Damages from extreme flooding events to cultural heritage and landscapes: water component estimation for Centa River (Albenga, Italy)

Abstract. The monitoring of hazardous events through change detection has an important role in the emergency management. Such actions can be performed shortly after the hazardous event for first rapid mapping but also over longer periods of time for recovery purposes and risk mapping. The use of medium resolution free-of-charge multi-spectral satellite imagery for purposes of flood extension and impact monitoring can be extremely valuable due to their ability to offer an "easy" and remote access to information, even in cases of extreme weather conditions, but also due to their high compatibility with GIS environments. The case study regards Centa River estuary that hosts an important archaeological site of Albenga within the boundaries of its riverbed. The authors propose a workflow that uses Copernicus Sentinel-2 data to provide the comparison changes firstly in the single relevant bands and successively in the indexes NDVI e NDWI, suitable for the estimation of water component. The results of this study were useful for observing the extension of the flooded area, to evaluate its impact on the archaeological remains and to further propose more targeted UAV-born and ground survey

Spatial Data Management of Temporal Map Series for Cultural and Environmental Heritage

This research focuses on the exploitation of real-time navigation of territory over time. This allows one to extract and compare multi-scale maps in order to verify spatial data management potentials of temporal map series. This paper discusses contributions to the knowledge, conservation, valorisation, awareness rising, and divulgence of cultural and environmental heritage at both regional and urban levels. The main aim is to promote the progressive involvement of historic maps within the planning processes, from the analysis to the governmental plan of addressing the territory, through sustainability projects and interventions. In addition, the systematic collection of temporal map series comparisons should contribute to a better knowledge of complex environmental sites of inland water basins and of the landscape in general, as well as of historic sites. In the former case, they could support the development of hydro-morphologic models and hydro-geologic risk analysis. In the latter, they could be integrated into conservation, restoration, and redevelopment projects. To fulfil these aims and to support a progressive adoption by different actors at a sustainable cost, an open-source geo-portal was developed following the geospatial community standards defined by Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and compliant with concepts of user-defined Web services. This is hosted by the Web platform available at www.atlantestoricolombardia.it (‘Atl@nte dei Catasti Storici e delle carte Topografiche della Lombardia’ - Atlas of historical cadastres and topographic maps of Lombardy) that is an ongoing project that aims to build up, collect, and manage historic georeferenced cadastral and current topographic maps of this region. In particular, some sets of maps covering areas along artificial and natural water axes are now accessible through an online geo-portal. These maps date back to the late 18th and 19th centuries. Cultural and environmental heritage needs to be analyzed using a case-by-case methodology. With regard to INSPIRE directive, these categories are supported by the ‘protected sites’ theme. The paper addresses the need for shared and standard approaches that need to be considered by the geospatial data community

Panoramic UAV Views for Landscape Heritage Analysis Integrated with Historical Maps Atlases

Analysis of landscape heritage and territorial transformations dedicated to its protection and preservation rely increasingly upon the contribution of integrated disciplines. In 2000 the European Landscape Convention established the necessity 'to integrate landscape into its regional and town planning policies and in its cultural, environmental, agricultural, social and economic policies'. Such articulated territorial dimension requires an approach able to consider multi-dimensional data and information from different spatial and temporal series, supporting territorial analysis and spatial planning under different points of view. Most of landscape representation instruments are based on 3D models based on top-down image/views, with still weak possibilities to reproduce views similar to the human eye or map surface development along preferential directions (e.g. water front views). A methodological approach of rediscovering the long tradition of historical water front view maps, itinerary maps and human eye maps perspective, could improve content decoding of cultural heritage with environmental dimension and its knowledge transfer to planners and citizens. The research here described experiments multiple view models which can simulate real scenarios at the height of observer or along view front. The paper investigates the possibilities of panoramic views simulation and reconstruction from images acquired by RC/UAV platforms and multisensory systems, testing orthoimage generation for landscape riparian areas and water front wiew representation, verifying the application of automatic algorithms for image orientation and DTM extraction (AtiPE, ATE) on such complex image models, identifying critical aspects for future development. The sample landscape portion along ancient water corridor, with stratified values of anthropogenic environment, shows the potentials of future achievement in supporting sustainable planning through technical water front view map and 3D panoramic views, for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) purposes and for the improvement of an acknowledged tourism within geo-atlas based on multi-dimensional and multitemporal Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI)

Geo-portal as a planning instrument: supporting decision making and fostering market potential of Energy efficiency in buildings

Steady technological progress has led to a noticeable advancement in disciplines associated with Earth observation. This has enabled information transition regarding changing scenarios, both natural and urban, to occur in (almost) real time. In particular, the need for integration on a local scale with the wider territorial framework has occurred in analysis and monitoring of built environments over the last few decades. The progress of Geographic Information (GI) science has provided significant advancements when it comes to spatial analysis, while the almost free availability of the internet has ensured a fast and constant exchange of geo-information, even for everyday users’ requirements. Due to its descriptive and semantic nature, geo-spatial information is capable of providing a complete overview of a certain phenomenon and of predicting the implications within the natural, social and economic context. However, in order to integrate geospatial data into decision making processes, it is necessary to provide a specific context, which is well supported by verified data. This paper investigates the potentials of geo-portals as planning instruments developed to share multi-temporal/multi-scale spatial data, responding to specific end-users’ demands in the case of Energy efficiency in Buildings (EeB) across European countries. The case study regards the GeoCluster geo-portal and mapping tool (Project GE2O, FP7), built upon a GeoClustering methodology for mapping of indicators relevant for energy efficiency technologies in the construction sector

