D10 – One-day final workshop material - Agapiou, Athos (My University, 2026)
The CONNECTING Final Workshop was successfully held on Thursday, 28 May 2026, at the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, bringing together researchers, cultural heritage professionals, public authorities, technology providers, and project supporters to present the achievements and future perspectives of the CONNECTING project. The event served as the culminating dissemination activity of the project, highlighting the establishment of the Research and Innovation Knowledge Centre for Engineering in Heritage and demonstrating how advanced technologies can support the documentation, monitoring, and preservation of cultural heritage. Based on the workshop agenda, the event combined technical presentations, equipment demonstrations, and strategic discussions aimed at fostering future collaborations and maximizing the long-term impact of the project. The workshop commenced with welcome addresses from distinguished representatives of academia, cultural heritage authorities, and project supporters. Prof. Evangelos Akylas, Vice-Rector of Financial Planning and Development of the Cyprus University of Technology, welcomed participants on behalf of the host institution. Greetings were also delivered by Mrs. Chrysanthi Kounnou, Curator of Antiquities at the Department of Antiquities, and Professor Branka Cuca from Politecnico di Milano, representing the project supporters. The opening session concluded with an introduction to the CONNECTING project by the Project Coordinator, Assistant Professor Athos Agapiou, who outlined the project's objectives, achievements, and vision for establishing a sustainable knowledge centre dedicated to engineering applications in cultural heritage. The technical programme focused on the infrastructure developed through the project and showed a range of innovative technologies and methodologies for cultural heritage research. Presentations covered LiDAR and drone applications for heritage documentation and mapping, delivered by Assistant Professor Apostolos Papakonstantinou, while Associate Professor Stella Demesticha and Dr. Marinos Vlachos presented underwater documentation and exploration techniques using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Professor Dimitrios Skarlatos and George Kafataris demonstrated approaches for the acquisition and processing of terrestrial 3D point clouds, highlighting their value for digital recording and conservation purposes. In addition, Mr. Angelos Boubousis and Dr. Giannis Filippopoulos from InfraLabs presented the design and implementation of the CONNECTING Cloud Data Centre, emphasizing the role of digital infrastructures in supporting the storage, management, and dissemination of cultural heritage data. Further insights were provided on the use and re-use of 3D datasets for research, education, and heritage management applications.