123
Ky iacos THEMISTOCLEOUS(*,**)
(*)E a os henes Cen e o Excellence - Limassol, Cyp us
(**)Cyp us Uni e si y o Technology - Depa men o Ci il Enginee ing and Geoma ics- Limassol, Cyp us
Co esponding au ho : [email p o ec ed]g.cy
INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR SAFEGUARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
ExTENDED AbSTRACT
Una delle conseguenze più signi ica i e dei cambiamen i clima ici è la minaccia che essi app esen ano pe i si i del pa imonio
cul u ale. Il p oge o TRIQUETRA dell’UE Ho izon Eu ope a on a ques a s ida c i ica applicando un quad o di alu azione del ischio
comple o, che in eg a ecnologie adizionali e a anza e, come il ele ile amen o e il c owdsou cing, pe quan i ica e la g a i à del
ischio, moni o a e i cambiamen i nel empo e in o ma e s a egie di mi igazione e icaci. Il ischio clima ico de i a dalla combinazione
di pe icoli clima ici, esposizione e ulne abili à. Comp ende e i ischi a li ello dei singoli si i è essenziale pe a ua e misu e di ada -
amen o e mi igazione adegua e. Gli impa i combina i di pe icoli na u ali e geologici indo i dal clima, come e osione, allu ioni, ane
e e emo i, minacciano l’in eg i à isica dei monumen i e dei sis emi socio-economici che suppo ano.
La alu azione dei po enziali ischi a li ello dei si i è ondamen ale pe idea e e a ua e s a egie di ada amen o e mi igazione
obus e. Tecniche come il ele ile amen o, il ada ad ape u a sin e ica (SAR), le ile azioni geode iche, i eicoli ae ei senza pi-
lo a (UAV), le simulazioni di digi al win e le osse azioni c owdsou ced miglio ano sia la cope u a spaziale che la isoluzione del
moni o aggio del pa imonio. Ques i app occi in eg a i consen ono di indi idua e p ecocemen e piccoli spos amen i, de e io amen i
dei ma e iali e geohaza ds in e oluzione, o nendo così a ges o i del pa imonio e deciso i poli ici in o mazioni u ili pe in e en i di
conse azione mi a i. Consolidando ques i lussi di da i spaziali, spe ali e s u u ali, la ecnologia del digi al win c ea epliche i uali
dinamiche dei si i del pa imonio, pe me endo di simula e scena i in empo quasi eale. A a e so il moni o aggio ambien ale con inuo
e algo i mi p edi i i, gli espe i possono simula e i ualmen e le solleci azioni ambien ali sui monumen i in condizioni es eme, come
o i piogge o e emo i mode a i. Ques a capaci à p edi i a è ondamen ale pe spos a e le p a iche di conse azione da misu e ea i e,
spesso a i a e da danni imp o isi, a un app occio p oa i o che an icipa i pun i deboli e o imizza la piani icazione della manu enzione.
Anche il coin olgimen o dei ci adini è pa e in eg an e del p oge o TRIQUETRA, che p esen a una pia a o ma web e mobile dinamica
che inco aggia i isi a o i a pa ecipa e a i amen e al moni o aggio dei si i del pa imonio cul u ale. A a e so l’app TRIQUETRA, ci adini
e isi a o i possono ca u a e e ca ica e o og a ie, con ibuendo con da ase p eziosi che in eg ano e miglio ano i modelli 3D esis en i. Ques o
p ocesso è suppo a o da un sis ema di backend che aiu a le au o i à dei si i cul u ali a moni o a e meglio le condizioni a a e so immagini
aggio na e e segnalazioni dei isi a o i. Allo s esso empo, l’app di coin olgimen o ci ico TRIQUETRA c ea un’espe ienza più in e a i a o -
endo unzionali à di Real à Aumen a a (AR) imme si e. Ques i componen i AR o niscono in o mazioni aggiun i e su ca a e is iche c i iche
a ischio, come a ee colpi e dai cambiamen i clima ici o ulne abili à s u u ali, p omuo endo la consape olezza e gli s o zi di conse azione.
Uno degli s udi di caso del p oge o TRIQUETRA igua da il si o pa imonio mondiale dell’UNESCO di Choi okoi ia, uno dei
si i neoli ici meglio conse a i nel Medi e aneo. Rapp esen a il Neoli ico Ace amico di Cip o al suo apice, in o no all’inizio del IX
millennio. Il si o si o a nel Dis e o di La naka, a ci ca sei chilome i dalla cos a me idionale di Cip o. Nell’ambi o del p oge o
TRIQUETRA, è s a o esamina o il po enziale ischio di cadu e occiose a Choi okoi ia, conside ando che la opog a ia del si o è
ulne abile a mo imen i causa i da e en i clima ici es emi e da s esso i quo idiani e s agionali. La me odologia u ilizza a sul si o
di Choi okoi ia ha dimos a o come il ele ile amen o, la accol a di da i geospaziali, la o og amme ia, i digi al win e i da i c owd-
sou ced abbiano con ibui o colle i amen e a iden i ica e i ischi lega i al clima.
La con e genza di ele ile amen o, modellazione digi ale, ilie i geode ici e ci izen science app esen a un cambiamen o po en e
nei pa adigmi della conse azione del pa imonio. A a e so la ca u a di da i ad al a isoluzione su più scale e la lo o in eg azione
in modelli p edi i i, gli s akeholde acquisiscono la capaci à di an icipa e i ischi, p io i izza e gli in e en i e p omuo e e una
ges ione inclusi a. In eg ando ecnologie all’a angua dia con il moni o aggio guida o dalla comuni à, TRIQUETRA ga an isce un
app occio olis ico alla sal agua dia del pa imonio cul u ale. Il p oge o c ea un quad o eplicabile che miglio a la alu azione del
ischio, p omuo endo al con empo la pa ecipazione a i a negli s o zi di conse azione, o endo in ine bene ici scalabili pe i si i
del pa imonio cul u ale a li ello globale.
