The potentials of large-scale open access remotely sensed ready products: use and recommendations when monitoring urban sprawl near cultural heritage sites

Abstract

Recent studies show how remote sensing data elaboration practices have been shifted from (pre and post) processing of a few number of satellite images, to the use of an extensive dataset. Ready calibrated and validated satellite products, have been populated lately in the literature, driven by the open access policy of space agencies such as those of the European Space Agency (ESA), advance image processing (e.g., deep learning and machine learning) and availability of big data cloud infrastructures. Nevertheless, this shift has not yet well-fitted with research questions and needs of a range of disciplines considered to be “application fields” from a geomatic and geospatial science perspective. In this paper we aim to showcase the challenges when using sophisticated collections such as Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data for heritage applications. Cultural heritage domain relies on remote sensing information for purposes of mapping, monitoring and management and often requires tailored made considerations on the changing context that surrounds the single sites is presented. The paper gives some indications on use and recommendations when using this kind of data for monitoring urban sprawl near some cultural heritage sites in Cyprus.