ICOMOS: Heritage from Space

Space based platforms are an important source of information for the conservation andprotection of cultural heritage. The International Council on Monuments and Sites(ICOMOS), a leading international organisation with strong links to cultural heritageconservation utilising space-based resources, will introduce its endeavours.ICOMOS works to conserve and protect cultural heritage places. It is the only globalnon-government organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting theapplication of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of thearchitectural and archaeological heritage. ICOMOS is a network of 11,000 experts thatbenefits from the interdisciplinary exchange of its members, among which are architects,historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers, anthropologists, engineers andtown planners.The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the preservation of heritage, thestandards and the techniques for each type of cultural heritage property: buildings,historic cities, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites. ICOMOS’ InternationalScientific Committees, partner organisations, associated academic institutions and manyof its members are actively utilising data from space-based platforms to undertakeresearch into the impacts of climate change; human activity, ranging from urbandevelopment to armed conflict; and to undertake archaeological and other heritagerelatedresearch. Among the main actors is the ICOMOS / ISPRS Committee forDocumentation of Cultural Heritage, CIPA Heritage Documentation. CIPA is aninternational non-profit organisation that endeavours to transfer technology from themeasurement and visualisation sciences to the disciplines of cultural heritage recording,conservation and documentation. CIPA thus acts as a bridge between the producers ofheritage documentation and the users of this information.The ability to monitor heritage from space has proved to be a powerful tool in heritagemanagement. The ICOMOS International Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP)enhances the state of preparedness within the heritage institutions and professions inrelation to disasters of natural or human origin. It promotes better integration of theprotection of heritage structures, sites or areas into national, local as well as internationaldisaster management, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recoveryactivities.By sharing experience and developing a professional network, ICORP aims to stimulateand support activities by ICOMOS National and International committees for enhancingdisaster risk management of cultural heritage. ICORP also supports ICOMOS in its roleas the founding partner of the Blue Shield. Data from space-based platforms is an integralaspect of heritage risk preparedness, analysis and response.This presentation offers an overview of how space-based monitoring of cultural heritageis now integral to enhancing, better protecting and conserving humanities’ rich anddiverse cultural heritage. Scientists, engineers, historians, heritage practitioners, scholarsand social scientists are encouraged to attend this session to gain information, establishand enhance their networks, and explore future collaborations