KEYNOTE SPEECH The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) is jointly implemented by the European Environmental Agency and the DG Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. It provides geospatial information on land cover and its changes, land use, vegetation status, water cycle and cryosphere variables to a broad range of users in Europe and across the World in the field of environmental terrestrial applications. This presentation will summarize the current portfolio emphasizing the near real time operational products and services that can be used for Earth Observation activities with potential focus on Natural Heritage (NH) sites and on the correlated variables and parameters. In terms of Land Cover and Land Use Mapping, the Dynamic Global Land Cover product offers annual global land cover maps and cover fraction layers, providing a detailed view of land cover at three classification levels (including FAO's modular-hierarchical Land Cover Classification System) at 100 m spatial resolution. Starting from 2025 this product will be offered at 10 m resolution. The yearly global land cover and change maps will be based on monthly S1/S2 land features and land categories layers, also potentially to be used for NH sites monitoring. Among the Priority Area Monitoring group products, the High Resolution Hot Spot Monitoring (HSM) aim to provide tailored and more detailed land cover/land cover change and land use information on specific areas of interest, prone to specific environmental challenges, which has been already used in collaboration with UNESCO for monitoring NH sites. Moreover, the next phase of this activity will also include an Alert System, which will allow early detection of change, e.g. deforestation. A small concrete example about a NH deforestation case inside Virunga NP (DRC) will be shown. The CLMS portfolio also include a systematic monitoring of Bio-geophysical Parameters suitable for NH continuous monitoring.

First studies showcasing the potential of satellite-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) to search for archaeological tells in Near and Middle Eastern archaeological landscapes date back to the early 2000s. Since then, free and open access global DEM datasets at medium resolution such as NASA’s 90 m Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) surface model have been increasingly exploited by archaeologists to map tells on a supra-regional scale, and thus analyse past settlement patterns. However, in the specialist literature there is little to no evidence that landscape archaeologists have investigated the improvements brought by higher resolution satellite-derived DEMs, as they were made available by space agencies. To understand how these datasets may support archaeological surveying, we test two high-resolution DEMs generated with (1) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and (2) stereo-photogrammetry (i.e. the two methods typically used for DEM generation), and assess their performance in comparison with openly distributed datasets (i.e. 30 m SRTM DEM and the Advanced Land Observing Satellite World 3D–30 m - AW3D30). We selected the 10 m posting InSAR-derived DEM generated from 3 m resolution StripMap HIMAGE mode images acquired by the Italian Space Agency’s COSMO-SkyMed SAR constellation, and the 5 m posting stereoscopic Cartosat-1 Euro-Maps 3D DEM made available through ESA’s Earthnet Third Party Missions programme and ad-hoc call for R&D applications. The demonstration was run at regional scale in the Governorate of Wasit in central Iraq, where the literature suggested a high density of sites, despite knowledge gaps about their location and spatial distribution. The enhanced observation capability of COSMO-SkyMed DEM was found advantageous to detect both well preserved and levelled or disturbed tells, standing out for more than 4 m from the surrounding landscape. The mapped tells were then compared and cross-validated with those detected using the Cartosat-1 dataset. Combined exploitation of the two DEMs allows improving the knowledge of type, distribution and condition of local archaeological deposits, also in the context of contemporary land use changes and threats for conservation. Archaeological heritage in Wasit is currently at risk of vanishing due to natural erosion and weathering, encroachment of anthropogenic activities (e.g., ploughing, infrastructure projects, modern settlement and dam construction) and looting. DEM integration with Google Earth time-lapses (where available at suitable resolution), CORONA KH-4B tiles, 1950s Soviet maps and Copernicus Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery, enabled the identification of looting incidents and tells affected by anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., road and canal constructions or ploughing). While the results of our experiments contribute to the current vivid research on Iraqi archaeological heritage and its challenges for conservation, the developed methodology may stimulate further exploitation in archaeological landscapes with similar characteristics elsewhere, and the future development of semi-automated site and looting detection approaches.

