The 2nd Workshop on Applying Spatial Technologies in World Heritage Protection Convened

The 2nd workshop on applying spatial technologies in world heritage protection organized by the UNESCO International Center on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) was held at the AIR New Technology Park on February 3, 2015.
The workshop was with a view of boosting academic exchanges between HIST Goven Board from across the world and researchers of HIST and AIR.
HIST Govern Board from China, like Luo Jing, Deputy Chief of Science and Technology Department, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. Jon Hutton, Director of World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Nations Environment Program, Douglas Comer, cultural heritage expert of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Rosa Lasaponara, researcher of CNR attended the meeting. Hans Thulstrup, project coordinator of UNESCO Beijing Office. Academician Guo Huadong, Hong Tianhua, Wang Xinyuan/Wang Changlin, Nie Yueping and Liu Jie, respectively Director, Executive Deputy Director cum Secretary General, Deputy Directors and Deputy Secretary General of HIST as well as many core researchers, along with representatives of HIST Zhengzhou and Harbin bases.
The meeting consisted of morning session and afternoon session respectively hosted by Hong Tianhua and Natarajan Ishwaran.
Director Guo Huadong delivered a welcome speech. First of all, he extended welcome to the new members of HIST Council, believing they would bring more cooperation opportunities to HIST. Additionally, he pointed out that through incessant efforts in recent years, HIST has conducted international cooperation projects like Remote Sensing for Environment of Angkor site and has played a part in China-Italy cooperation, which fully reflects that space-based earth observation technology is an important technology and effective means for world heritage monitoring and management. He expressed the hope that this workshop would fully display the scientific research fruits of HIST and related international renowned experts and it would make new contributions to space technology research centered on UNESCO world heritage.
Succeeding to Director Guo’s remarks, HIST Executive Deputy Director cum Secretary General Hong Tianhua spoke the topic of “Application of Space Technologies in HIST, New Platform of UNESCO-Designated Heritage” and introduced in detail the background, organizational structure, functions, contingent building and ongoing work as well as blueprint of HIST.
After that, centering on the theme of “Application of Space Technologies in World Heritage Protection”, Wang Xinyuan, Wang Cheng, Chen Fulong, He Guojin, Liu Jian, Dou Changyong, Wang Weixing, Yu Lijun, Qu Yi, Lu Peng among other researcher representatives, and foreign experts like professors Jon Hutton, Rosa Lasaponara, Douglas Comer and Hans Thulstrup respectively gave academic reports on the achievements and existing problems in applying optical remote sensing, microwave remote sensing, satellite remote sensing, aerial remote sensing, virtual reality technology, database technology and other space information technologies in research of heritage sites in China and beyond. The meeting also witnessed full-on communication on how to make better use of the space technologies in world heritage protection and management.

The meeting proved to be a complete success since it not only displayed the research strengths and fruits of HIST and AIR, but also further promoted international academic exchanges, which laid a sound foundation for HIST’s greater development in future.