A lidar experiment for the characterization of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic biodeteriogens by means of remote sensed autofluorescence spectra

Remote laser-induced autofluorescence measurements have been performed on a set of biodeteriogens samples selected in an archaeological site, Tropaeurn Traiani, near Constanta, Romania. Both photoautotrophic (lichens) and heterotrophic biodeteriogens (pure cultures of fungi and bacteria) were examined with a high resolution fluorescence lidar system featuring a UV laser (XeCl at 308 nm) as excitation source. The measurements were carried out on the in vivo samples placed at a distance of about 25 m in the outdoor, in full sunlight. The results confirm the fluorescence lidar technique as a powerful method for the remote detection and characterisation of photoautotrophic biodeteriogens and also open good prospects for remote, non-invasive monitoring of heterotrophic biodeteriogens on non-movable objects, also outdoors