Since the adoption of the World Heritage Convention (1972), modern technologies have significantly changed the way our society behaves and operates, with an increased demand for energy, fast and reliable communications, etc. Some current technologies (excesive contruction, deforestation, etc.) might contribute to negative impacts on heritage sites, for example  through climate change and/or excessive tourism; however, modern digital technologies can also be extremely beneficial for heritage activities. In this paper, we focus on how modern digital geo-science and geo-technology can support heritage authorities’ daily work. We introduce herein the concept of Digital Geoheritage. By this terminology we refer to the data, methods and technologies used to collect, distribute, store, analyze, process, and present georeferenced data in support of heritage applications. Our main research aim is to keep the complexity of “Digital Geoheritage” among the experts in geomatics and remote sensing, deriving easy to understand results which can then help heritage authorities to discover and understand the enormous that all these technologies can provide as support in their heritage activities. This research case, implemented through an interdisciplinary scientific approach, originally aimed to support the preservation, restoration and management of a cultural heritage site; however, it was later expanded to also support archaeological research, stability risk assessment, planning, design, education, dissemination and promotion. The use of digital geo-sciences for the benefit of the local Maya communities living around a heritage site is also illustrated. As far as data for our research activities we have been using some satellites from the Copernicus family, high-resolution satellite data, UAVs with standard digital camera and/or infrared camera. For some image data processes, we have used Artificial Intelligence to develop software to facilitate the process. The presentation will illustrate how Earth Observation and Remote Sensing in general is being used to satisfy the requirements of the Mexican National Authorities who are partners and co-authors of this paper.

Archaeologists commonly use airborne LIDAR technology to produce 3D models of structures, even when obscured by a forest canopy. However, this technology has a high cost, both from the plane itself and from the processing of the LIDAR point cloud. Furthermore, this technique can only be used over limited regions. This paper proposes a technique that uses SAR satellite imagery to identify man-made structures hidden by a forest canopy. To do so, we exploit the Ascending and Descending passes of Sentinel-1 so that we obtain two images of the candidate site but from different sight directions. Because of cardinal effects, a large enough building will sign differently from the comparatively isotropic forest canopy it is obscured by. Practically, the technique is based on the ratio of backscattered intensity from these two illumination angles and is well adapted for large areas. The advantages and shortcomings are discussed for the specific case of Sentinel-1 SAR images over two Maya archaeological sites in Central America. Our analysis shows that SAR satellite imagery might provide a free, global-scale way of preselecting sites with large or tall structures to complement LIDAR technology.

This study examined the application of LiDAR data from the Alianza REDD+ initiative, initially collected for forest monitoring, to visualize and semi-automatically map archaeological structures in the Yucatan region of Mexico. A key advantage of LiDAR is its ability to penetrate vegetation, revealing structures not visible in aerial photographs or satellite images. Our research involved processing the LiDAR data into Digital Surface Models (DSMs) and applying various visualization techniques, such as the Enhanced v3 Multi-scale Topographic Position (e3MSTP), to improve the detection of archaeological features lying within forest cover. Following the visualization process, deep learning computer vision techniques, specifically the Mask R-CNN model, were utilized to automate the mapping of these features using tools in ArcGIS Pro for data preparation. The model was trained on ArcGIS Online with annotated datasets of terrain visualizations from areas with ancient Maya settlements, focusing on detecting and segmenting structures like buildings and ring-shaped features such as ovens and cisterns. The results indicated that the Mask R-CNN model effectively detected and segmented buildings, achieving a balance between precision and recall. However, for ring-shaped structures, the model showed high precision but lower recall, suggesting cautious predictions with some missed detections. This highlights the need for further optimization, particularly in increasing recall for ring-shaped structures. In conclusion, the research demonstrated the potential of re-analyzing LiDAR data using terrain visualization tools and deep learning models for archaeological studies, which could help landscape archaeologists to gain valuable insights into ancient civilizations. Future research should focus on expanding the dataset, developing more objective methods for training and test data collection, and exploring advanced training methods to improve the detection and segmentation of archaeological structures.

