Remote Sensing for Archaeology and Cultural Landscapes Best Practices and Perspectives Across Europe and the Middle East Preface

Thanks to powerful search engines and innovative geo-portals able to display satellite imagery to the general public upon a click, the way we perceive and experience space technologies and their products has irreversibly changed in the last few decades. The new generations of satellites orbiting around the Earth are now being designed considering not only technology-driven possibilities, but also realistic user-driven necessities by providing a complete and timely coverage of the planet for research and monitoring purposes, in case of natural hazards and other emergencies. The next questions are why and how could information from satellites have a greater impact on research and business and on society today? And more specifically, what could be the outcome of this impact on our cultural heritage, including archaeological findings and cultural landscapes? This book aims to investigate the potential value that satellite technologies and remote sensing (RS) could provide for a more sustainable mapping, monitoring, and management of heritage sites, be it for purposes of regular maintenance or for risk mitigation in case of natural or man-caused hazards. The framework of the publication is enhanced by recent events during armed conflicts in the Middle East, and the renewed attention of public administration toward the importance of international collaboration when it comes to the protection and conservation of cultural heritage and common values.