Experimental Assessment of Climate-Induced Impacts on Heritage Materials: Application of the Damage Index Methodology in the Case Study of Bova

This paper presents an advanced methodology for defining a Damage Index to assess the climate vulnerability of material cultural heritage. The Index is based on three core factors: environmental conditions (Fenv), material properties (Fmat), and external drivers (Fext), each represented by specific indicators, weighted and normalized on a 0–3 scale using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), allowing for structured risk evaluation. This contribution focuses specifically on the experimental assessment of material factors (Fmat), aimed at determining the physical and chemical properties of heritage materials through a replicable site-specific approach. The study is structured in three sections: the first outlines the overall framework of the Index; the second details the experimental and simulation procedures for assessing material properties; the third presents its application to the case study of Palazzo Mesiani in Bova (Reggio Calabria). These analyses were conducted by the MATeRICs Interdepartmental Laboratory at Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, using non-destructive techniques such as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The data were processed via a dedicated spreadsheet enabling step-by-step calculation of the Index. The case study confirms the methodology’s applicability and potential for integration within Living Labs and digital platforms, offering a scalable tool to support adaptive conservation strategies for heritage exposed to evolving climate-related risks.