THE DOCUMENTATION AND PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE DURING EMERGENCIES

Abstract

This paper aims to highlight the importance of fast and safe documentation of the damage to cultural heritage after a natural or anthropic catastrophe, with greater relevance of civil society. In these situations, in which humanitarian aid to the population and care needs are the priorities for the local authorities, proper prior planning of data collection and their transmission may aid faster and better decision-making in an emergency. New technologies are among the most effective tools to carry out such damage assessments actions. Therefore, we are currently establishing adequate planning and training of the local civil society, through projects that aim to achieve specific goals, enhancing their capacity to protect heritage, and improving the resilience of the inhabitants after disasters. Most heritage projects that work towards the recovery and conservation of heritage after an emergency occurred do not consider the local population. Therefore, in this paper we offer an approach for heritage workers in the hope that by including the local population, the documentation of heritage destruction can lead to better methods in the future.