Moniteye and Historic Environment Scotland Launch Project to Use Space Technology to Protect Scotland’s Historic Assets

This exciting project was launched on Friday 28 June at the Engine Shed in Stirling, which is Scotland's dedicated conservation centre (https://www.engineshed.scot/).

Speakers covered the challenges faced in managing and maintaining historically important assets including an update on Dynamic Coast - Scotland's Coastal Change Assessment project (http://dynamiccoast.com/) and overview of technologies that are currently being used and how satellite capability may assist.

An overview of the Engine Shed and importance of educational / school curriculum / showcase aspects was also provided.

The workshop also provided an overview of the satellite and space market and why it is important to the Scottish and UK economy. Speakers from representatives of the Scottish Government and Scottish Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications (SoXSA), The Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh and the European Space Agency will provide an update on what is going on in this important sector.

Bringing together a range of partners from across the heritage sector, the project will explore the challenges faced in protecting historic sites from threats such as coastal erosion and ground movement, and how satellite capabilities can assist in monitoring and managing these impacts.

The project will build on the current use of innovative space and satellite techniques within heritage management. It will be using radar data from the Sentinel satellite to measure terrain movement and developing a methodology to apply this to heritage assets in Scotland for the first time.

The project will be focusing on specific case studies, including Skara Brae, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, and Mavisbank Policies, the area of designed landscape laid out in the early 18th century around Mavisbank House in Midlothian. Skara Brae is vulnerable to coastal erosion related to climate change, while Mavisbank Policies are affected by localised slope instability, which can be exacerbated by changes in rainfall patterns.

Further details can be found at : https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/project-to-use-space-technology-to-protect-scotland-s-historic-environment-takes-off/