Mapping decay: Integrating scales of weathering within a GIS

It is possible to develop a stone weathering/degradation database with wide applicability using a geographic information system (GIS) framework to int egrate spatially and non-spatially referenced data. Two case studies are pr ovided illustrating the manner in which photographic information relevant t o assessing stone degradation may be used within a GIS. A time sequence of old photographs of the Judges Lodgings, Oxford, is located within a relativ e reference framework and classification of weathering forms undertaken. A single photograph of a wall of the School of Geography in Oxford is located within an absolute spatial reference framework and weathering forms classi fied. In the latter example, the problems of scale-dependent definitions of weathering forms are examined. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.