Analysis of structural integrity through the combination of non-destructive testing techniques in heritage inspections: the study case of San Segundo’s Hermitage (Ávila, Spain)

The establishment of proper conservation and preservation actions has become one of the major concerns for historic cities. Given that possible damage affecting these buildings can be fast-acting and irreversible, the evaluation of the damage origin must be faced from the application of different prospecting possibilities adapted to the specific conditions of the approach. In this regard, the application of non-destructive testing techniques has become one of the most common practices for the characterization of pathologies in cultural heritage. The present research focuses on the analysis of the structural integrity of the Hermitage of San Segundo (center of Spain) through the application of these prospective methodologies that do not pose any damage to the asset. More specifically, the work combines geophysical and optical techniques (ground-penetrating radar, terrestrial laser scanner and drone with RGB camera, and infrared thermography) to provide a complete characterization of the analyzed building. Results show that the combination of the three non-destructive techniques allows detecting defects, defining their possible causes and providing a solid basis for future decision-making regarding maintenance and restoration actions. Methodological integration has shown that certain pathologies can only be detectable with specific techniques while others have been corroborated through the results obtained with the three testing methodologies.