I alian Jou nal o Enginee ing Geology and En i onmen
www.ijege.uni oma1.i
IJEGE, Special Issue 1 (2025): 123-132, DOI: 10.4408/IJEGE.2025-01.S-09
E-ISSN 2035-5688 | ISSN 1825-6635 / ©Au ho (s)
124 I alian Jou nal o Enginee ing Geology and En i onmen , Special Issue 1 (2025) www.ijege.uni oma1.i
K. THEMISTOCLEOUS
AbSTRACT
Cul u al he i age si es cons i u e i eplaceable eco ds o human
his o y, illus a ing he p og ession o ou social, a chi ec u al, and
cul u al p ac ices. Inc easing h ea s om clima e- ela ed haza ds,
such as shi ing ain all pa e ns, escala ing empe a u es, and
in ensi ied ex eme wea he , combined wi h geological and physical
isks like landslides, ea hquakes, and e osion, ende hese si es
inc easingly ulne able. Ea h obse a ion echnology is pi o al in
p ese ing cul u al he i age by imp o ing documen a ion, enabling
mo e e ec i e moni o ing, and suppo ing p oac i e conse a ion
s a egies. Recen ly, wi h ad ances in echnology, ad anced
3D scanning and imaging echniques, such as lase scanning
and pho og amme y, ha e cap u ed p ecise digi al eco ds o
cul u al he i age si es, documen ing and helping conse a o s
measu e changes o e ime and swi ly iden i y s uc u al
ulne abili ies. Remo e sensing echnologies, including sa elli e
image y, ae ial pho og aphy and UAV-based su eys, allow o
ex ensi e si e e alua ions, educing isks and cos s associa ed wi h
onsi e inspec ions, especially in emo e o haza dous loca ions.
Me hodological amewo ks and echnological de elopmen s,
encompassing emo e sensing, sa elli e and ae ial imaging, digi al
modeling wi h lase scanne s, pho og amme y, and pa icipa o y
da a collec ion, a e c ea ing esh oppo uni ies o p oac i e,
e idence-based conse a ion. Da a-d i en ools such as senso
a ays and digi al win models enable con inuous moni o ing,
whe e eal- ime s uc u al and en i onmen al in o ma ion is
in eg a ed in o p edic i e models o an icipa e eme ging h ea s.
This pape p o ides a comp ehensi e e iew o inno a i e
emo e sensing me hods o sa egua ding and moni o ing
cul u al he i age unde hese compounded ulne abili ies. I
ocuses on in eg a ing echniques employing emo e sensing,
geode ic me hodologies, syn he ic ape u e ada , unmanned
ae ial ehicles (UAVs), digi al win pla o ms, and pa icipa o y
da a collec ion ini ia i es wi h senso s and c owdsou cing. A
key emphasis o his s udy is he in eg a ion o s a e-o - he-a
echniques o moni o ing cul u al he i age asse s.
Examples o a ious s udies conduc ed in Cyp us, mo e
speci ically he case s udy o he Neoli hic UNESCO Wo ld
He i age Si e o Choi okoi ia, demons a e he p ac ical applica ion
o hese amewo ks, highligh ing he TRIQUETRA p ojec
( unded by he EU Ho izon Eu ope esea ch and inno a ion
p og amme) wi h an inno a i e in eg a ion o con en ional and
no el me hodologies o isk quan i ica ion, si e moni o ing, and
s akeholde pa icipa ion. The indings unde sco e he c i ical
necessi y o in e disciplina y collabo a ion, sus ained unding
mechanisms, and obus policy suppo o ensu e he long- e m
p ese a ion o cul u al he i age o u u e gene a ions.
Keywo ds: cul u al he i age, clima e change, emo e sensing, digi al
wins, c owdsou cing, i ual eali y, pho og amme y
INTRODUCTION
Cul u al he i age si es embody di e se aspec s o his o y,
echnology, c ea i i y, and social s uc u es, o e ing unpa alleled
insigh s in o he ajec o y o human de elopmen . Clima e change
and geological haza ds inc easingly h ea en cul u al he i age
si es’ s uc u al and aes he ic in eg i y. Va ia ions in empe a u e
and p ecipi a ion pa e ns, compounded by e en s such as
landslides, ea hquakes, and subsidence, subjec monumen s and
a chaeological loca ions o s esses o en beyond he p edic i e
capaci y o con en ional moni o ing. T adi ional me hods,
al hough ounda ional, end o be labo -in ensi e and incapable
o deli e ing he con inuous o la ge-scale insigh s equi ed unde
apidly shi ing en i onmen al condi ions (Sesana e alii, 2018).
The e is an u gen need o mo e inno a i e, cos -e ec i e,
and scalable solu ions ha enable con inuous moni o ing and
imely in e en ion o mi iga e isks (Themis ocleous, 2023;
Themis ocleous e alii, 2023). As he signi icance o p ese ing
hese si es g ows mo e appa en , cu ing-edge echnologies ha e
become pa amoun o imp o ing moni o ing and conse a ion
endea o s. Eme ging me hodological amewo ks and
echnological inno a ions inco po a ing emo e sensing, sa elli e
and ae ial imaging, digi al modelling using lase scanne s,
pho og amme y, pa icipa o y da a collec ion and o he echniques
and me hodologies p esen new oppo uni ies o p o iding
p oac i e, e idence-based conse a ion. Da a-d i en ools such as
senso s and digi al win models acili a e con inuous moni o ing,
whe e eal- ime en i onmen al and s uc u al in o ma ion is
in eg a ed in o p edic i e models o an icipa e po en ial h ea s.
This ans o ms he i age managemen om a eac i e p ocess in o
a p oac i e one, enabling in e en ion be o e i e e sible damage
occu s. The iden i ica ion and assessmen o isks mus conside
he his o y o he place, he opology and geology o he si e, he
en i onmen al and ege a ion condi ions, and all he majo isks
ha a ec he si e as a esul o clima e change. Howe e , mos
long- e m ulne abili y s udies on cul u al he i age si es do no
ocus on isk assessmen a iables (Tang e alii, 2016).
