Smartphone-based diagnostics with coherent and infrared imaging for cultural heritage

Nondestructive optical techniques are crucial in heritage science for monitoring the condition of artworks in full field. Various imaging methods based on infrared and interferometry techniques have been proposed, but they often require specialized training and expensive equipment. This paper explores the emerging field of smartphone science and its potential to revolutionize artwork diagnostics, especially for cultural institutions with limited budgets. The smartphone science approach is divided into using the device ‘as is’ or enhancing it with add-on sensors. After a concise overview of smartphone sensing in different fields, the paper demonstrates smartphone-based optical diagnostics on traditional wooden painting models, employing coherent techniques like laser speckle imaging and moiré fringe technique, and infrared techniques like reflectography and thermography. The comparison of obtained results with established instrumentation in the field clearly shows that smartphone-based diagnostics have the potential to greatly contribute to cultural heritage preservation and conservation, transforming the field’s accessibility and cost-effectiveness.