Noninvasive low-cost monitoring of moisture in monumental buildings

In this work, a noninvasive low-cost TDR-based system for monitoring moisture content in Cultural Heritage structures is presented. The proposed system relies on an adhesive (removable) tape, constituted by two copper strips which run parallel to each other and act as sensing element. Experimental tests were carried out by intentionally moistening a portion of a wall, and monitoring the TDR response as the moistened area naturally dried up. Preliminary results showed that, thanks to the non-invasiveness features, the proposed system is a good candidate for noninvasive monitoring of moisture in monumental buildings.