Remo e sensing echniques, including op ical imaging, lida ,
and in e e ome ic Syn he ic Ape u e Rada (SAR), acili a e he
de ec ion o sub le de o ma ions and enable he p ecise de ec ion
o g ound mo emen a he millime e scale, enabling p oac i e
in e en ion. This le el o de ail e eals hidden indica ions o
s uc u al s ess o subsidence ha o en escape con en ional
g ound-based assessmen s. In pa allel, e es ial geode ic ools
(e.g., o al s a ions, GNSS ecei e s) alida e and enhance sa elli e
indings, imp o ing he accu acy and cla i y o displacemen
da a. Unmanned ae ial ehicle (UAV) pho og amme y and lase
scanning u he expand he co e age o sa elli e obse a ions
while cap u ing ine-scale opog aphical de ails, such as mic o-
issu es o sub le slope a ia ions. The esul ing high- esolu ion
3D models a e in aluable o quan i ying ma e ial loss and
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INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR SAFEGUARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
iden i ying zones p one o se e e wea he ing o imminen
ins abili y. Digi al win echnologies ex end hese capabili ies
by in eg a ing eal- ime da a eeds in o dynamic models, while
ci izen-d i en da a-ga he ing ini ia i es s eng hen su eillance
e iciency and os e communi y engagemen .
EU esea ch ini ia i es add ess hese challenges by
implemen ing comp ehensi e isk assessmen models o mi iga e
clima e-d i en h ea s o cul u al he i age. The PROTHEGO
p ojec (Themis ocleous e alii, 2016; Themis ocleous e alii,
2018) exempli ied how Ea h Obse a ion can be sys ema ically
applied o he i age si es unde h ea om geohaza ds. The
TRIQUETRA p ojec in eg a es adi ional si e assessmen s wi h
cu ing-edge digi al pla o ms o e alua e haza d in ensi y, ack
ma e ial de e io a ion, and guide he de elopmen o e ec i e
p ese a ion s a egies, he eby unde sco ing he po en ial
o uni ied amewo ks o isk assessmen and communi y
pa icipa ion (TRIQUETRA Conso ium, 2022).
This pape aims o consolida e hese eme ging app oaches
in o a cohe en amewo k sui able o la ge-scale he i age
conse a ion e o s. Se e al esea ch pape s and jou nal
a icles ha e p opelled he syne gy o emo e sensing and digi al
echnologies in cul u al he i age con ex s (Themis ocleous &
Danezis, 2019; Themis ocleous, 2024).
SITE OVERVIEW
Di e en emo e sensing echniques, including
pho og amme y, UAV image y and digi al win modelling we e
applied in a ious si es loca ed in Cyp us, which a e discussed
as examples o how inno a i e echnologies can be used o
documen , moni o and sa egua d cul u al he i age. One o he
si es included in he TRIQUETRA p ojec is he Wo ld He i age
Si e o Choi okoi ia in Cyp us, which was used o s udy he
e ec s o clima e change on cul u al he i age si es.
Choi okoi ia
Choi okoi ia is a ema kably well-p ese ed Neoli hic
se lemen in Cyp us’s La naca dis ic and is one o he mos
signi ican p ehis o ic si es in he eas e n Medi e anean (Fig. 1).
Da ing back o he 9 h millennium BCE and occupied om he 7 h
o he 5 h millennium B.C., i ep esen s a pi o al pe iod in human
ci iliza ion, ma king he ansi ion om nomadic hun e -ga he e
socie ies o se led ag a ian communi ies. The si e’s ci cula
dwellings, complex social s uc u es, and e idence o ea ly
domes ica ed ag icul u e p o ide an unpa alleled window in o he
Ace amic Neoli hic pe iod. Choi okoi ia is an in aluable sou ce
o in o ma ion on he Neoli hic pe iod, o e ing insigh s in o how
ea ly human communi ies in he eas e n Medi e anean adap ed
o island en i onmen s and s uc u ed hei social and economic
li es. As a UNESCO Wo ld He i age Si e, Choi okoi ia is o global
a chaeological signi icance, equi ing igo ous conse a ion
e o s o ensu e i s p ese a ion. Howe e , i s geog aphical and
geological con ex p esen s subs an ial conse a ion challenges
due o clima e-induced en i onmen al changes.
Si ua ed wi hin he Ma oni Ri e alley nea he T oodos
Moun ain ange, Choi okoi ia is exposed o s eep, sedimen a y
ock o ma ions suscep ible o wea he ing, e osion, and slope
ins abili y. The si e’s p oximi y o ac i e aul lines inc eases
he isk o ock alls, e osion, and seismic mo emen s, while
ex eme seasonal clima es in ensi y hese h ea s. P elimina y
da a om he Choi okoi ia si e indica e ha ock all isks a e
Fig. 1 - UAV images o he Choi okoi ia UNESCO Wo ld He i age Si e. Le : o hopho o showing he en i e si e. Righ : ae ial image o he dwellings a he si e
126 I alian Jou nal o Enginee ing Geology and En i onmen , Special Issue 1 (2025) www.ijege.uni oma1.i
K. THEMISTOCLEOUS
subs an ially a ec ed by seasonal clima ic pa e ns, pa icula ly
he in e play be ween p olonged hea wa es and subsequen
lash ain all e en s, exace ba ing ock alls and s uc u al
de e io a ion (Themis ocleous, 2024). These condi ions
collec i ely accele a e wea he ing p ocesses and wa e -induced
ins abili ies, posing signi ican challenges o he p ese a ion o
he si e (Themis ocleous e alii, 2016).
Due o hese o e lapping h ea s, Choi okoi ia was chosen
as a key demons a ion si e o he TRIQUETRA EU p ojec ,
which in eg a es ad anced emo e sensing and da a- usion
echniques, building on insigh s om PROTHEGO esea ch
(Themis ocleous e alii, 2018; TRIQUETRA Conso ium,
2022). The combined use o di e se moni o ing me hods,
communi y-based da a collec ion, and digi al win modeling a
Choi okoi ia exempli ies how comp ehensi e isk assessmen
can be conduc ed unde eal-wo ld condi ions.
