabilitación Arquitectónica In-
tegral Administración Central Teatro Universitario, Bib-
Page 72-73 lioteca General y Plaza Indoamérica, Quito – Ecuador,
Fig 1. April 2010. 8
“Seminar on condition reporting systems for the
built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010, CHAPTER 3
Antwerp (Belgium). Presentation S.I.R.Co.P
Fig 2. Page 96-97
UNI 11182 (Italian Standard 2006) Fig 1.
VLIR-CPM Project.
Page 74-75
Fig 1-2 Page 100-101
“Seminar on condition reporting systems for the Fig 1.
built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010, Author
Page 102-103
Page 76-77 Fig 1.
Fig 1-2 VLIR-CPM Project. Sebastián Lloret
“Seminar on condition reporting systems for the Fig 2. 287
built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010, Author
CHARPTER 1
Page 106-107
Page 78-79 Fig 1.
Fig 1-2 VLIR-CPM Project. Damage Area. Marcelo Zúñiga,
“Seminar on condition reporting systems for the María Cecilia Achig.
built cultural heritage”, February 22th-24th, 2010,
Antwerp (Belgium). Presentation S.I.R.Co.P Page 108-108
Fig 1-2
Page 82-83 Author
Fig 1.
Core, Manuela: “MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnos- Page 110-111
tic System: The development of an expert system as a Fig 1-2
survey and damage interpretation tool for the stability VLIR-CPM Project. Damage Area. María Cecilia Achig.
of masonry structures”; RLICC- KULeuven, 2009, pp.
21 Page 112-113
Fig 1.
Page 84-85 VLIR-CPM Project. Damage Area. María Cecilia Achig.
Fig 1. Collaboration: Gabriela García, Nelson Galán, Alexan
Manual “MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnostic Sys- dra Aguirre and Marcelo Zúñiga.
tem”
Page 114-115
Page 86-87 Fig 1.
Fig 1-2-3-4-5 VLIR-CPM Project. Damage Area. María Cecilia Achig.
FONSAL Publication: “Quito, Patrimonio y Vida”, Quito- Collaboration: Gabriela García, Nelson Galán, Alexan-
Ecuador, 2008 dra Aguirre and Marcelo Zúñiga.
Page 116-117 Page 136-137
Fig 1. Fig 1.
VLIR-CPM Project. Damage Area. María Cecilia Achig. “San Cristobal” Building
Fig 2-3 Fig 2.
VLIR-CPM Project. Damage Area “Neira Carrión” House
Fig 3.
Page 120-121 House of the Province - Former Convent of “Buen Pas-
Fig 1. tor”
Author Fig 4.
Map in which these 3 buildings are located in the His-
Page 122-123 toric Center of Cuenca.
Fig 1.
Author Page 142-143
Fig 1.
Page 124-125 Author
Fig 1-2 Fig 2.
MDDS Monument Damage Diagnostic System Yépez F, Barbat, A.H and Canas, J.A, “Riesgo, pe-
ligrosidad y vulnerabilidad sísmica de edificios de
Page 128-129 mampostería” Monografía CIMNE IS-12 1995, Centro
Fig 1-2 Internacional de Métodos numéricos en Ingeniería,
MDDS Monument Damage Diagnostic System España 1995.
288
Page 130-131 Page 144-145
Fig 1. Fig 1.
UNI: Italian National Unification, developed by Cultural VLIR-CPM Project.

heritage - Natural and artificial stone. (Italy)
Page 146-147
Page 132-133 Fig 1.
Fig 1. Collection “Fundacion Barranco”
De Jongh Sam and Van Wijnendaele Matthias: “Earth-
quakes and other damaging mechanisms to earth CHAPTER 4
structures (Cuenca, Ecuador)”. Master thesis Civil En-
gineering KULeuven 2008-2009 Page 154-155
Fig 2. Fig 1.
Developed by Nelson Galán y Juan Carlos Iñiguez: Lourdes Abad.
“Preventive Conservation of heritage buildings with
Historical Value. Study Case: the Historical Center of Page 156-157
Cuenca”. Pregrade thesis project. Faculty of Archi- Fig 1.
tecture, University of Cuenca. Thesis project unpub- VLIR-CPM Project.
lished. Fig 2-3-4-5.
Students Faculty of Architecture of the University of
Page 134-135 Cuenca.
Fig 1-2-3-4-5 Fig 6.
Developed by Nelson Galán y Juan Carlos Iñiguez: “Pre- Marcelo Zúñiga.
ventive Conservation of heritage buildings with Histori- Page 158-159
cal Value. Study Case: the Historical Center of Cuenca”. Fig 1.
Pregrade thesis project. Faculty of Architecture, Univer- Collection “Fundacion Barranco”.
sity of Cuenca. Thesis project unpublished.
Fig 2-3
Cuenca.
Page 160-161
Fig 1.
Gustavo Lloret
Fig 2.
Author
Page 162-163
Fig 1-2-5-8-9-10-12-13-14
Cuenca.
Fig 3-4
Author
Fig 6-7-11
Marcelo Zúñiga.
Page 164-165
Fig 1.
Author 289
Page 166-167
CHARPTER 1
Fig 1-2-3
Collection “Fundacion Barranco”
Author
Page 168-169
Fig 1.
Marcelo Zúñiga.
Page 170-171
Fig 1.
Author
ANNEX 1
Page 195-241
María Cecilia Achig, Marcero Zuñiga, Gabriela Garcia,
Nelson Galán y Alexandra Aguirre.
ANNEX 2
Page 252-277
Marcelo Zuñiga, María Cecilia Achig.

