The use of Earth Observation for Natural and Cultural Heritage

Climate change, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters; pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization, and unchecked tourist development; armed conflict and war, pose major threats to both, cultural and natural heritage sites. Ongoing monitoring of these heritage sites is therefore necessary. However, doing it on-site becomes costly and sometimes difficult since the heritage site might be in an area of difficult access.

Current advancements in Earth Observation (EO) science and technology allow capturing data for heritage sites with an extremely convenient frequency. The continuous evolution of satellite image resolution now allows detailed monitoring of cultural heritage sites. A large amount of satellite data information is now freely available. The EC Copernicus Programme provides not only free satellite images but also a series of services and associated tools that greatly facilitate the processing of all satellite data. High-resolution satellite images from the private sector, although they come at a certain price, are well-suited to support heritage monitoring activities. In addition, the current emerging technology of drones with various sensors enables the acquisition of extremely high-resolution data for heritage sites.

Techniques to capture data for heritage are basically of two types. Image-based data, supported by photogrammetry, can obtain the corresponding point cloud and use such information to create accurate 3D models. There are also devices that can obtain the point cloud directly (laser scanning, LiDAR, etc.). The tools used for processing heritage data are extremely similar to the tools used for satellite image processing. Therefore, the EO industry, with its current expertise and know-how, has enormous potential to assist heritage related activities. On the other side, not all heritage authorities are aware of the enormous potential and advantages that Earth Observation (all sensors included) can provide to heritage sites.

The purpose of this workshop is to bring state-of-the-art actors in EO for heritage together, to demonstrate to both the EO industry and the heritage audience that EO data and technology have achieved a level of advancement ready to support heritage activities in a wide variety of areas.

This workshop is a joint initiative of ESA and EARSeL to foster a greater uptake of Earth Observation technology in natural and cultural heritage protection, management, conservation and dissemination.

For more than twenty years, starting in partnership with UNESCO, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been at the forefront of exploring new capabilities to integrate EO-derived information more systematically to support natural and cultural heritage. The aim is to strengthening the assessment of the impact of climate change and natural hazards affecting natural and cultural heritage, assisting sites and heritage managers with mitigation and adaptation techniques, and benefit from the systematic approach used in the disaster risk management field. Additionally, ESA research activities are aimed at developing new EO based methodology to improve monitoring, safety and access to cultural heritage, and ensure the effective incorporation of EO information into intelligence models used by investigative teams for aspect related to the illegal looting and trafficking of cultural heritage goods, leveraging key technologies and innovative processing techniques. The effort contributes to maintaining Europe’s international leadership in ensuring safety and security for citizens, and fostering enhanced regional and international cooperation on advancing scientific knowledge, by implementing new developments for better understanding historical climates, landscapes, and human activities through the analysis of satellite data. This can provide insights into past civilizations and guide current conservation efforts.

The European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories (EARSeL) is a scientific network of European remote sensing institutes, coming from both academia and the commercial/industrial sector. It was founded in 1977 under the auspices of the European Space Agency, the Council of Europe and the European Commission,

The principal activities are: 1) stimulating and promoting education and training related to remote sensing and Earth observation,2)  initiating and co-ordinating application-oriented research,3) forming a bridge between technology and applications of interest to the wide user community,4)  assisting the sponsoring agencies in the development of new sensors and systems and in any technical matters of relevance, providing a network of experts for the agencies in Europe,5)  carrying out joint research projects on the use of remote sensing for research, monitoring and education, promoting co-operation between remote sensing experts and the environmental managers and decision-makers.

The main scientific efforts of EARSeL are concentrated in Special Interest Groups (SIGs). The SIGs on Natural and Cultural Heritage focuses on the integration of a set of traditional and innovative technologies for protection and valorization of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Remote sensing and associated digital techniques supporting heritage documentation, preservation, protection and presentation, cover a wide range of technologies, mainly grouped in three major areas: data capture, virtual reconstruction, and visual communication.

The workshop aims to:

• Identify and review methods enabled by geospatial data sources, particularly Earth Observation, to support better detection and characterization of changes and threats to natural and cultural heritage.
• Enhance awareness of the latest developments in geospatial technologies and open-source intelligence in the context of heritage conservation.
• Identify gaps in administrative capacity or expertise among heritage authorities.
• Collect insights on priority areas to improve the integration of EO capabilities in heritage monitoring and conservation workflows.
• Aligning with stakeholders’ agendas, highlight the importance of developing strategies for heritage protection that are evidence-based and data-driven.
• Inform the definition of requirements for Earth Observation and other geospatial products and services supporting heritage monitoring and protection.
• Outline a way forward to implement new solutions for a wider uptake of EO in heritage monitoring and conservation activities within the ESA research activities.

The workshop will cover topics related to multidisciplinary approach combining emerging technologies and their applications in heritage monitoring and preservation, but also in engaging a wider community to better understand supporting policies.

The workshop will be structured around the main aspects of EO for heritage protection: monitoring, preserving and access; the abstracts shall be submitted indicating on the of the following topics:

Monitoring Heritage: This category focuses on innovative techniques and technologies for real-time and comprehensive monitoring of cultural and natural heritage sites. It includes integration of multi-sensor data, environmental impact assessments, and applications of advanced geospatial data analysis.

Preserving Heritage: This category addresses novel approaches and strategies for the conservation and preservation of heritage sites. It covers risk assessment and mitigation, restoration and rehabilitation efforts, and the use of EO data in planning and executing conservation projects.

Access to Heritage Data: This category explores methods to improve accessibility to heritage data and sites. It includes the development of open-source platforms and tools, community engagement and education initiatives, and policies supporting the use of EO in heritage site management.

Expected Outcomes:

The workshop is expected to result in a greater understanding of the use, best practices, and potential of Earth Observation in the monitoring, protecting and access natural and cultural heritage. It is expected to generate a set of prioritized recommendations for technological developments to further the development and uptake of EO in the domain.

This workshop is intended for includes heritage professionals such as archaeologists, conservators, and historians working on cultural and natural heritage site preservation. Earth observation scientists and researchers, policy makers and government officials from heritage departments and environmental agencies, as well as NGOs focused on heritage conservation and environmental protection, will also find it relevant. Technology developers and industry representatives providing satellite imagery, drone technology, and geospatial analysis tools are key participants. Academics and researchers engaged in heritage conservation studies, community and cultural leaders interested in leveraging EO technologies, and representatives from international organizations like UNESCO are crucial attendees. Environmental and climate change experts, along with public and private sector collaborators involved in EO technology initiatives for heritage conservation, will also benefit from the workshop. This diverse group collectively contributes to a comprehensive approach to heritage monitoring, preservation, and access, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among various disciplines and sectors.