DATA AND METHODS
Remo e Sensing and SAR da a
Remo e sensing o ms he ounda ional laye o mode n
cul u al he i age moni o ing. I inco po a es an a ay o senso
echnologies, including mul ispec al, hype spec al, he mal
in a ed, LiDAR, and SAR. SAR has p o en pa icula ly
e ec i e in de ec ing land and s uc u al de o ma ions, e en
unde challenging condi ions such as cloud co e age o nigh ime
ope a ion (Themis ocleous & Danezis, 2019; Themis ocleous
e alii, 2018). Di e en s udies conduc ed in Cyp us ha e used
emo e sensing and Ea h obse a ion o cul u al he i age and
a chaeology o documen and moni o a chaeological si es,
de ec c op/soil ma ks o bu ied a chaeological si es, p oduce
isk assessmen maps, moni o e osion in coas al a chaeological
a eas as well as iden i y and moni o loo ing ac i i ies.
SAR da a, analyzed h ough in e e ome ic p ocessing
(InSAR), allows esea che s o measu e inc emen al g ound
mo emen s wi h millime e -scale p ecision. This non-con ac ,
wide-a ea co e age is ins umen al o mapping haza d-p one
egions and iden i ying p elimina y signs o s uc u al s ess in
monumen s and a chaeological si es. The PROTHEGO ini ia i e
highligh ed he e sa ili y o InSAR in de ec ing subsidence and
slope ins abili y ac oss di e en Eu opean he i age loca ions
(Themis ocleous e alii, 2016; Themis ocleous e alii, 2018).
By compa ing mul iple SAR images acqui ed o e speci ic ime
in e als, phase di e ences mani es upli , se ling, o la e al
displacemen pa e ns. Pos -p ocessing wo k lows ypically in ol e
co- egis a ion, opog aphic phase emo al, il e ing, and phase
unw apping. The inal displacemen maps can hen be alida ed
agains g ound con ol poin s, o en de i ed om geode ic s a ions,
o co ec o po en ial a mosphe ic dis o ions. When in eg a ed
wi h o he emo e sensing da a, such as op ical image y, InSAR
ou pu s o e a obus means o pinpoin ing a eas whe e a ge ed
in e en ions o mo e e ined su eys migh be necessa y.
SAR echnology o e s nume ous applica ions in he
p ese a ion and s udy o cul u al he i age. I can help unco e
sub le e ain ea u es o soil mois u e a ia ions ha sugges whe e
bu ied a chaeological s uc u es may exis . Fo isk assessmen and
s uc u al heal h, pa icula ly in egions p one o ec onic ac i i y o
excessi e g oundwa e ex ac ion, In e e ome ic SAR (InSAR)
p o ides p ecise measu emen s o g ound mo emen ha may a ec
cul u al he i age si es, he eby enabling conse a ion specialis s o
ake p e en a i e measu es. In con lic zones, SAR’s all-wea he
imaging capaci y p o es essen ial o emo e su eillance o
he i age si es h ea ened by illegal loo ing o des uc ion, especially
when on- he-g ound access is oo dange ous. Addi ionally, SAR
helps iden i y lood ex en s and moni o sho eline changes, o e ing
in aluable insigh s o p o ec ing coas al and i e ine cul u al
landma ks a isk o e osion o inunda ion.
Geode ic moni o ing and UAV pho og amme y
Geode ic moni o ing echniques, including o al s a ions,
le eling, and GNSS, p o ide high-accu acy measu emen s
c ucial o c oss- e e encing emo e sensing obse a ions. While
sa elli e-based me hods excel in gene a ing b oad co e age, in-
si u geode ic ne wo ks o e nea -con inuous eco ds o e ical
and ho izon al displacemen s a he local scale (Themis ocleous,
Gikas, & Danezis, 2021) and is ca ied ou by ins alling elec ical
senso s in selec ed s uc u es wi h au oma ic sys ems o da a
acquisi ion and eco ding o by using po able ins umen s wi h
manual eading o da a aken a ixed ime in e als (Zhou e
alii, 2015; Ga zie a e alii, 2007; Glisic & Inaudi, 2008). This
syne gy signi ican ly enhances he eliabili y o de o ma ion
analyses, enabling schola s and si e manage s o dis inguish
be ween genuine g ound mo ion and po en ial noise a i ac s o
a mosphe ic dis u bances p esen in sa elli e da a.
By p o iding p ecise g ound mo ion measu emen s a
a ying spa ial and empo al esolu ions, geode ic moni o ing
helps cul u al he i age specialis s iden i y he unde lying causes
o de o ma ion. Such obse a ions can e eal how ac o s like
g oundwa e ex ac ion, seismic ac i i y, o soil compac ion
a ec he s uc u al in eg i y o impo an his o ical buildings
and a chaeological si es, allowing o imely in e en ions and
p ese a ion e o s. In cul u al he i age a eas UAV applica ions
a e mainly ocused on documen a ion, obse a ion, moni o ing,
mapping, 3D modelling and 3D econs uc ion [18], as well as
digi al maps, digi al o hopho o, digi al ele a ion model (DEM)
and digi al su ace models (DSM).
Unmanned Ae ial Vehicle (UAV) echnology has eme ged as
a aluable, cos -e ec i e means o sa egua ding, in es iga ing,
and dissemina ing cul u al he i age. UAVs o e a o dabili y,
eliabili y, and non-in asi eness while acili a ing apid da a
cap u e compa ed o adi ional su ey me hods o manned
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INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR SAFEGUARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
ae ial pho og aphy. They can collec highly de ailed image y and
spa ial in o ma ion om pe spec i es o he wise inaccessible.
UAV pho og amme y augmen s g ound-based app oaches
by p o iding high- esolu ion image y. P ope ligh -pa h
planning ensu es adequa e o e lap be ween successi e images,
enabling specialized so wa e o econs uc h ee-dimensional
su aces as o hopho os and digi al ele a ion models (DEMs)
(Figu e 2). The p ecision o hese ou pu s suppo s accu a e
documen a ion and moni o ing o changes o e ime. Mo eo e ,
UAV pla o ms a e pa icula ly ad an ageous o s eep o
emo e loca ions whe e manual su eys pose logis ical o sa e y
challenges (Themis ocleous, 2019).
