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Advances in multispectral and hyperspectral imaging for archaeology and art conservation

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Abstract

Multispectral imaging has been applied to the field of art conservation and art history since the early 1990s. It is attractive as a non-invasive imaging technique because it is fast and hence capable of imaging large areas of an object giving both spatial and spectral information. This paper gives an overview of the different instrumental designs, image processing techniques and various applications of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging to art conservation, art history and archaeology. Recent advances in the development of remote and versatile multispectral and hyperspectral imaging as well as techniques in pigment identification will be presented. Future prospects including combination of spectral imaging with other non-invasive imaging and analytical techniques will be discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Contributions from past and current research fellows, students and technicians at Nottingham Trent University are gratefully acknowledged: Rebecca Lange, Simon Godber, Tom Vajzovic, Kafing Keita, Andrei Lucian, Borislava Peric, David Parker and Sammy Cheung. Special thanks to Rebecca Lange for making last minute illustrations. I would like to thank my collaborators John Cupitt, Helen Howard, Sophie Julien-Lees, Sarah Neate, Chris Pannell, David Saunders, Marika Spring, Jane Spooner, Jon Ward and Qunxi Zhang for valuable contributions to the various spectral imaging projects. Some of the work presented here was funded by UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant (EP/E016227/1), EU FP5 supported CRISATEL project (IST1999-20163), Royal Society Research Grant (2005–2006), Leverhulme Trust Project Grant (2006–2009) and a Stimulating Innovation for Success grant from Nottingham Trent University (2006–2007).

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    Haida Liang

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Liang, H. Advances in multispectral and hyperspectral imaging for archaeology and art conservation. Appl. Phys. A 106, 309–323 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-011-6689-1

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