An integrated framework for climate-resilient earthen cultural heritage.

Objective

Earthen cultural heritage (ECH) sites, representing millennia of construction traditions, are increasingly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events and environmental degradation. Without addressing the growing vulnerabilities of these structures to environmental stressors, the risk of losing not only their material essence but also their cultural resonance increases. Despite recent advances in conservation science, current methods lack the predictive capabilities necessary to address climate-specific threats to ECH. The INTERRA project (An Integrated Framework for Climate-Resilient Earthen Cultural Heritage) addresses this gap by combining hygro-thermo-mechanical (HTM) monitoring with Historical Building Information Modelling (HBIM) to create a comprehensive framework for assessing and mitigating climate risks. The project will be hosted during the outgoing phase at Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), with a secondment at ETH Zürich (Switzerland), and return phase at University of Minho (Portugal). Through collaboration with these three world-class hosting institutions, the researcher will acquire advanced skills in multiphysics modelling and conservation technologies. The development of innovative tools through INTERRA will provide real-time data on the structural behaviour of earthen buildings and establish benchmarks for future conservation efforts. This methodology aims to preserve both the physical integrity and the cultural significance of ECH structures, extending their lifespan, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and ensuring the continuity of these cultural practices for future generations. This approach will foster sustainable conservation actions, enhancing the resilience of ECH in the face of increasing environmental challenges.