HIST received a distinguished guest from Myanmar

Mr. Aung Aung Kyaw, Director of Archeology and National Museum Bagan Branch, Myanmar, visited HIST on 17 October, 2018. on the invitation of Prof. Wang Xinyuan, Deputy Director of HIST and Co-Chair of Digital Belt and Road Programme (DBAR)-Heritage Working Group.

Mr. Aung Aung Kyaw visited the Digital Earth science Platform, and reviewed the operation and management system for the remote sensing satellites, and international organizations built with supports of AIR, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

An academic seminar was also organized during his visit. Associate Professor Wang Liming introduced the ongoing projects and evaluations that have been launched in Bagan. During the seminar Mr. Aung Aung Kyaw gave a detailed presentation titled; Safeguarding of Began Cultural Heritage Area and Monuments through Preservation and Restoration. Dr. Luo Lei presented the goals, themes of research, and mechanism for international cooperation of DBAR-Heritage Working Group, and Dr. Zhou Wei introduced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR system.  Prof. Zhong Ruofei from Capital Normal University also gave a brief presentation on three-dimensional (3D) data acquisition and modeling approaches.

During the seminar, both parties (Myanmar and Chinese experts) discussed application of space technologies on Bagan Cultural Heritage sites within in the DBAR and the One Belt and One Road projects and frameworks. There are more than 2000 pagodas and Buddhist temples in Bagan. Utilizing space technologies would play a significant role in monitoring and protecting these cultural heritages. 

The Chinese government has paid special attention into the conservation and protection of the heritage area and continues to encourage scientific institution as well as working groups to invest their energies in this direction. With strong support multiple working groups have already visited Bagan to undertake field investigations and research, establishing a solid foundation for future research and cooperation. Both parties agreed to meet again and committed to sign a Memorandum on technical cooperation. 

Mr. Aung Aung Kyaw

Academic Seminar

Prof. Wang Xinyuan giving the present to Mr. Aung Aung Kyaw

Group picture of attendants of the seminar