Archaeological research and the study, conservation and risk assessment of cultural heritage increasingly rely on non-invasive technologies operating across different spatial scales, depths and temporal dimensions. Recent advances in sensing technologies, acquisition platforms and data processing have transformed the way archaeological landscapes and sites, historic buildings, monuments and artefacts are discovered, investigated, documented and monitored.
The rapid development of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has filled the observational gap between satellite/airborne remote sensing and ground-based investigation, enabling very-high-resolution and multi-temporal acquisitions using RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal and LiDAR sensors. Advances in Earth Observation, SAR/InSAR, terrestrial and mobile LiDAR, close-range imaging, geophysical prospection and in situ diagnostics are providing complementary information on surface and subsurface features.
Their integration opens new perspectives for multi-scale, multi-temporal and multi-depth investigation, from the detection and interpretation of archaeological landscapes and buried remains to the characterization of monuments, structures, materials and artefacts. Emerging frontiers include autonomous sensing, multimodal data fusion, 3D/4D reconstruction and change detection, sensor networks, AI-assisted interpretation and digital twins, supporting a shift from individual observations towards integrated, dynamic and predictive approaches.
This session welcomes methodological advances and case studies involving satellite and UAV remote sensing; LiDAR; terrestrial and close-range sensing; archaeological and near-surface geophysics, including GPR, ERT, magnetic and electromagnetic methods; thermal, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging; non-invasive analytical techniques; sensor networks; multi-sensor data integration; AI and machine learning; and 3D/4D modelling and digital twins.
Particular attention will be given to approaches integrating observations from space, air, surface and subsurface to generate new archaeological knowledge, characterize heritage assets and their transformations, and support research, monitoring, conservation and risk management.