Laser techniques offer possibilities for the examination and conservation of artwork, and for the prevention of cultural heritage. This collection of peer reviewed papers from the 8th International Conference on Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Sibiu, Romania, September 21-25, 2009, addresses various aspects of cultural heritage preservation (laser induced phenomenas, laser investigations and recent laboratory studies and onsite applications).

The main topics include:

Innovative approaches in laser cleaning researches and instrumentation development;

Laser investigation and diagnostics methods;

Monitoring, imaging and documentation of artwork.

Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks VIII will appeal to laser scientists, conservation scientists, scientists in the field of optoelectronics, chemistry, IT and biology, conservators-restorers, architects, art historians, archaeologists, and decision makers in the field of conservation and restoration of artworks.

Laser systems and advanced optical techniques offer new solutions for conservation scientists, and provide answers to challenges in Conservation Science. Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks comprises selected contributions from the 7th International Conference on Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks (LACONA VII, Madrid, Spain, 17-21 September 2007), and is a comprehensive collection on both emerging and well established applications of laser systems and techniques used to address conservation problems.

The topics covered include:

Innovative approaches in laser cleaning;

Analytical techniques;

Developments in portable laser systems for remote and on-site applications;

Laser cleaning of monuments and sculptures, paintings and polychromes, metal objects and documents and textiles.

Developments on structural diagnosis, monitoring, imaging and documentation of artworks.

Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks will be essential reference material for students, professionals and scientists working in heritage and Conservation Science.