Multi-temporal SAR and optical change detection with COSMO-SkyMed and Copernicus Sentinels for digital recording of cultural heritage at risk

A multi-technique and multi-platform approach using COSMO-SkyMed SAR and Sentinel-2 optical data demonstrates significant advantages for monitoring cultural heritage at risk. In Nasca, Peru, high-resolution COSMO-SkyMed imagery (3 m) captured detailed damage from a truck crossing linear geoglyphs, surpassing the capabilities of Sentinel-2 (10 m). Conversely, Sentinel-2 proved effective in Cyrenaica, Libya, for screening wider regions and assessing urban sprawl impacts. This study highlights the complementary strengths of SAR and optical data, offering precise damage detection while enabling broader landscape assessments, thus advancing digital recording techniques for heritage conservation.

Tapete, D., & Cigna, F. (2020). Multi-temporal SAR and optical change detection with COSMO-SkyMed and Copernicus Sentinels for digital recording of cultural heritage at risk. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 509(1), 12055. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/509/1/012055