This work outlines recent results from various activities and projects aimed at monitoring, preserving, and proactively safeguarding cultural heritage (CH) sites against both natural and man-made threats, including extreme events driven by climate change. The primary goal was to develop a multi-risk assessment approach for these areas, starting with a review of existing data. This phase considers the vulnerabilities, exposure levels of the elements at risk, and conservation states of the sites, as well as the interactions between different geo-hazards and cultural heritage. The following phase involved the use of Earth Observation (EO) data, specifically through multi-temporal InSAR processing, analysis and interpretation. Additionally, field surveys are integrated with other EO and in situ monitoring systems to produce an effective mitigation and conservation plan. Several case studies are discussed to demonstrate the feasibility of this site-specific approach, which takes into account the unique characteristics of each site, such as its natural and man-made context, geological setting, and the different geohazards it faces. These case studies include the ancient Port of Classe (Emilia Romagna), the Archaeological area of the Phlegrean Fields, the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia (Campania), the historical towns of Volterra and Pienza (Tuscany), Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio), the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina (Sicily), and the Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso in Chile. Depending on the sensor characteristics (e.g. spatial resolution, microwave band, revisit time) SAR images acquired from different constellations such as Cosmo-SkyMed (first and Second Generation) and Sentinel-1 were processed using D-InSAR approaches to assess the spatial and temporal evolution of deformations induced mainly by subsidence and slope instability. Based on ground and site conditions the Permanent Scatterer (PS) and Small Baseline (SB) algorithms were employed to produce maps of measurement points, average displacement rates, and time series for the analysed period. Where available, local GNSS data were used to calibrate EO data with ground truth. The results emphasize the value of a well-tested approach offering to site managers a powerful tool for protecting cultural heritage sites from geo-hazards related damage.

The Fucino area (Abruzzo region), once the third largest lake in Italy, is a territory that has undergone drastic changes and witnessed numerous natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, which have shaped the relationship between humans and the natural environment. The presence of a lake with an unstable regime has led to the emergence of a culture of water management, developed since prehistoric times. This culture entails a strong adaptation to the lacustrine environment, but also a constant aspiration to reverse the natural order by transforming water into land. While ancient texts are an exceptional source for understanding the history of Fucino, the interpretation of satellite images provided by commercial platforms (e.g. Google Earth, Mapbox, Esri) represents the most effective tools for 'visualizing' the technological endeavors of the Roman era aimed at draining the lake and obtaining cultivable land. Starting from the 2nd century AD, a complex system of channels has been set up and enhanced over the centuries, leading to a regular pattern in the land division (i.e. cadaster). The (still) humid bottom of the lake has fossilized part of these monumental anthropic operations. Our research begins with the acquisition of these fossil traces revealed by satellite images. In a further step, all the elements are automatically classified by their orientation in Morphal environment, to identify coherent morphological grids, such as Roman land division models (centuriations) applied to the drained lands. This work aims at narrating a chapter of the story of this “intangible” cultural heritage whose traces are detectable only through remote sensing techniques. The Fucino area represents a site worth to be better investigated (e.g. through aerial campaign), documented and preserved.

Space-borne remote sensing has increasingly supported archaeological and cultural heritage applications over the past century, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging has played a key role in advancing this application field. In this work, SAR data capabilities for archaeological prospection and cultural heritage site monitoring are investigated and demonstrated through two case studies from the wider Province of Rome (Italy). Medium to very high resolution SAR scenes acquired by the RADARSAT-2 and Copernicus Sentinel-1 missions using the C-band, ALOS-1 using the L-band and COSMO-SkyMed using the X-band are exploited to trial the detection of crop marks at (semi-)buried and sub-surface archaeological features in the archaeological landscape of Ostia-Portus. The analysis highlights a progressive increase in the detectability of smaller archaeological features when moving from L to X band, from co- to cross-polarizations, and toward finer spatial resolutions. Big data stacks of Sentinel-1 imagery are also processed with the parallelized Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) multi-temporal Interferometric SAR (InSAR) method to extract ground displacement time series and monitor the stability of cultural heritage assets within the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) of Rome. Several hotspots showing significant land deformation (mainly indicating the occurrence of subsidence) can be identified, such as in the area of Fiumicino International Airport and along the Tiber River alluvium, involving monuments and heritage assets. Land subsidence patterns distributed along the Tiber River course are spatially confined due to subsurface geology and interactions with urban development. In addition to the well-known subsidence patterns within the UNESCO WHS, at Basilica Saint Paul Outside the Walls and Grotta Perfetta valley, Sentinel-1 InSAR results highlight a clear subsidence pattern with rates up to -0.9 cm/year affecting the residential quarter of Valco San Paolo. This work was carried out in the framework of ESA and Chinese MOST Dragon-5 SARchaeology project.