A he Choi okoi ia si e, he digi al win model includes
UAV-based o hopho os, LiDAR scans, geode ic s a ion
ou pu s, and clima e a iables, such as empe a u e, humidi y,
and ain all, o moni o clima ic changes ha a ec he si e.
This me hodology enables a be e unde s anding o how
a chaeological elemen s espond o long- e m cumula i e
s esses, guiding he i age managemen away om eac i e
epai s owa d a mo e p oac i e, p e en a i e app oach.
Digi al win echnology
Digi al wins ha e eme ged as a powe ul ool o
dynamically moni o ing and managing cul u al he i age
si es (Lu, 2021). They se e as i ual eplicas o physical
asse s, in eg a ing eal- ime da a wi h ad anced simula ion
models o inco po a e a ious da a ypes, anging om high-
esolu ion 3D ep esen a ions and en i onmen al da a o
s uc u al heal h moni o ing and his o ical documen a ion
(Rodic & E ic, 2022). This echnology allows o con inuous
obse a ion o a si e’s condi ion, p edic ion o u u e changes,
and imely in e en ions, hus suppo ing a p oac i e app oach
o p ese a ion (G ie es & Vicke s, 2017). By consolida ing
documen a ion, moni o ing, and analysis wi hin a single
adap able pla o m, digi al wins add ess bo h en i onmen al
and an h opogenic h ea s, pa icula ly hose linked o na u al
haza ds (Rodic & E ic, 2022; Themis ocleous, 2024).
As de ailed i ual eplicas o physical si es, digi al wins o e
a ans o ma i e me hod o he i age conse a ion h ough eal- ime
moni o ing, p edic i e analysis, and comp ehensi e documen a ion
(Themis ocleous e alii, 2022; Gab iele e alii, 2023). They a e
pa icula ly use ul in se ings whe e clima e change and na u al
haza ds pose signi ican isks. By enabling apid assessmen s o
en i onmen al impac s, digi al wins allow conse a ionis s o
an icipa e eme ging h ea s and espond e ec i ely (Lu, 2021).
Thei cons uc ion begins wi h high- esolu ion 3D modeling
p oduced ia pho og amme y using UAV-based o hopho os
(Themis ocleous & Aba e, 2024). The da a ga he ed om
di e en sou ces, such as 3D s uc u al scans, en i onmen al
eadings, and his o ical eco ds, a e combined in a
comp ehensi e digi al win, employing sophis ica ed simula ion
models o acili a e ongoing si e moni o ing (Themis ocleous
e alii, 2022). A key ad an age is he abili y o compa e digi al
models ac oss di e en ime pe iods o iden i y h ea s om
clima e change, ex eme wea he , o o he en i onmen al and
an h opogenic p essu es (Fa o ic & Seekamp, 2017).
Digi al wins also in eg a e onsi e senso da a o moni o
en i onmen al changes, including hose d i en by clima e and
na u al haza ds. P edic i e models help an icipa e po en ial
e ec s, while egula compa a i e analyses de ec any signs o
de e io a ion, which allows well-in o med, imely in e en ions.
Beyond moni o ing, hese sys ems se e as comp ehensi e
documen a ion pla o ms, me ging measu emen s, anno a ions,
and his o ical eco ds in a dynamic, eal- ime ep esen a ion ha
suppo s bo h analysis and decision-making (Themis ocleous
& Aba e, 2024; Themis ocleous, 2024).
Fundamen ally, digi al win pa adigms ansla e physical
sys ems in o da a- ich i ual en i onmen s. By consolida ing
3D geome y, senso eeds, emo e sensing ou pu s, and
his o ical in o ma ion, hey c ea e a li ing model o he he i age
si e (Themis ocleous, 2024). These i ual simula ions a e
pa icula ly adep a e alua ing “wha -i ” scena ios ha accoun o
clima e s esses, seismic ac i i y, and human in luences. Feeding
eal- ime en i onmen al me ics in o compu a ional models u he
enables he i age s akeholde s o o ecas imminen haza ds, es
conse a ion me hods, and assess es o a ion ma e ials.
Wi hin he TRIQUETRA EU p ojec (TRIQUETRA
Conso ium, 2022), digi al wins inco po a e UAV-based
o hopho os, LiDAR scans, geode ic s a ion ou pu s, and
clima e a iables, such as empe a u e, humidi y, and ain all,
Fig. 2 - Digi al Ele a ion Modeling (DEM) showing he opog aphy o he
Choi okoi ia si e
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K. THEMISTOCLEOUS
o pe o m p edic i e analy ics, o en powe ed by machine
lea ning. This app oach o e s insigh s in o how a chi ec u al
elemen s espond o cumula i e s esses o e ime, shi ing
he i age managemen om a eac i e s ance o epai ing isible
damage o a mo e p oac i e, p e en i e s a egy.
C owdsou cing and ci izen science
The p ojec p o ides a mul idisciplina y app oach
ha in eg a es emo e sensing and moni o ing h ough
c owdsou cing o es ablish an e ec i e ea ly-wa ning sys em
o si e conse a ion (Themis ocleous, 2024). C owdsou cing
and ci izen science in oduce public in ol emen o supplemen
expe -d i en obse a ions. These sys ems gene a e a
conside able olume o eal- ime da a by encou aging
isi o s o documen physical anomalies a he i age si es,
such as c acks, discolo a ions, o wa e ing ess. Al hough his
app oach demands s a egic e ing o minimize e oneous
inpu s, i signi ican ly ampli ies spa ial- empo al co e age
(Themis ocleous e alii, 2023). Th ough mobile applica ions,
pa icipan s upload geo agged pho og aphs o desc ip ions,
which a e hen in eg a ed in o a cen al da abase o expe
e iew and subsequen modeling. C owdsou cing can also be
u ilized o collec in o ma ion and embed i in o he digi al win
model by compa ing he digi al win model wi h images ha
use s send in eal ime (Themis ocleous, 2024).