Educational activities of remote sensing archaeology

Remote sensing science is increasingly being used to support archaeological and cultural heritage research in various ways. Satellite sensors either passive or active are currently used in a systematic basis to detect buried archaeological remains and to systematic monitor tangible heritage. In addition, airborne and low altitude systems are being used for documentation purposes. Ground surveys using remote sensing tools such as spectroradiometers and ground penetrating radars can detect variations of vegetation and soil respectively, which are linked to the presence of underground archaeological features. Education activities and training of remote sensing archaeology to young people is characterized of highly importance. Specific remote sensing tools relevant for archaeological research can be developed including web tools, small libraries, interactive learning games etc. These tools can be then combined and aligned with archaeology and cultural heritage. This can be achieved by presenting historical and pre-historical records, excavated sites or even artifacts under a “remote sensing” approach. Using such non-form educational approach, the students can be involved, ask, read, and seek to learn more about remote sensing and of course to learn about history. The paper aims to present a modern didactical concept and some examples of practical implementation of remote sensing archaeology in secondary schools in Cyprus. The idea was built upon an ongoing project (ATHENA) focused on the sue of remote sensing for archaeological research in Cyprus. Through H2020 ATHENA project, the Remote Sensing Science and Geo-Environment Research Laboratory at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), with the support of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) aims to enhance its performance in all these new technologies

ATHENA: center of excellence in Cyprus in the field of remote sensing for cultural heritage in the areas of archaeology and cultural heritage

In periods of economic instability, national considerations are overruling the process of European integration. Cultural Heritage (CH) is an integral element of a European set of values, and respect for heritage is vital for developing a common European identity. The CH sector has always been facing a number of challenges that have increased with the financial crisis that has hit Europe. To name a few, these include the decrease of public budgets, urbanisation, globalisation, and technological changes. Within this context, CH professionals are seeking to improve currently used methodologies, in order to better understand, protect and valorise the common European past and common identity. The use of satellite and other remote sensing (RS) technologies has progressively been established in the field of environmental monitoring. In the domain of CH and landscape monitoring and in particular with regards to archaeological sites, these technologies have made a significant contribution to research and analysis over the past few decades. The potential use of RS for the understanding, documenting, monitoring and valorization of CH has long been recognised not only by RS experts and archaeologists, but also by the public authorities involved in heritage management, that suggested an increasing use of non-invasive technologies (Valletta Convention, 1992). The ATHENA project aims to strengthen the Cyprus University of Technology’s (CUT) Remote Sensing Science and Geo-Environment Research Laboratory in the field of Remote Sensing Archaeology by creating a unique link between two internationally-leading research institutions: The National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). Through ATHENA, CUT’s staff research profile and expertise will be raised, while the S&T capacity of the linked institutions will come out enhanced

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

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

SPACE-BASED APPLICATIONS FOR BUILT CULTURAL HERITAGE: EXPERIENCE OF COPERNICUS4REGIONS PUBLICATION

NEREUS is a Network of Regions Using Space Technologies established in Brussels in 2007. The need of this network emerged out of conviction that the regions are the key users and procurers of space-based applications, products and services. Since more than decade, the mission of the Network has been to raise awareness of the benefits that space technologies can offer to the citizens, especially in a regional context, for public services and public policies. Within this framework, and with support by the European Commission and European Space Agency, NEREUS has developed several publications that have promoted different Earth Observation applications such as "The growing uses of Copernicus across Europe’s Regions" (2012) and the latest one "The Ever Growing Use of Copernicus across Europe’s Regions" (2018). Politecnico di Milano was in charge of Publication management of this last use-cases collection. The paper here presented illustrates and discusses the result of the Publication with a specific focus on applications regarding use of Earth Observation and Copernicus Programme for Cultural Heritage

Impact of land-use change and soil erosion on cultural landscapes: the case of cultural paths and sites in Paphos district, Cyprus

none2In 2006 UNESCO report has identified soil loss as one of the main threats of climate change with possible impact to natural and cultural heritage. This study illustrates results of applied geomatics approach, undertaken in order to identify the portions of the ancient Hellenistic-Roman Road network in Paphos district in Cyprus, that are undergoing major pressure caused by soil erosion and soil loss. In particular, Earth Observation methods were applied for identification, mapping and estimation of the possible soil loss caused by soil erosion in the period of the past 30 years. Special attention was given to the land use/land cover factor (C) and its impact on the overall estimation of the soil-loss. Cover factor represents the effect of soil-disturbing activities, plants, crop sequence and productivity level, soil cover and subsurface bio-mass on soil erosion. Urban areas have a definite role in retarding the recharge process, leading to increased runoff and soil loss in the broader area. On the other hand, natural vegetation plays a predominant role in reducing water erosion. Cover factor was estimated, classified and observed in years 1987 and 2016 in the District of Paphos and more specifically over Hellenistic-Roman Roads network corridors. The variance of the values between two years was then calculated in order to identify the areas under major pressure of soil erosion caused by the changes in land use and land cover.noneCuca, B.; Agapiou, A.Cuca, B.; Agapiou, A