Space technology meets policy: An overview of Earth Observation sensors for monitoring of cultural landscapes within policy framework for Cultural Heritage

Abstract

A wide range of satellite sensors that provide potentially useful imagery for digital documentation, mapping and monitoring of archaeological sites and cultural landscapes. Although some satellites have stopped acquiring new data, their archived satellite imagery can still be accessed, downloaded and exploited for monitoring of changes and therefore useful for research domain of archaeology and cultural landscapes. The aim of this paper is 1) to make an overview of past and current satellite earth observation optical sensors useful for land monitoring, with focus on cultural landscapes and 2) to illustrate a policy framework that goes beyond recommendations, suggesting the need of valuable information possibly provided by the in satellite imagery. Paper will put focus on Copernicus programme as the most recent mission that provides imagery on the global scale and free of charge. Paper, furthermore, highlights the need for a more structured consideration of the contribution that space technologies services and products can offer to the non-space sectors. The actions for implementation of strategies regarding the currently renewed attention towards cultural heritage protection and management, could soon benefit from the technological achievements of satellite technologies in terms of dedicated operational services and applications, tailored to the needs of end-users such as archaeologists, landscape professionals, public administration, researchers and students.