Remote monitoring of rock art shelters: an innovative application in the Cultural Park of Albarracín

A groundbreaking study demonstrates that integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technology into the conservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites can drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize data gaps. Researchers at Toros del Prado del Navazo, a notable post-Palaeolithic rock art shelter in Spain's Sierra de Albarracín, found that IoT-based remote monitoring cut annual CO₂eq emissions by 75% (from 197.20 kg to 49.30 kg) and reduced data gaps from 36% to just 5.9%, compared to traditional methods. This innovation not only accelerates decision-making for heritage preservation but also promotes a sustainable, long-term model for protecting cultural sites within the Mediterranean Basin's Rock Art World Heritage Site.

Zalbidea-Muñoz, A., Serrano Aranda, C., Mercado, R., & Perles, A. (2025). Remote monitoring of rock art shelters: an innovative application in the Cultural Park of Albarracín. Npj Heritage Science, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-02123-w