Monitoring Submerged Cultural Heritage Sites with DESIS

Abstract

The submerged harbors of Amathus in Cyprus and Hipponion in the South of Italy are examples of sensitive cultural heritage requiring special attention in the frame of Marine Spatial Planning. This paper introduces the use of the DESIS sensor, an imaging spectrometer mounted on the International Space Station, for the monitoring of cultural heritage sites of this kind, located in shallow waters. On the one hand, monitoring eutrophication and pollution can timely raise awareness on critical conditions of the surrounding waters; on the other hand, the monitoring of water depth can indicate effects, such as shoreline erosion, which could lead to a deterioration of the relics.