Hyperspectral imaging is an analytical technique that is increasingly being used in the field of cultural heritage. Its advantage lies in the fact that it requires neither a sample nor physical contact with the surface for analysis. By capturing an image of an object, it also captures the spectrum of reflected light for each pixel across a broad range of wavelengths, typically covering both the visible and near infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. This enables us to perform both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data.
However, despite its many advantages, the use of this technique is often overlooked among conservators-restorers, as they are unsure in which cases they can rely on this method to obtain information. The purpose of this master’s thesis is thus to demonstrate the possibilities this technique offers and to explain how it works by comparing it to a simpler, fundamental method of cultural heritage documentation – photography.
Using a set of five objects made of various materials, I compare what can be seen in a standard photograph taken in visible light, under ultraviolet fluorescence, and in a hyperspectral image. I also describe the various possibilities for analytical research that are part of this method.
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