Heritage, both cultural and natural, is a complex ecosystem made up of heterogeneous and interrelated components. Thus, its preservation requires a multidisciplinary approach, providing a foundation of knowledge for the development of safeguarding strategies and policies. In this sense, the growing availability, accuracy, and temporal continuity of remote sensing and Earth observation data represent essential tools for heritage monitoring and risk assessment. Starting from two pilot cases, the Island of Mozia (Sicily) and the Valleys of Tortona (Piedmont), methodologies based on the integration of multi-sensor satellite imagery from the Copernicus program, Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3, with aerial imagery at different spatial and temporal resolutions have been developed. Data processing based on advanced geospatial analytics, including change detection and time-series analysis, enables to monitor and quantify environmental and anthropogenic risks for the areas and to derive technical requirements on the scalability and replicability of the methodology. Both pilot sites present significant heritage elements: on the Island of Mozia, located in a protected marine area, an archaeological site coexists with the wine cultivation, while Tortona is a 25,000 inhabitants Roman age settlement at the outskirts of the UNESCO Wine Cultura Landscape of site Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. By applying big data analytics, we implement a scalable and automated workflow capable of processing large volumes of satellite data in near real-time. A detailed assessment of land-use changes, vegetation stress, and surface deformation integrating Copernicus data and products with high-resolution aerial datasets. The risk assessment, through a multi-criteria analysis framework, incorporates machine learning techniques to simulate “what-if” scenarios using Copernicus climate datasets. The modularity and scalability of the approach, implementing automated data processing pipelines in a dedicated SW platform, enables its adaptation to various cultural and natural heritage contexts, offering a replicable, cost-effective solution for near real-time monitoring and early warning systems, accessible by the user, supporting also preservation efforts.

The PERSEO project (Prisma hyperspectral image Enhancement for Revealing cultural heritage Sites from Earth Observation) aims to ascertain the suitability of PRISMA hyperspectral data for applications in the Cultural Heritage domain. In collaboration with the Italian Space Agency, the project leverages the PRISMA satellite and advanced pansharpening techniques to address the limitations of lower-resolution satellite imagery, allowing for the detection of small-scale archaeological features. Key case studies include Aquileia (Italy), known for its archaeological and geomorphological richness. In this area high-resolution LiDAR Digital Terrain Models, high-resolution RGB data and multitemporal satellite images were interpreted to create a georeferenced dataset of over 400 geoarchaeological features. This dataset is used to compare the performance of machine learning models in automatically detecting sub-soil traces using Sentinel-2 data against the usage of PRISMA data. The project has evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively some state-of-the-art pansharpening techniques (GSA, MTF-GLP and HySure) in enhancing PRISMA’s 30m hyperspectral data’s spatial resolution to a 5m resolution. A PyTorch reimplementation of HySure has accelerated processing times by 6x, significantly improving the detection of subsoil features while preserving the spatial and spectral quality of the original implementation. The development of multitemporal analysis techniques is another aspect of the project deemed critical by the nature of the crop and soil marks interpreted when evaluating the presence of a sub-soil archaeological object. By analysing time series of images taken across different seasons, the project addresses the challenges of seasonal vegetation and soil variations, improving the visibility of archaeological traces throughout the years. As PERSEO progresses, these enhanced detection methods and automated workflows will streamline the use of hyperspectral satellite imagery in archaeological prospection, contributing significantly to cultural heritage preservation. Future work includes extending these methods to additional cases, improving the efficiency of detection with PRISMA imagery, and further refining machine learning applications.

