Book excerpt: Architectural heritage is now recognised to be of great importance to the historical identity of a region, town or nation. In order to take care of that heritage, we need to look beyond borders and share experiences and knowledge regarding heritage preservation. This book contains papers covering the latest advances in this field, presented at the twelfth and latest in a series of now-biennial conferences that began in 1989.The series is recognised as the most important conference on the topic. It covers such topics as Heritage architecture and historical aspects, Regional architecture, Preservation of archaeological sites, Maritime heritage, Heritage masonry buildings, Adobe restorations, Wooden structures, Structural issues and restoration, Seismic vulnerability and vibrations, Assessment, retrofitting and reuse of heritage buildings, Surveying and monitoring, Material characterisation and problems, Simulation and modelling, New techniques and materials, Non-destructive techniques, Experimental validation and verification, Performance and maintenance, Environmental damage. Social and economic aspects, and Guidelines, codes and regulations.