Fountain Fundamentals Workshop
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) advances the application of science and technology to historic preservation through training, education, research, technology transfer and partnerships.
In the past year, NCPTT has completed a number of projects and activities in support of the Action 25 Research and Technical assistance priority, which calls for NPS to modernize preservation. These include training, events, conferences, new research efforts, and technical consultation.
Training
Within the past year NCPTT has organized:
- A workshop on the preservation of historic fountains at the Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri.
- The second annual Petrographic Analysis for Conservation course at its headquarters in Natchitoches, LA.
- A three-day Architectural Paint Analysis course, also in Natchitoches, LA.
- Three regional cemetery workshops to disseminate best practices in cemetery preservation.
- Two hands-on emergency preparedness and response workshops for the Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative.
John Pojman explains frontal polymerization to students and staff at NCPTT.
Conferences
NCPTT has also hosted a variety of conferences including a webinar on natural and manmade disasters and their effects on archeological and other cultural resources. The Center also:
- Made three presentations at the International Stone Conference, Columbia University, New York.
- Presented at the AIC conference on helping to establish the Cultural Recovery Center as part of Hurricane Sandy relief.
Death Valley National Park
Research
NCPTT initiated two projects with the Big Rivers District CESU and the Great Basin District CESU with the University of Illinois and the Desert Research Institute for the development and implementation of an archeological management model for Death Valley National Landmark. In addition, NCPTT has been granted 60,000 supercomputing hours from XSEDE (Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment) for analysis and interpretation.
NCPTT has developed Historic Building Damage Survey software for Open Data Kit (ODK) on Android.
NCPTT consults with Kalaupapa National Historical Park.
Consultations
NCPTT has consulted with Kalaupapa National Historical Park concerning cemetery preservation and stabilization issues as well as stone wall repair and reconstruction, and is developing a training program for park staff for FY’ 14.
In addition to consulting on NPS and other heritage resources across the nation, NCPTT regularly provides expert technical advice to local community preservation organizations. Recently, NCPTT investigated the moisture problems at the historic Lemee House, owned by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches.