Infrared vision for artwork and cultural heritage NDE studies: principles and case studies

This text briefly presents the basis of ‘infrared vision’ in the context of cultural heritage studies. Infrared vision here encompasses near-infrared as well as thermal infrared schemes of inspection. The theory is briefly presented and attention is then focused on several non-destructive evaluation (NDE) case studies in cultural heritage: painting artwork, under-painting lettering retrieval and the investigation of Egyptian pyramids through the ScanPyramids Mission, led by the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University and the HIP (Heritage Innovation Preservation) Institute.