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Iraq is among the five world countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Its cultural landscapes and heritage are exposed to erosion, weathering, abandonment and, eventually, disappearance. An approach combining satellite and on-the-ground observations to investigate anthropogenic and climate change-related processes is being developed in the framework of the Italian National Research Council – UK Royal Society bilateral cooperation programme. The analysis focuses on a wide region spanning between the capital city of Baghdad and the south-eastern sector of the country, encompassing the Ahwar of Southern Iraq UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Wasit governorate. The analysis workflow capitalises on decades of satellite imagery, including declassified panchromatic data from the United States Cold War Era HEXAGON (KH-9) programme, Copernicus Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 multispectral data, Planet Dove multispectral imagery, plus very high resolution scenes over selected priority sites acquired by commercial optical missions and the COSMO-SkyMed SAR constellation. A standardised image interpretation strategy is adopted to record features representing components of the ancient and traditional landscape of all periods, including tells, forts, canals, water bodies and wells. This includes longstanding landscapes used up until very recently. Landscape changes are captured via Interferometric SAR (InSAR) processing of yearly and monthly pairs of Sentinel-1 and COSMO-SkyMed scenes, and by computing time variations in surface reflectance and vegetation indices (e.g. Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) across yearly pairs of Sentinel-2 composites. Country-wide snapshots of sectors impacted by recent dust storms are provided by Sentinel-3 data. The integrated methodology enables generation of satellite-derived products depicting occurred transformations, regional susceptibility and endangered heritage sites. Among the latter, this work showcases 2014-2023 yearly and 2023-2024 monthly change detection maps based on InSAR coherence, spectral and vegetation indices variation, and a regional scale zonation of areas impacted by dust storms occurred in 2022.

Extreme weather events linked to climate change pose an increasing threat to cultural and natural heritage (CNH), as well as to the safety of their users. Lack of appropriate actions, inadequate restorations and lack of management plans increase its vulnerability. The present contribution aims at illustrating a WebGIS-based solution and tools specifically dedicated to the safeguarding of CNH exposed to extreme weather events and designed for the self-assessment of its vulnerability. Initially implemented in the framework of the Interreg CE projects ProteCHt2save and STRENCH, these tools will be further enhanced in the ongoing Interreg CE project INACO, which development is strongly based on a user-driven approach and the multidisciplinary collaboration among the scientific community, public authorities and the private sector. The new risk assessment tools will provide hazard maps at European scale where CNH is exposed to heavy rain, flooding and prolonged drought. Hazard prone areas are assessed by the elaboration of specific climate extreme indices and by integrating data from Copernicus C3S ERA5 and ERA5 Land, NASA GPM IMERG, E-OBS, and future projections by using climate modelling. Web based and mobile apps will be setup to allow users ranking the vulnerability of the heritage categories under investigation considering their susceptibility, exposure and resilience. These tools will be tested on case studies representative of different CNH categories in three different environmental contexts linked to European river basin districts: sea/river shore, lake shore, and inland river shore. The application of EO-based products and their integration with climate projections constitutes an outstanding innovation with a direct impact to the management of CNH, with high potentiality to be scalable to other sectors under threat by climate change. By the achievement of the planned objectives, INACO is expected to target the needs and requirements of stakeholders and policymakers responsible for disaster mitigation and safeguarding of CNH in river basin district and to foster the active involvement of citizens and local communities in the decision-making process.

This presentation explores current research on coastal erosion projections for Kerkennah Islands in Tunisia, focusing on the culturally significant sites of Cercina and Borj el Hassar. Using high-resolution Pleiades 2 satellite imagery and shoreline analysis, a detailed study of the evolution over 20 years of the shoreline has been undertaken, showing the importance of using spatial imagery in order to monitor ongoing damage to cultural heritage. This research also serves as a dynamic model, allowing precise predictions of erosion impacts on Roman, Punic, and Medieval coastal areas in coming years. By simulating future shoreline changes, the study helps identify specific at-risk sites, offering valuable insights that can guide decision-making in heritage preservation and coastal management. Furthermore, this ongoing work will seek to address the broader challenge of refining erosion projection techniques using high-quality satellite imagery, a critical need for many coastal areas worldwide, GIS while integrating new tools. It is expected that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with a digital twin of the shoreline will enhance the predictive capabilities of this research. AI-driven analysis refines the projections by continuously learning from new data, enabling more accurate and site-specific assessments of coastal erosion. This approach allows for finer work in forecasting the erosion impacts, helping to identify critical areas that require immediate attention or conservation measures. The combination of AI, spatial imagery, and digital twin technology offers an innovative framework for understanding and mitigating erosion risks at these historically significant sites. By leveraging advanced AI tools and the digital twin created in 2024, the proposed future research will not only improve the accuracy of erosion models but also provide a replicable method for other vulnerable coastal regions. The study underscores the transformative potential of cutting-edge spatial technology in protecting cultural heritage from the growing threats of climate change and coastal erosion, demonstrating how digital twins and AI can play a pivotal role in informing policy and enhancing site management globally. Finally, the data is hosted within the SIG AFRICA project which provides a geographical environment for archaeological sites, thanks to spatial orthoimages and the relief and hydrographic network obtained by space-based DSM/DSM. SIG AFRICA is a tool for facilitating exchanges between various communities concerned with the ancient past of North Africa. AFRICA accommodates archaeological work of various kinds and high precision, such as the study of the evolution of the coastline of the Kerkennah Islands at Cercina, exploiting spatial images, and ensure their transfer for studies leading to a global interpretation of a large region as part of historical studies or for the establishment of heritage preservation policies. The AFRICA project can contribute to archaeological studies, integrating many of the results, helping to determine new scientific subjects and identifying sites to be protected in the context of climate change. The project is enriched over time by its collaborative nature, which was intended from the outset. It will be open-access and available for public consultation.

