The contribution of the EXCELSIOR Project for cultural heritage
Date Issued
September 20, 2020
DOI
10.1117/12.2574004
Abstract
The ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence for Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment
(ECoE) will provide cutting-edge Earth Observation (EO) research in Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East
and North Africa (EMMENA) region, Europe and Internationally for the benefit of the environment and society. One of
the main focus areas of the newly established ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (ECoE) is using remote sensing
and space-based techniques for effective, efficient and timely cultural heritage monitoring. Such monitoring can offer
tremendous benefits to Cyprus governmental institutions and policy implementation bodies, towards the protection of
cultural heritage sites, including cost- and time-effective control of cultural heritage sites/monuments, raising awareness
on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage from anthropogenic and environmental pressures, early warning
systems and systematic monitoring of cultural heritage. Satellite Earth Observation technologies provide the ideal
resource of information to undertake a wide range of effective, cost-efficient and non-invasive activities, which cannot
be so easily acquired with other tools. As a result of the Copernicus Program, Sentinel 1 and 2 missions provide free
satellite imagery that is accessible, provides global coverage, a high temporal resolution enabling image time series
analysis and temporal characteristics, allowing for the consistent and timely monitoring of cultural heritage monuments
and landscapes. The efficient exploitation of high resolution dense time-series of multi-spectral and radar imagery for
large scale applications introduces new important considerations including cost-effective and systematic monitoring
service of cultural landscape sites with archaeological remains, monitoring significant risks that cultural landscapes face,
as well as aiding archaeological mapping and interpretation. Further-on exploiting high spatial and temporal resolution
(i.e. from other satellites beyond Copernicus) improves modelling and data assimilation solutions and integration of
space based remote sensing techniques with advanced ground and aerial based ones. Both data allows to develop more
efficient and effective tools of investigation and monitoring, able to ensure mapping and monitoring of buried and
exposed archaeological structures.
This paper was developed under the auspices of the activities of the ‘ERATOSTHENES: Excellence Research Centre for
Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment’- ‘EXCELSIOR’ project that has received funding
from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 857510 and
from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for the European Programmes,
Coordination and Development. From 1st of October 2019, the ERC group (Department of Civil Engineering and
Geomatics) at the Cyprus University of Technology is on the way to be upgraded to ERATOSTHENES Centre of
Excellence (ECoE) through ‘EXCELSIOR’ H 2020 Widespread Teaming project (www.excelsior2020.eu).
(ECoE) will provide cutting-edge Earth Observation (EO) research in Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East
and North Africa (EMMENA) region, Europe and Internationally for the benefit of the environment and society. One of
the main focus areas of the newly established ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (ECoE) is using remote sensing
and space-based techniques for effective, efficient and timely cultural heritage monitoring. Such monitoring can offer
tremendous benefits to Cyprus governmental institutions and policy implementation bodies, towards the protection of
cultural heritage sites, including cost- and time-effective control of cultural heritage sites/monuments, raising awareness
on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage from anthropogenic and environmental pressures, early warning
systems and systematic monitoring of cultural heritage. Satellite Earth Observation technologies provide the ideal
resource of information to undertake a wide range of effective, cost-efficient and non-invasive activities, which cannot
be so easily acquired with other tools. As a result of the Copernicus Program, Sentinel 1 and 2 missions provide free
satellite imagery that is accessible, provides global coverage, a high temporal resolution enabling image time series
analysis and temporal characteristics, allowing for the consistent and timely monitoring of cultural heritage monuments
and landscapes. The efficient exploitation of high resolution dense time-series of multi-spectral and radar imagery for
large scale applications introduces new important considerations including cost-effective and systematic monitoring
service of cultural landscape sites with archaeological remains, monitoring significant risks that cultural landscapes face,
as well as aiding archaeological mapping and interpretation. Further-on exploiting high spatial and temporal resolution
(i.e. from other satellites beyond Copernicus) improves modelling and data assimilation solutions and integration of
space based remote sensing techniques with advanced ground and aerial based ones. Both data allows to develop more
efficient and effective tools of investigation and monitoring, able to ensure mapping and monitoring of buried and
exposed archaeological structures.
This paper was developed under the auspices of the activities of the ‘ERATOSTHENES: Excellence Research Centre for
Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment’- ‘EXCELSIOR’ project that has received funding
from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 857510 and
from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for the European Programmes,
Coordination and Development. From 1st of October 2019, the ERC group (Department of Civil Engineering and
Geomatics) at the Cyprus University of Technology is on the way to be upgraded to ERATOSTHENES Centre of
Excellence (ECoE) through ‘EXCELSIOR’ H 2020 Widespread Teaming project (www.excelsior2020.eu).
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