Public con ibu ions, equen ly acili a ed by mobile
applica ions o da a p o ided by olun ee ne wo ks, p o ide
geo agged image y and quali a i e obse a ions a highe
sampling in e als, pa icula ly ollowing ex eme wea he
e en s. Au oma ed alida ion sys ems and communi y aining
in basic diagnos ic me hods help main ain da a quali y. This
public engagemen os e s a sha ed sense o owne ship and
esponsibili y, o en ansla ing in o b oade suppo o cul u al
he i age p ese a ion policies and unding ini ia i es.
Ci izen engagemen cons i u es a undamen al componen
o he TRIQUETRA p ojec , which employs a dynamic web
and mobile pla o m o acili a e public pa icipa ion in cul u al
he i age si e moni o ing. The c owdsou cing componen o he
TRIQUETRA p ojec is designed o engage ou is s, isi o s
and local communi ies in con inuously moni o ing and
p ese ing cul u al he i age si es. By le e aging a mobile and
web-based applica ion, he sys em enables use s o con ibu e
geo agged images, desc ip i e si e condi ion epo s, and
en i onmen al obse a ions ha supplemen adi ional
moni o ing me hods. In his way, c owdsou ced image y is
indispensable o de ec ing ini ial indica o s o en i onmen al
changes ha may jeopa dize he in eg i y o he i age si es.
Th ough he TRIQUETRA applica ion, si e isi o s cap u e
and upload geo agged image y, p oducing c ucial da ase s ha
supplemen and e ine exis ing 3D models. These da ase s a e
p ocessed h ough a backend 3D modeling pipeline, which
enhances digi al si e ep esen a ions and de ec s ea ly indica o s
o si e de e io a ion (Themis ocleous, 2024), he eby imp o ing
moni o ing and managemen e o s. A simple QR code scan a
he si e g an s use s ull access o hese unc ionali ies.
Addi ionally, he TRIQUETRA Ci izen Engagemen
Applica ion deli e s an imme si e Augmen ed Reali y (AR)
expe ience, in o ming isi o s abou c i ical ea u es a isk, such
as a eas impac ed by clima e change o s uc u al ulne abili ies,
os e ing awa eness and encou aging conse a ion. By
in eg a ing physical en i onmen s wi h digi al o e lays, isi o s
can explo e his o ical econs uc ions and unco e sub le aspec s
o si e ulne abili y. An in e ac i e 3D model iewe enables in-
dep h examina ion o high- esolu ion econs uc ions, including
anno a ed a i ac s o s uc u al elemen s ha ea u e ex ual
o audio isual commen a y on his o ical con ex s, building
ma e ials, o ancien enginee ing p ac ices. This AR unc ionali y
is powe ed by AR.js and he A-F ame amewo k, allowing use s
o o e lay digi al in o ma ion on o eal-wo ld se ings. Th ough
AR.js, isi o s can engage wi h his o ical econs uc ions,
in e ac i e si e elemen s, and in o ma i e o e lays ha deepen
hei unde s anding o cul u al he i age si es.
The applica ion os e s awa eness o ongoing isks and
encou ages p ese a ion ini ia i es by o e laying addi ional
in o ma ion, such as de ails on a eas a ec ed by clima e change o
s uc u al ulne abili ies. Th ough in eg a ing ad anced echnologies
and communi y-d i en pa icipa ion, TRIQUETRA adop s a holis ic
app oach o sa egua ding cul u al he i age. The p ojec ’s amewo k
is designed o be eplica ed, imp o ing isk assessmen and
p omo ing ac i e p ese a ion e o s on a global scale.
Mul idisciplina y moni o ing
An in eg a ed moni o ing app oach using emo e sensing
da a, including sa elli e images, UAV pho og amme y and in-
si u da a o c ea e a digi al win model, combined wi h i ual
eali y and augmen ed eali y, can c ea e an e ec i e ool o
moni o a - isk cul u al he i age si es. Time-se ies analysis can
p o ide aluable in o ma ion using change-de ec ion echniques
o compa e changes o e ime.
Using a ious echnologies, including UAV pho og amme y,
conduc ed a di e en ime in e als, can de e mine si e condi ions
and seasonal changes, which can be enhanced wi h sa elli e Ea h
obse a ion da a. Remo e sensing analysis using high- esolu ion
image y can iden i y isks om ea hquakes, loods, landslides,
e osion, g ound mo emen , and s uc u al displacemen . The
combina ion o emo e sensing and onsi e obse a ions, including
ield su ey and g ound-based da a collec ion and obse a ions,
can be one o he mos e ec i e ways o moni o ing cul u al
he i age si es and monumen s in Eu ope. The da a collec ed and
in eg a ed in o a digi al win en i onmen pe mi scena io-based
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INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR SAFEGUARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
simula ions o e en s such as ex ended hea y ain all o mild
seismic emo s. Ci izen inpu can p o ide aluable in o ma ion
o he s akeholde s by sha ing eal- ime da a using web-based
applica ions. (Themis ocleous e alii, 2023).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
By in eg a ing emo e sensing ou pu s, in si u geode ic
obse a ions, UAV pho og amme y, and c owdsou cing da a,
he s udy p o ided aluable in o ma ion ega ding Choi okoi ia’s
ulne abili ies. The InSAR analysis e ealed small ye consis en
displacemen a es o an a e age o 0.03 m/yea in highly localized
slope segmen s, which indica es slow-mo ing bu p og essi e
ins abili y. The in-si u da a and pho og amme ic modeling
co obo a ed hese indings (Figu e 2). The esul s also con i med
ha sudden empe a u e and humidi y swings, especially du ing
ex eme wea he e en s such as ex eme ain all in he win e and
high empe a u es du ing he summe , unde mined he in eg i y o
s one s uc u es. Onsi e obse a ions ha e e i ied he p esence o
ock all (Figu e 3), which may pose a po en ial dange o ou is
sa e y a he si e. The digi al win model was pa icula ly aluable
o moni o ing he si e by in eg a ing in-si u and c owdsou cing da a.