This project leverages Copernicus Climate ERA5 historical data and climate projection products to assess the impacts of rising temperatures and sea levels on Malta, with a focus on cultural heritage sites. Temperature projections for the years 2040, 2070, and 2100 highlight an increase in the number of tropical nights and warm days, which are expected to exacerbate issues such as drought and erosion, posing significant threats to Malta's cultural heritage. The study also considers the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including strong winds and heavy precipitation, as part of the broader impact of gradual climate change on these sites. By utilizing Copernicus Climate data exclusively, this work avoids the logistical and financial challenges associated with local ground stations and models, allowing for a scalable and replicable approach that can be applied in other regions. In addition to temperature rise, the study includes an analysis of sea level rise risks in Malta, projecting flood risks up to 2100. This analysis integrates sea level rise data with a local digital elevation model to identify areas at risk of flooding. The resulting flood risk map is further combined with data on cultural heritage sites to pinpoint those most vulnerable to future climate impacts, guiding targeted preservation efforts. To facilitate decision-making and long-term collaboration, the results are presented to local authorities through an interactive online dashboard. This platform, which features maps and graphical views, makes the complex Copernicus data accessible to non-expert users. Regular updates to the data and dashboard ensure that Maltese authorities can monitor changes over time and adapt their strategies accordingly. This approach underscores the critical role of global-scale climate data in regional risk assessment, planning, and the preservation of cultural heritage in the face of climate change.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Delos is an example of exceptional combination of cultural, architectural, and natural beauty. According to a recent study by the Academy of Athens, Delos is one of the 14 heritage sites extremely endangered by climate change and seismicity among 244 UNESCO heritage sites in the Mediterranean. An integrated system for monitoring the synergistic effects of climate change, air pollution and seismic activity on the island of Delos is being developed by the Academy of Athens in collaboration with the National Observatory Athens and archaeologists, with the support of the Initiative 21 contributing sponsors. The system includes infrastructure for in-situ and real-time meteorological, air quality, seismic and tide gauge measurements, as well as satellite monitoring, and environmental and seismological modeling, to predict short-term changes in environmental and geophysical conditions on Delos island. In addition, climate change analysis is being performed, including downscaling at very high resolution (1kmx1km) over Delos of climate models results with projections to the end of the 21st century. Combining state-of-the-art modelling and monitoring systems will allow the detailed recognition of current and future geo-environmental effects and potential hazards for the decision of timely and effective actions to be taken to preserve the Outstanding Universal Value of Delos and its monuments. This effort calls for multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral collaborations involving stakeholders (e.g. archaeological service, local authorities, etc) and the society. The integrated system and overall framework of implementation aim to act as new model, to be transferred to heritage sites around the world, for how we can confront the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation for heritage preservation. The system set-up and first analysis results will be presented at the workshop.

