Heritage Science Group Data Bank (HSG-DB)
Supporting FAIR data practices in Heritage Science
The Heritage Science Group Data Bank is a digital research platform dedicated to the FAIR acquisition, visualisation, and long-term preservation of data generated by non‑invasive and minimally invasive diagnostic investigations in cultural heritage. Designed as a working tool for the Heritage Science Group (HSG) of the National Institute of Optics, it supports the management of complex datasets arising from advanced optical and scientific analyses, enabling researchers to document, explore, and correlate diagnostic results without compromising the integrity of heritage objects. The platform promotes reproducibility, interoperability, and collaboration, transforming non‑invasive diagnostic data into a sustainable and reusable knowledge resource for heritage science.
The HSG Spectral Database collects data generated by HSG researchers. Since 2020, HSG has focused on the application of Raman spectroscopy — a vibrational spectroscopic technique widely used in heritage science — to the investigation of a broad range of materials, including pigments, polymers, and conservation products. The database is being developed using different Raman spectroscopy modalities, enhancing data quality and reliability.
Explore the Data: Useful Links
Link to: PUBLIC PROJECTS
The link allows users to visualize public research projects documented within the Data Bank, presenting associated diagnostic data and metadata.
Link to: HSG DATA BANK
HSG DB can be explored directly through the web link that provides access to structured diagnostic datasets.
This enables invited users to navigate, query, and visualise non‑invasive analytical data.
Link to: spectral databasE
The HSG Spectral Database offers access to Raman spectroscopic data acquired by HSG researchers on heritage-related materials.
Users can explore high-quality spectral datasets developed using standard Raman methods and advanced techniques such as Sequentially Shifted Excitation.
LINK To: Publications
The link provides access to scientific publications produced by the Heritage Science Group and linked to the stored datasets.
This integration connects experimental data with peer‑reviewed research outputs, enhancing reproducibility and scholarly dissemination.
How to use HSG DB and HSG Spectral database
Find out how to use the HSG DB in the tutorial video
If you want to collaborate with us, email to: hsg@ino.cnr.it
Beyond the surface: the hidden history of a Renaissance shield
A non-invasive investigation reveals the material story of a 16th-century masterpiece.
Through an integrated approach combining advanced techniques, including 3D scanning, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray imaging, CNR-INO researchers studied a damascened steel shield preserved in Bologna. The analyses uncovered details invisible to the naked eye, including traces of gold and silver decorations now hidden beneath corrosion layers, offering new insights into its manufacture and transformations over time.