The me hodology ea u ed in Figu e 4 shows he p ocess o
in e changing da a om he physical model o he digi al win
model by p o iding in o ma ion o he TRIQUETRA oolbox
o assessing and mi iga ing clima e change isks and na u al
haza ds h ea ening cul u al he i age. Ci izen pa icipa ion
no ably enhanced he apid de ec ion o changes wi hin he si e as
isi o s’ pho og aphs showed di e en si e condi ions. Also, he
applica ion de eloped (Figu e 5) p o ided use s wi h an ele a ed
expe ience while isi ing he si e h ough a s a e-o - he-a digi al
p esen a ion h ough an Augmen ed Reali y applica ion.
The applica ion and backend pla o m ely on a obus
echnological ounda ion, ensu ing scalabili y, eliabili y, and use -
iendliness. I s in ui i e in e ace allows isi o s o explo e 3D
models, augmen ed eali y ea u es, and si e in o ma ion e o lessly.
The applica ion o e s an in o ma i e and p ac ical expe ience by
p o iding insigh s in o he si e’s his o y, clima e change isks, and
po en ial clima e- ela ed damages. A buil -in ques ionnai e and
eedback sys em enables isi o s o con ibu e quali a i e da a abou
he si e’s condi ion, complemen ing he c owdsou ced image y.
Mo eo e , use s can access he digi al win model o a
i ual eali y expe ience. Visi o s may iew his digi al win
h ough VR goggles a e lea ing he physical si e, allowing
hem o con inue explo ing in a i ual se ing. Addi ionally, use s
can epo po en ial clima e- ela ed damages by cap u ing and
uploading pho og aphs ia hei sma phones. These images a e
ansmi ed o he backend sys em, whe e hey a e made a ailable
o si e au ho i ies and in eg a ed in o he exis ing 3D model o
de ec any s uc u al o en i onmen al changes.
The Choi okoi ia case s udy unde sco es he impo ance o
a mul i ace ed moni o ing amewo k, speci ically illus a ing
Fig. 3 - E idence o ock all in he Choi okoi ia si e is sca e ed in he
No hwes a ea o he si e
Fig. 4 - The me hodology used o p o ide a eal- ime in o ma ion in e change o he Choi okoi ia UNESCO Wo ld He i age Si e is o moni o and
e alua e he e ec s o clima e change
130 I alian Jou nal o Enginee ing Geology and En i onmen , Special Issue 1 (2025) www.ijege.uni oma1.i
K. THEMISTOCLEOUS
how di e se me hodological app oaches con e ge o deli e
bo h localized p ecision and b oade con ex ual pe spec i es.
Remo e sensing me hods, pa icula ly InSAR, p o ide mac o-
le el co e age ha pinpoin s de o ma ion ho spo s. In con as ,
UAV-based imaging and geode ic s a ions con ibu e ine-g ained
measu emen s ha a e c ucial o alida ing and in e p e ing
he b oad pa e ns no ed by sa elli e da a. The syne gy o hese
ools exempli ies he comp ehensi e moni o ing ecommended
by he TRIQUETRA p ojec , showing ha obus , e idence-
based decisions eme ge mos e ec i ely when mul iple da a
s eams ein o ce each o he (Themis ocleous e alii, 2016;
Themis ocleous e alii, 2018; TRIQUETRA Conso ium, 2022).
The added laye o c owdsou cing ul ills a c i ical ole in
b idging obse a ional gaps, pa icula ly o ex eme e en s such
as lash loods, hails o ms, o ea hquakes. Ci izen con ibu ions
enhance da a equency and build social capi al a ound he i age
p ese a ion. Such con ibu ions ha e b oade implica ions o
communi y-d i en go e nance o cul u al si es, whe ein local
s akeholde s ac i ely shape conse a ion p io i ies. T iangula ion
me hods, le e aging AI-based image ecogni ion and c oss-
checking wi h p o essional su eys mi iga e da a quali y
challenges (Themis ocleous e alii, 2023).
Despi e hese successes, ce ain cons ain s emain. Implemen ing
ad anced me hodologies, especially digi al wins, can be esou ce-
in ensi e ega ding so wa e, ha dwa e, and echnical know-how.
Smalle he i age si es o en lack consis en unding o ained pe sonnel
o sus ain complex moni o ing campaigns. Hence, knowledge
ans e and capaci y-building p og ams, possibly acili a ed by
EU-suppo ed ini ia i es like PROTHEGO and TRIQUETRA, a e
essen ial o ensu e he equi able dis ibu ion o echnological bene i s
(Themis ocleous e alii, 2016; TRIQUETRA Conso ium, 2022).
Addi ionally, ha monizing da a s anda ds ac oss di e en
pla o ms and egions emains an ongoing challenge. Common
da a p o ocols, open-access eposi o ies, and in e ope abili y
be ween emo e sensing and cul u al he i age da abases would
s eamline in e na ional collabo a ion. Enhancing pa ne ships
among uni e si ies, go e nmen agencies, and p i a e echnology
i ms could os e he de elopmen o cos -e ec i e solu ions and
open-sou ce so wa e, democ a izing ad anced moni o ing ools.
Policy Implica ions and Fu u e Di ec ions
The me hodology implemen ed a Choi okoi ia highligh s
a p essing need o a ge ed policy in e en ions ha p o ide
consis en unding, s anda dized guidelines, and capaci y-
building ini ia i es. In e na ional he i age bodies (e.g., UNESCO,
ICOMOS, and ICCROM) can play a pi o al ole in championing
bes p ac ices o emo e sensing, digi al win simula ions, and
c owdsou ce moni o ing. By embedding hese app oaches in o
b oade cul u al he i age managemen amewo ks, go e nmen s
can adop e idence-based models ha p olong he li e cycle o
signi ican si es while op imizing esou ces.
EU-suppo ed ini ia i es such as he G een Clus e on
Cul u al He i age wi h EU p ojec s, including TRIQUETRA,
THETIDA, RescueME, and STECCI, highligh how coo dina ed
esea ch and de elopmen e o s can b idge gaps be ween
cu ing-edge echnology applica ions and adi ional cul u al
he i age managemen . Funding mechanisms should p io i ize
os e ing ansna ional pa ne ships o ensu e ha specialized
equipmen , echnical assis ance, and aining modules each
cul u ally impo an ye unde - esou ced egions. This c oss-
pollina ion o ideas and expe ise builds momen um o
ad anced he i age p ese a ion.