Due to the pandemic, according to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, as of early April 2021, 71% of the 1,121 World Heritage sites had been closed, while 18% were only partially open. The unprecedented pandemic experience changed and is still changing how we look at, understand, and visit our Heritage. What future and which technologies can reshape awareness, preservation, and fruition? Moreover, the climate change challenge poses an urgent need for action in preserving cultural sites. To date, the Copernicus family and the ESA Contributing Missions can support heritage management during emergencies and make mapping, monitoring, and preserving cultural heritage a daily routine. The engagement of multi- and inter-disciplinary communities to fill the gap between experts (remote sensing, Cultural Heritage managers, AI experts, social scientists, civil protection, and actors from impact sectors) represents a key factor for strengthening the communication and the collaborations between EO experts and Heritage managers as well as the connection between the data providers and the end-users /site managers. The present study will investigate a specific potential consequence of climate change impacts on archaeological landscapes identified through a multi-disciplinary approach. Ground deformation and subsidence are addressed, focusing on Copernicus SAR data exploitation for multi-temporal monitoring of the archeological area of Gabii (Rome, Italy). In particular, the analysis focuses on the ground movement values through both the EGMS (European Ground Motion Service) records and its temporal update using the on-demand ground motion services over the same area. The measured values record a movement that is a risk of a disaster for the archaeological area. The application of cracking meters, a direct consequence of this analysis, confirms remote sensing data. Specific geologic formation and ancient human settlement led to a very particular archaeological situation in the ancient city of Gabii: a site on the southeastern rim of the Castiglione crater that may deserve to be included in UNESCO Heritage. Topics about prioritizing resources pass through scientists' capacity to communicate how important this site is for cultural heritage and why the hydrogeologic risk is attempting to be a potential disaster. In recent years, satellite EO (Earth Observation) technology has represented a primary source of geo-information to support national and local authorities and conservation institutions in managing and monitoring main Heritage sites. The Copernicus Programme can play a significant role in helping the process of monitoring also “minor” cultural heritage sites and cultural landscapes as well as supporting their associated management.

Looting of archaeological sites is a global problem with severe consequences for security, the economy, and cultural preservation. Monitoring these activities is crucial to protecting cultural heritage, especially in inaccessible areas obscured by dense vegetation or conflict. The OPTIMAL (OPtimal Transport for Identifying Marauder Activities on LiDAR) project seeks to combat the illegal excavation of cultural heritage sites by developing two machine learning unsupervised approaches based on optimal transport and implicit neural representation. These methods aim to automatically detect past and present looting through airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point cloud time series. LiDAR technology is essential for revealing looting-related features that would otherwise be obscured by vegetation. Optimal transport theory measures differences between data distributions over time and assesses changes in terrain, particularly the depth of looting pits, which is essential for understanding site degradation. Concurrently, implicit neural representations—a powerful tool for continuously modelling point clouds—enable the detection and reconstruction of the precise shapes of looting features. By capturing detailed geometric information, these representations reveal the contours and forms of looted areas, offering a clearer view of the damage. Integrating these techniques provides a comprehensive analysis that enables archaeologists and stakeholders to detect the shape and depth of looting pits. This approach significantly advances efforts to protect cultural heritage, offering a powerful new tool to combat looting, which threatens historical artefacts and the foundations of modern society.

For almost 10 years, VisioTerra has been developing and improving the HEDAVI (HEritage DAta VIsualisation) application, which enables users to retrieve, process on-the-fly, share and export processed data from heritage missions (ERS SAR, Envisat MERIS, Envisat ASAR) and from third-party missions (Landsat-4/5 TM, Landsat-7 ETM+, ALOS-1 PALSAR, ALOS-1 AVNIR2). HEDAVI also supports several Sentinel datasets from the Copernicus programme (Sentinel-1 C-SAR, Sentinel-3 OLCI and Sentinel-3 SLSTR), demonstrating the continuity of ESA's efforts in the field of Earth Observation.The presentation covers several UNESCO sites observed since 1990 by ESA missions and instruments in the optical and radar domains. These long-term observations allow monitoring World Heritage sites and their environment. Several sites are the subject of a story that can be found in HEDAVI Discover. On-the-fly processing is available in HEDAVI Explorer, enabling users to create and share their own stories.The sites covered in this paper include the Sundarbans mangroves between Bangladesh and India. The heavy sediment load of the Gange causes accretion on the banks of the channels and the formation of islands while erosion of the sea causes some land area to disappear in other parts of islands and channels. Heritage missions are able to highlight this dynamic.Another such UNESCO site is the famed Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France. It is a tidal island that has recently struggled to maintain its island character. River work including dams have been added on nearby rivers to return the site to its island nature. HEDAVI allows assessing the results of these efforts along time.The last UNESCO site studied here is the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra in Indonesia that encompasses three national parks. These rainforests, home to a large biodiversity including orangutans, are subject to deforestation. This phenomenon is visible comparing heritage data and more recent images.

