Preventive Conservation, Condition, Survey and Interventive Processes

Chris Collins,

Palaeontology Conservation Unit

NHM

Condition and Processes

• Complex Single projects• Repetitive stabilisation Processes• Large scale

–Multiple objects–Mass treatment–Stabilisation/preventive

Overview

• Minimum Exhibition work • Changed driver from bench conservation• Research driven (defines preservation of

object)• Preservation of specimens as data• Use in research infrastructure• Range of mixed materials • Manage and Prioritise Work

Standards and Expectations

• Standards – SPNHC– Fitzgerald, Garrett

• Textural Documentation – time consuming

• New Document System– Accuracy– Speed– Review

Project

• Defined processes (hierarchical)• Subject (e.g. zoology, botany etc.) Driven• Defined glossary of terms

– Accurate – Concise

• (Re)searchable• Standardized • Quick and efficient • Image orientated

Modules

• Condition– Survey

• Interventive Process

Tick-Box Form (A)

Tick-Box Form (B)

Condition Module

– Condition of specimen– Collection Survey

• Condition of Object• Condition of Location• Extract to give statistical overview

– Exhibition Condition Report– Pest Reporting

Condition Module

Report Type

• Conservator Condition• Curator Condition• Exhibition Condition• Pest Report

Style of Report Dictates Tabs

Condition - Conservator• Drop down glossary • Agreed by science departments• Defines condition (surface) • Terms defined in Narratives (image)

Location – defines position on object or whole object

Tabs• Overview• Surface• Structural• Resins and Adhesives• Matrix• Labels• Dimensions• Mount/Support• Environment• Risk• Analysis• Notes• Previous Treatments

Condition - Surface

Tabs• Overview• Surface• Structural• Resins and Adhesives• Matrix• Labels• Dimensions• Mount/Support• Environment• Risk• Analysis• Notes• Previous Treatments

Surface powder

ingrained

crystalline

amorphous

prismatic

green

white

yellow

red

other

Condition - Structural

powdering

cracking

joint failed

tension

fractured area

delamination

powdering

shear

highly fractured

Summary overview of structural condition of object

Condition - Survey• Tabs

– Report Type (defines type of survey)• Rolling Survey• Pest Report (Specific Tabs – Pest

Report and Pest Reaction)• Specimen Review

– Location– Container– Specimen– Physical Damage– Resins and Associated Materials– Surface Damage– Organic Hazards– Associated Damage– Reaction– Pests

Type of DamageExtent of Condition

Interventive Processes

• Moved away from Specific Conservation Module

• Defines any Interventive Process undertaken on an object (defined in a narrative module) including;– Remedial conservation– (Destructive) Sampling– Freezing/Pest Treatment– Preparation

Remedial Conservation

Preparation Botany

Sampling

Taxidermy

Preparation Botany

Wet Storage

Interventive Processes

Preparation Entomology

Preparation Mineralogy

Overview Screen

Defines Objects Curator Worker Major Processes

Depending on process defined a new tab will appear

including:

Interventive Processes - Details

Tab defined from processes - overview

Paraloid B72

Material

Defines specific materials linked to each Standard Treatment. Materials can be specified and described in the Narratives Module. The Material Tab allows some variation when defining a generic process such as adhesion.

Standard Treatment

Linked to a standard Treatment Process. A drop-down list of processes has been defined by each user department. The phrase used e.g. adhesion, pinning etc. will be specifically defined in the Narratives Module.

Summary – Defines Standard Processes undertaken on object and location where they are undertaken as part of this treatment

Plastazote Nest

Interventive Processes – Storage/Mount Tab

Defines new storage of mounting of an objects

Interventive Processes – Analysis

Defines Type of Analysis from drop down list

Defines location of analysis on objects

Summary of analysis on areas of object

Multimedia allows results to be seen e.g. Raman or FTIR Spectra

Interventive Processes – Sign Off Tab

Future Development• Links to Environmental Data

(environmental mapping and analysis)

• Establish Flagging of objects at Risks

• Risk Analysis and Modelling of collections

• Life Cycle Analysis

Image Based • Turn image into main

documentation – Image taken– Downloaded directly – Auto-grided– Data mapped onto object

• Drawing tablet• Points or areas• Drop down boxes (derived from

DB)• Linked to environmental data• Flags up risks• 3D (CT, 3D Laser Scan Data)