Au oma ed machine lea ning pipelines and A i icial
In elligence could e ine anomaly de ec ion by analyzing big
da a and la ge olumes o image y collec ed by p o essional
eams and ci izens, e ealing s uc u al changes in nea eal-
Fig. 5 - O e iew o he applica ion de eloped o he TRIQUETRA p ojec o p o ide an ele a ed expe ience o he use while isi ing he si e by p o iding
in o ma ion, an in e ac i e ques ionnai e and a s a e-o - he-a digi al p esen a ion h ough Augmen ed and Vi ual Reali y applica ions. The use can
also upload images o epo po en ial clima e change damages. The pho os a e used o compu e and upda e he exis ing si e 3D model
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INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR SAFEGUARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
b oade a ay o cul u al he i age si es wi h di e se geog aphic
and en i onmen al p o iles. Ini ia i es could le e age open-sou ce
so wa e pla o ms and low-cos senso echnologies o ensu e
ha e en smalle , unde - esou ced si es bene i om mode n
moni o ing me hodologies. As clima e change e ol es, hese
s a egies will emain indispensable o p ese ing he cul u al and
his o ical na a i es ha de ine ou global he i age. Ul ima ely,
p ese ing ou cul u al he i age si es anscends me e s uc u al
in eg i y; i sa egua ds he in aluable na a i es and iden i ies
wo en in o humani y’s collec i e pas . The p o en s a egies
discussed he ein a e a oadmap o u u e ini ia i es ha aspi e o
p o ec and celeb a e cul u al he i age in a apidly changing wo ld.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The au ho acknowledges he TRIQUETRA p ojec , “Toolbox
o assessing and mi iga ing Clima e Change isks and na u al
haza ds h ea ening cul u al he i age,” unded by he EU HE
esea ch and inno a ion p og amme unde GA No. 101094818.
The au ho acknowledges he ‘EXCELSIOR’:
ERATOSTHENES: Excellence Resea ch Cen e o Ea h
Su eillance and Space-Based Moni o ing o he En i onmen
H2020 Widesp ead Teaming p ojec (www.excelsio 2020.
eu). The ‘EXCELSIOR’ p ojec has ecei ed unding om
he Eu opean Union’s Ho izon 2020 esea ch and inno a ion
p og amme unde G an Ag eemen No 857510, om he
Go e nmen o he Republic o Cyp us h ough he Di ec o a e
Gene al o he Eu opean P og ammes, Coo dina ion and
De elopmen and he Cyp us Uni e si y o Technology.
ime. Inno a i e senso echnology may educe cos s and
imp o e accessibili y, allowing mo e si es o implemen
digi al wins o moni o ing cul u al he i age si es and
a chaeolandscapes. In eg a ing clima e modeling da a in o
digi al wins o e s a means o an icipa ing how p og essi e
clima e shi s migh exace ba e exis ing ulne abili ies in
he i age se ings. Finally, scaling up communi y engagemen
emains c i ical o es ablishing a obus cul u e o s ewa dship
and inclusi e go e nance models encou age local communi ies
o in es ac i ely in p ese ing hei cul u al na a i es.
CONCLUSIONS
This pape has demons a ed he need o and he e ec i eness
o employing ad anced emo e sensing, geode ic echnologies,
UAV pho og amme y, digi al win modeling, and communi y-
d i en da a collec ion o sa egua d cul u al he i age si es h ea ened
by clima e change, na u al haza ds, and geohaza ds. D awing om
esea ch spea headed by he TRIQUETRA EU p ojec , he case
s udy o Choi okoi ia in Cyp us e idences how in e disciplina y and
mul iscale moni o ing e o s can ansi ion he i age managemen
om a eac i e o a p oac i e pa adigm. Remo e sensing o e s
a ange o applica ions o moni o cul u al he i age si es, wi h
InSAR analyses pinpoin ing sub le g ound de o ma ions and
UAV image y cap u ing mic o-le el e osion. These da a s eams
con e ge in a digi al win ecosys em, augmen ed by c owdsou ced
inpu s, enabling eal- ime assessmen and iden i ica ion o changes.
Mo eo e , his in eg a i e app oach highligh s he impo ance
o bo h echnological inno a ion and social engagemen .
While emo e sensing, digi al wins, and in si u ins umen s
o e unp eceden ed p ecision in moni o ing cul u al he i age,
communi y pa icipa ion ills c i ical gaps in da a acquisi ion,
especially ollowing ex eme wea he e en s (Figu e 6). By
linking he public mo e di ec ly o he i age p ese a ion, he
TRIQUETRA model os e s b oade socie al suppo and
enhances he capaci y o long- e m si e s ewa dship.
Despi e he complexi y o implemen ing such comp ehensi e
me hodologies, he bene i s o ea ly wa ning capabili ies, op imized
esou ce alloca ion, and s onge communi y engagemen jus i y
sus ained in es men and policy suppo . Collabo a i e e o s
among go e nmen bodies, academic ins i u ions, cul u al
o ganiza ions, and local communi ies can magni y hese successes.
By commi ing o s anda dized p o ocols, open da a sys ems, and
sha ed in as uc u es, he global cul u al he i age sec o can
bols e esilience agains in ensi ying clima e haza ds.
Fu u e wo k should ocus on scaling hese app oaches o a
Fig. 6 - E idence o uns able s ones a he highes poin o he Choi-
okoi ia si e, which can con ibu e o ock all ha occu s as a
esul o ex eme wea he e en s
REFERENCES
Fa o ić S. & Seekamp E. (2017) - A e cul u al he i age and clima e change adap a ion a good ma ch? A e iew o he li e a u e. In e na ional Jou nal o
He i age S udies, 23(6): 522-545.
Gab iele M., Cazzani A., Ze bi C. M. & B umana R. (2023) - Digi al win o moni o , unde s and and p ese e he complexi y o mul iscale na u al, ag icul-
