On the occasion of G7 Science a project for a new apparatus for digital radiographs and computerized tomography for cultural heritage

The Challenge for the International Scientific Community to design a new apparatus for digital radiographs and computerized tomography for cultural heritage starts from Turin.
The Department of Physics at the University of Turin, the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the Conservation and Restoration Centre “La Venaria Reale” Foundation (CCR) already designed and implemented in the period 2010-2013, thanks to a funding from the Piedmont Region, a unique apparatus for the realization of X-ray radiographs and X-ray tomography on large in size artworks. The information obtained by this technique is useful for their study and as diagnostic for restoration and conservation purposes.
Over the last few years, dozens of tomographic and hundreds of radiographic images of artworks from all over Italy have been made, including prestigious works such as the “Double Body” of Pietro Piffetti (1738), commissioned by the Quirinale. The Crucifix attributed to Donatello coming from the Church of Servants of Padua, as well as valuable canvases and paintings larger than 4 meters.
In recent years, the University of Turin has started a path towards a open science model. The University of Turin has activated scientific projects and collaborations with public bodies and companies within the paradigm of Open Science, focusing on subjects of great economic and social impact.
In this context it starts from Turin, on the occasion of the G7 Science, an open invitation to the international scientific community to take part in a large-scale research to collaborate to design and implement, according to a model of open innovation, a new digital radiography apparatus and computer tomography for cultural heritage.
INFN through its CHNet network, the University of Turin, and the CCR will make available to all international scientific community their know-how to create, with a spirit of collaboration, a community of researchers and companies dedicated to the design and implementation of the new apparatus. In this framework, the synergy with restorers, archaeologists and art historians will be fundamental, in order to point out the problems the apparatus should be able to solve, and thus evaluate its requirements.