LIST OF ABBREVATION
ASSET: Assessment of Suitable products for the conservative treatments of Sea-Salt
decay, by the European Commission
COMEET: Conditie Meting Erfgoed Toepassing

(Condition assessment of historic buildings)
Developed by Monumentenwacht Noord-Brabant and Monumentenwacht
Limburg – The Netherlands
CRATerre: International Centre for Consevation of Earthen Architecture
FAUC: Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (Universidad de Cuenca)
GCI: Getty Conservation Institute
ICCROM: International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural
Property
ICOMOS: International Council on Monuments and Sites

290
ISCS: International Scientific Committee for Stone
IUC: Institutional University Cooperation
KULeuven: KatholiekeUniversiteit Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven)
MAKSin: Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen. Risk- and value-based priority ranking of

conservation strategies in historic interiors
MAKS.I.R.Co.P: Regional Information System for Planned Conservation

Developed by University “Politecnico di Milano” Italy
MDDS: Monument Damage Diagnosis System
PdM: “Politecnico di Milano”
RLICC: Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNI: Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione. Italian National Unification. The normative
indicates the definition of terms useful to indicate the different forms of alteration
and degradation
VLIR – CPM : Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad – City Preservation Management

WHC: World Heritage Centre

Achig, 2010

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Achig, 2010

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

RAYMOND LEMAIRE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION

Methodology for analysis, diagnosis and monitoring

Thesis to obtain the degree of Master

Methodology for analysis, diagnosis and monitoring

Thesis to obtain the degree of Master

Toelating tot bruikleen

De auteur geeft de toelating deze eindverhandeling voor consultatie beschikbaar

Permission for Use of Content

L’ auteur autorise la mise à disposition du présent mémoire pour consultation; il

A mis amigos y amigas por su compañía y aliento…

Para todos ustedes, seres especiales y queridos un profundo abrazo de

Thanks to Anouk Stulens and Birgit van Laar (Monumentenwacht Belgium) as

And to all those I have forgotten…

María Cecilia Achig

1.1 General outline of the thesis project 4

1.3 Present Condition of damage in the heritage buildings of Cuenca 11

1.4 Construction system in architecture of earth and wood. 12

1.5 Methodology for the study of damage and its causes of

1.6 General Concepts: Risk Assessment, Monitoring System and Preventive

1.7 Reference system for the determination of damage

2.1 Brief analysis of the evolution of the documentation techniques

2.2 Analysis of the main techniques (information system) currently used

2.3 Quito – Ecuador: general criteria for the documentation of damage 89

3.1 General aspects 96

3.2 Proposed methodology to describe the present condition (analysis,

3.3 Reference system as a tool to help in the documentation of damage 104

3.5 Reference system for the determination of the present condition of a

3.6 Damage Atlas for heritage buildings in Cuenca 124

3.7 Application of the reference system (included Damage Atlas) in the

3.8 General principles for the development of a preventive conservation

4.1 Selection process of a heritage building in the city of Cuenca 154

4.2 General aspects of the selected building 154

4.4 Contributions of the investigation 171

4.5 General conclusions and recommendations 173

Diagnosis records 253

Another objective of this thesis is to define preventive and curative actions

This is followed by a description of a methodology to study the damages

to threats, such as earthquakes, in the heritage buildings in Cuenca. Further-

It is fundamental to collect the above mentioned information in an organized

Finally this methodology is applied to a specific case within the framework

1.2.1 Overview of the city of Cuenca - Ecuador

Cuenca is located in a valley in the mountains (Sierra) in the highlands of

Originally, in the fourteenth century, Cuenca was a Cañari settlement called

2. Ingapirca: Temple of the sun, made

After almost three centuries of Spanish domination, in 1822 the country

1.2.2 Inclusion of Cuenca in the UNESCO’s World Heritage City list

1.2.3 Damage and valuation of heritage earthen architecture

1.2.3.1 Damage related to the physical condition of a building

In the policies and practices of conservation, a monument or site is considered a

According to the Nara document, the authenticity and value is defined by

In this context, the analysis of damage, according to the present study, is

In the context of Cuenca, it is important to mention that earthen architec-

1.3.2 Conclusions of inventories and restoration projects

-- The analysis of damage in inventories does not iden-

1.4.2 Construction system in earthen architecture

of Cuenca, made of earth and recently

It is hard to define the general properties of the adobe, since it is almost

be in “Escuela Central” (Cuenca) with

Adobe is very sensitive to humidity and its absorption varies between 0 to

Thermal Conductivity Coefficient and recycled material

Adobe has a very good thermal behavior; it is a hygroscopic material, and

It is interesting to mention the good qualities of adobe when using “recycled

As mentioned above, adobe is a natural building material, made of clay,