Earth observation (EO) data as an early warning system can make a decisive contribution to cultural heritage (CH) preservation. However, there is still a lack of awareness of the opportunities and – even more important – missing knowledge about how to use it because the CH workforce is not yet qualified to record, analyse and take precautionary measures. With the SATCULT project (“SATCULT – Closing a knowledge gap by vocational training about satellite-based services in cultural heritage preservation”), for the first time, the conditions under which cultural heritage organisations would be able to acquire the necessary knowledge through vocational training will be investigated and recorded. Funded by the European ERASMUS+ scheme, this is an opportunity to make the targeted groups, networks, and initiatives from CH preservation and their training providers aware of the immense potential of EO data analysis and translating the data into concrete action in heritage preservation. Despite the urgency, there is currently no vocational training programme that can provide qualifications. But without the use of EO data, the CH sector will be at the mercy of the consequences of climate change. EO data could be used, e. g., to mitigate and prevent climate disasters (drying out, flooding, storm and hail damage of heritage sites) by early decisions on preventive measures. Another application is e.g. to assess the destruction caused by acts of war and prepare for damage assessment and reconstruction. For the heritage community, this means a strategic shift towards training that is not yet offered in academic education. Coordinated by the German social enterprise media k GmbH, a German-Italian-Cypriot partnership focuses on practical support measures: -         Identification of the qualification needs of staff in public and private CH institutions by a Europe-wide survey, -         Recording of EO-based examples in the protection of CH in a brochure in the “language” of the CH community showing herewith the benefits of accessing and using EO data, -         Definition of the learning content and required skills for benefitting from the data, -         Communication of the EO possibilities to around 6000 European CH institutions, 250 geoinformation specialists, and 200 training providers for cooperative measures, -         Set up of a pool of European EO experts who would be willing and able to support CH institutions in respective preventive measures. The outcome of this project will be closely linked to the ERASMUS+ Sector Skills Alliance CHARTER as the Alliance is preparing recommendations for the future needed skills in CH preservation. As media k staff members are actively involved in CHARTER (which is currently the most important European initiative linked to future skills in the CH sector), the outcome of SATCULT will directly feed into future training schemes.

UNESCO-designated sites, recognised for their outstanding universal value, require stringent protection to preserve cultural and natural heritage for future generations. The integration of digital geomedia, including remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and mobile geotools, into the daily operations of site managers offers significant potential for monitoring, modelling, and visualising these sites. To ensure the effective application of digital geomedia, it is essential to develop capacity-building initiatives that cater to the specific needs of stakeholders. For this purpose, an international needs assessment was conducted to determine the requirements and existing knowledge of stakeholders at UNESCO-designated sites. The assessment, distributed via email, received responses from 134 participants worldwide. The survey results indicate that while stakeholders are employing digital geomedia to some extent, there is a strong demand for additional training focused on specific use cases, such as vegetation mapping or advanced software instructions, rather than introductory content. Participants named equipment and financial resources as the primary constraints in using remote sensing, with data acquisition and theoretical knowledge as further barriers. Additionally, two pilot courses were conducted in Malawi and Costa Rica. These courses were evaluated before and after the training sessions, as well as through a follow-up survey conducted 18 months later using a mixed-method approach. The evaluation showed an increase in participants’ perceived knowledge across all areas of digital geomedia, with the highest level immediately after the courses and sustained improvement and active application of acquired skills 18 months later. The results from the international needs assessment, along with insights gained from the pilot courses, will inform the creation of more specialised training programs. These programs aim to empower stakeholders at UNESCO-designated sites to proficiently use digital geomedia for the sustainable management of these sites.