Presentation
ICOMOS: Heritage from Space
European Space Agency, Living Planet Symposium
(2022)
Abstract
Space based platforms are an important source of information for the conservation and
protection of cultural heritage. The International Council on Monuments and Sites
(ICOMOS), a leading international organisation with strong links to cultural heritage
conservation utilising space-based resources, will introduce its endeavours.
ICOMOS works to conserve and protect cultural heritage places. It is the only global
non-government organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting the
application of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the
architectural and archaeological heritage. ICOMOS is a network of 11,000 experts that
benefits from the interdisciplinary exchange of its members, among which are architects,
historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers, anthropologists, engineers and
town planners.
The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the preservation of heritage, the
standards and the techniques for each type of cultural heritage property: buildings,
historic cities, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites. ICOMOS’ International
Scientific Committees, partner organisations, associated academic institutions and many
of its members are actively utilising data from space-based platforms to undertake
research into the impacts of climate change; human activity, ranging from urban
development to armed conflict; and to undertake archaeological and other heritagerelated
research. Among the main actors is the ICOMOS / ISPRS Committee for
Documentation of Cultural Heritage, CIPA Heritage Documentation. CIPA is an
international non-profit organisation that endeavours to transfer technology from the
measurement and visualisation sciences to the disciplines of cultural heritage recording,
conservation and documentation. CIPA thus acts as a bridge between the producers of
heritage documentation and the users of this information.
The ability to monitor heritage from space has proved to be a powerful tool in heritage
management. The ICOMOS International Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP)
enhances the state of preparedness within the heritage institutions and professions in
relation to disasters of natural or human origin. It promotes better integration of the
protection of heritage structures, sites or areas into national, local as well as international
disaster management, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery
activities.
By sharing experience and developing a professional network, ICORP aims to stimulate
and support activities by ICOMOS National and International committees for enhancing
disaster risk management of cultural heritage. ICORP also supports ICOMOS in its role
as the founding partner of the Blue Shield. Data from space-based platforms is an integral
aspect of heritage risk preparedness, analysis and response.
This presentation offers an overview of how space-based monitoring of cultural heritage
is now integral to enhancing, better protecting and conserving humanities’ rich and
diverse cultural heritage. Scientists, engineers, historians, heritage practitioners, scholars
and social scientists are encouraged to attend this session to gain information, establish
and enhance their networks, and explore future collaborations.
Keywords
- space imagery,
- aerial imagery,
- disaster preparedness,
- risk management
Disciplines
Publication Date
May 26, 2022
Location
Bonn, Germany
Citation Information
Brabec, Elizabeth, Bryan Lintott, and Jurn Buisman. 2022. ICOMOS: Heritage from Space. European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium, Bonn, Germany, May 23-27, 2022. Accessed at https://lps22.eu/programme, archived https://perma.cc/CL77-5WR3.