2004 UC Proceedings Abstract
Monitoring of Landscape Change at World Heritage Sites Track: Archaeology Author(s): Douglas Comer Many threats to resources at both cultural and natural World Heritage Sites are systemic, in the sense that destruction and deterioration of specific resources is produced by altering the dialectic between cultural and natural processes. Most systemic threats involve encroachment by modern development. This usually degrades the experience of being on site. More importantly, by changing vegetative, topographic, and hydrologic patterns, encroachment sets in motion processes that not infrequently damage or destroy archaeological resources. Satellite and aerial remote sensing technologies that produce digital elevation models and provide multi- and hyperspectral data have developed to the point where both landscape changes that have caused damage to resources and those that are likely to do so can be identified. Utilizing GIS to produce modeling of the nature/culture dialectic and monitoring of landscape changes, management can be informed in time to take steps that might prevent irreversible damage to cultural resources. Douglas Comer US/ICOMOS 4303 N Charles St. Baltimore , MD 21218 US Phone: 410 243-9011 Fax: 410 243-8383 E-mail: dcomer@culturalsite.com |
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