UNESCO Vitaliy Hrabar
28 February 2025, Lviv, Ukraine – UNOSAT and UNESCO successfully conducted an advanced face-to-face training on cultural and natural heritage monitoring in Lviv, Ukraine, from 25-28 February 2025. This training, part of an ongoing collaboration to support cultural heritage professionals in Ukraine, is built upon previous sessions held in November 2023 and January 2025, with a special focus on archaeology and natural heritage.
Bringing together Ukrainian heritage professionals, archaeologists, and experts in geospatial technologies, the training aimed to strengthen participants’ skills in using satellite imagery for heritage documentation, damage assessment, and environmental monitoring. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering topics such as mapping archaeological sites, assessing physical damage, detecting floods and fires, and utilizing the UN-ASIGN app for ground reporting.
Throughout the training, participants used open-source software, platforms, and open-access data, ensuring that they were able to implement Geographic Information Technology (GIT) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into their workflows without financial constraints. All course materials were, in most cases, based on cultural heritage monuments of Ukraine, which was especially engaging and relevant for participants.
The lectures took place in the newly opened Lviv Culture Hub and often sparked small scientific discussions, allowing participants to exchange knowledge and explore new ideas collaboratively.
UNESCO Vitaliy Hrabar
The training demonstrated a clear boost in participants' confidence and skills, with strong improvements in their ability to apply satellite imagery techniques for cloud removal, flood and fire detection, and damage assessment. Feedback highlighted the value of practical exercises and the relevance of the training to their daily work.
The ability to monitor and document cultural heritage sites using geospatial technologies is becoming increasingly important. The use of open-source data and platforms not only made this training practical but also sustainable, said Michelle de Gruchy, a key trainer from UNITAR-UNOSAT.
The event also provided a platform for discussion on integrating geospatial tools into national heritage management frameworks.
As part of UNOSAT's and UNESCO’s commitment to capacity development, this training marks another step toward empowering cultural heritage professionals working in Ukraine with the skills and resources to protect and safeguard the country’s cultural and natural heritage using GIT.