The School of Engineering at the University of Vermont (UVM) has been exploring the addition of heritage preservation engineering modules to its existing curriculum. NCPTT and the Getty Conservation Institute hosted a colloquium in June 2009 to identify curricular additions for a program focused on the engineering evaluation and remediation of heritage structures. The colloquium focused on the quantitative techniques and methodologies applied to the engineering evaluation and remediation of heritage structures, and the challenge of ensuring that students acquire the competencies necessary to address the challenges of the market.
Read more →
The 13th Annual Historic Preservation Symposium will be held February 24 and 25, 2012 at the Langford Architecture Complex’s Preston Geren Auditorium, on Texas A&M University’s campus. The theme for this year’s meeting focuses on disaster. Speakers include Donald Friedman, PE, Old Structures, New York, New York; Randolph Langenbach, Conservationtech, Oakland, California; Robert Z. Melnick, [...]
Read more →
Days before touch down, managers and stewards of historic landscapes should be well prepared for the aftermath of a major catastrophe.
Preparedness at Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens begins at the start of Hurricane Season, not days before a storm. Major efforts include the thinning of historically significant trees, as well as trees close to important structures, to allow for strong winds to pass through and not bend and break the upper limbs and branches.
Read more →
Creating a disaster plan before a disaster strikes can be of great assistance in mitigating damage and loss. There are online tools such as dPlan that provide templates to help institutions develop a customized plan. Disaster plans assist in identifying risks and create procedures to follow if an event occurs.
The best disaster plans in the world will not be of assistance if no one knows about it or it is not maintained and updated! Planning for your collections should be done at the same time as preparing a plan for your building or site.
Read more →
Disasters can strike at anytime, sometimes with little or no warning. Experience has shown us that while natural disasters can leave a path of destruction there are also man-made disasters that can bring an area to its knees.
Being informed and preparing for those that could affect you are key to saving your site, building and collections.
Read more →
If any substantial changes are planned to prepare a historic building for a disaster please refer to the Secretary of Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Structures and check with all local and state authorities before making any changes.
This article provides information on disaster preparedness in the face of floods, high winds, hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes.
Preparing your collection for a disaster could greatly increase what survives. Northeast Document Conservation Center recommends to first prepare an emergency preparedness plan.
This will allow your staff to respond quickly before, during and after a disaster with explict instructions that will provide the best practices for preparing and salvaging your collections. For assistance in preparing a disaster plan please refer to our Disaster Plan section.
Read more →
If a disaster has affected your collection, time is of the essence. The following pages provide basic information on a variety of materials that may be part of your collection.
The Salvage at a Glance series is part of the NPS Museum Management Program’s Conserve O Grams.
Conserve O Grams are short leaflets that focus on caring for museum collections. For the full version or additional leaflets please visit the Museum Management Program.
Read more →
A good plan can determine whether a cultural collection survives a disaster or fades into memory. And while nature can be unpredictable, the online disaster-planning portal “dPlan” offers a streamlined, reliable way for institutions to protect their cultural collections. Created through funding by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, dPlan is a free, online tool that allows cultural institutions to complete a customizable disaster plan for their organizations. NEDCC, a nonprofit regional center for the preservation and conservation of paper-based materials, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), developed the tool.
Read more →
The NCPTT 2010 Annual Report outlines research, training, and grant activities undertaken by the Center during FY2010.
NCPTT advances the application of science and technology to historic preservation. Working in the fields of archeology, architecture, landscape architecture and materials conservation, the Center accomplishes its mission through training, education, research, technology transfer and partnerships.
Read more →
