Design and development of a new high speed performance fluorescence imaging lidar for the diagnostics of indoor and outdoor cultural heritage

Fluorescence lidar imaging is a remote sensing technique that can be used to obtain hyper-spectral fluorescence images on a monument from a distance by using a low-energy laser beam. The tech-nique represents a particular economic advantage - in terms of time, money and specialised personnel - for an extensive monitoring of the outdoor stone cultural heritage. In addition, fluorescence lidar imaging data can also be presented in an easy-to-read output format, like false-colour thematic maps, which can become an ef-fective support for restorers, historians and decision-makers. This paper presents the main technical features of a new fluorescence imaging lidar system specifically developed for the remote, non-invasive diagnostics on the cultural heritage by CNR-IFAC in collaboration with a private company, the El.En. Group S.p.A., in the frame of the SIDART national-funded project.