Atlas of Materials Pathology
20 years
ago, some of the current members of Cetec started a project, which its main
goal was to create a terminological dictionary in Catalan about the alterations
on stone. The project was successfully finished but due to the limited number
of recipients, there wasn’t a need to publish it. It wasn't a concern for us
then and it isn't one now, we ourself thought that a book format was not the
most appropriate for a work that has strong graphic content such as pictures
and specific illustrations, and that without it the product would be “cripple”.
This made the project, stay in a state of slumber, waiting.
Nevertheless,
with the new technological advances, it was awaken 3 years ago. Although in the
last 20 years there has been numerous publications on the same subject of our “terminological
dictionary”. Most are found on paper format, and some can also be found in a
digital format on the internet, and are dedicated to specific materials (
stone, ceramic, glass, etc) and pathologies that affect them. Both formats also
include pictures on how these materials are affected by its unique and not so
unique pathologies.
This
numerous publications to which we refer to are evidence of the growing
preoccupation of a young field such as it is the conservation of the heritage, and
its struggle to find a communal language, with new tools and terms as our
knowledge grows on the subject.
The Atlas we
present tyres to solve some of this issues. Thanks to the internet we now have
access to a powerful tool that allows us to express and share without limits on
size and volume. The Atlas does not belong to any group and, on the same level,
does not intent on giving prestige to any particular institution. It is a tool
with the sole purpose of extending, sharing the knowledge of a concrete subject
that with every passing day becomes more and more important and alive within
many parts of our modern society. This, our Atlas is within reach of all whom
would want to access it, either to learn from it or to contribute with more new
knowledge. Let's the show begin!
Montserrat Pugès. Head of editorial comitee.