HIST Hosts Side Event on Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites
29 Jul 2026
The International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO joined the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Hangzhou City University in hosting a side event on Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites on July 24 in Busan, Republic of Korea during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from 10 international organizations and over 30 countries to explore how remote sensing, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies can support the conservation, management and sustainable development of World Heritage sites.
The event, themed “Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites,” was also part of a series of activities marking the 15th anniversary of HIST.
Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. GUO Huadong, Director of HIST; YANG Xinyu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO; Teresa Patricio, President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); Himalchuli Gurung, Chief of the Asia and the Pacific Unit at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Tim Badman, Director of the World Heritage Team at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); and José Luiz Pederzoli Jr., Manager of Programmes Unit at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
In his remarks, Guo reviewed HIST's contributions to the conservation of UNESCO-designated sites over the past 15 years. He said that during its third phase of development, HIST would strengthen cooperation with UNESCO, other international organizations and Member States in interdisciplinary research, data sharing, technological applications and capacity building. These efforts, he noted, would contribute further to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Yang highlighted that China attaches great importance to the protection of both cultural and natural heritage, has actively integrated digital technologies into heritage conservation and management, and remains a strong supporter of international cooperation under the framework of UNESCO. She noted that HIST has become an important platform for advancing the application of space technologies in heritage conservation, providing technical support to heritage sites in many countries. She said, China stands ready to work with UNESCO and all partners to harness the power of science and innovation, deepen international collaboration, and build a more resilient and sustainable future for World Heritage.
During the keynote session, Guo presented HIST's major achievements in applying remote sensing, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to the conservation of World Heritage and other UNESCO-designated sites. He also outlined HIST's development plan for its third phase.
Carlos Augusto Torres Perez, General Director of the Regional World Heritage Institute in Zacatecas under the auspices of UNESCO to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, shared regional practices in the digital conservation of heritage and the coordinated management of transboundary heritage sites.
The thematic presentations covered digital technologies throughout the full cycle of heritage documentation, monitoring, assessment and management.
Dmitriy Voyakin, archaeologist and member of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO, presented the digital documentation of archaeological landscapes in Central Asia. He explained how spatial information technologies could support comprehensive archaeological records and continuous intelligent monitoring of heritage sites.
Prof. FU Bihong, Deputy Director of HIST, discussed the Outstanding Universal Value of the Zhangye Colorful Hills and presented applications of space technologies in the study and protection of the site.
Susan Mclntyre-Tamwoy, Vice-President of ICOMOS, examined the key benefits and limitations of remote-sensing imagery in heritage research through a series of case studies.
Rim Kelouaze, Head of Programmes at the African World Heritage Fund, shared experience in the digital conservation of heritage across Africa. She introduced approaches for applying digital technologies to heritage archiving, monitoring, forecasting and decision support throughout the heritage management process.
Prof. REN Wei of Hangzhou City University focused on the practical application of artificial intelligence. He explored how AI could support both the physical conservation of heritage and the sustainable transmission of its cultural significance in the digital era.
The event showcased HIST's achievements over the past 15 years, strengthened its international visibility and deepened cooperation with UNESCO, the three advisory bodies to the World Heritage Convention—ICOMOS, IUCN and ICCROM—and relevant States Parties. It also laid a foundation for implementing HIST’s third-phase development plan.
The HIST side-event series at sessions of the World Heritage Committee serves as an international platform connecting international organizations, government agencies of States Parties, heritage site management authorities, research institutions and universities. The series aims to promote the conservation, management and sustainable development of World Heritage through space information technologies and other digital tools.
News Updates
HIST Hosts Side Event on Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites
The International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO joined the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Hangzhou City University in hosting a side event on Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites on July 24 in Busan, Republic of Korea during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from 10 international organizations and over 30 countries to explore how remote sensing, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies can support the conservation, management and sustainable development of World Heritage sites.
The event, themed “Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Sustainable Development of World Heritage Sites,” was also part of a series of activities marking the 15th anniversary of HIST.
Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. GUO Huadong, Director of HIST; YANG Xinyu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO; Teresa Patricio, President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); Himalchuli Gurung, Chief of the Asia and the Pacific Unit at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Tim Badman, Director of the World Heritage Team at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); and José Luiz Pederzoli Jr., Manager of Programmes Unit at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
In his remarks, Guo reviewed HIST's contributions to the conservation of UNESCO-designated sites over the past 15 years. He said that during its third phase of development, HIST would strengthen cooperation with UNESCO, other international organizations and Member States in interdisciplinary research, data sharing, technological applications and capacity building. These efforts, he noted, would contribute further to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Yang highlighted that China attaches great importance to the protection of both cultural and natural heritage, has actively integrated digital technologies into heritage conservation and management, and remains a strong supporter of international cooperation under the framework of UNESCO. She noted that HIST has become an important platform for advancing the application of space technologies in heritage conservation, providing technical support to heritage sites in many countries. She said, China stands ready to work with UNESCO and all partners to harness the power of science and innovation, deepen international collaboration, and build a more resilient and sustainable future for World Heritage.
During the keynote session, Guo presented HIST's major achievements in applying remote sensing, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to the conservation of World Heritage and other UNESCO-designated sites. He also outlined HIST's development plan for its third phase.
Carlos Augusto Torres Perez, General Director of the Regional World Heritage Institute in Zacatecas under the auspices of UNESCO to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, shared regional practices in the digital conservation of heritage and the coordinated management of transboundary heritage sites.
The thematic presentations covered digital technologies throughout the full cycle of heritage documentation, monitoring, assessment and management.
Dmitriy Voyakin, archaeologist and member of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO, presented the digital documentation of archaeological landscapes in Central Asia. He explained how spatial information technologies could support comprehensive archaeological records and continuous intelligent monitoring of heritage sites.
Prof. FU Bihong, Deputy Director of HIST, discussed the Outstanding Universal Value of the Zhangye Colorful Hills and presented applications of space technologies in the study and protection of the site.
Susan Mclntyre-Tamwoy, Vice-President of ICOMOS, examined the key benefits and limitations of remote-sensing imagery in heritage research through a series of case studies.
Rim Kelouaze, Head of Programmes at the African World Heritage Fund, shared experience in the digital conservation of heritage across Africa. She introduced approaches for applying digital technologies to heritage archiving, monitoring, forecasting and decision support throughout the heritage management process.
Prof. REN Wei of Hangzhou City University focused on the practical application of artificial intelligence. He explored how AI could support both the physical conservation of heritage and the sustainable transmission of its cultural significance in the digital era.
The event showcased HIST's achievements over the past 15 years, strengthened its international visibility and deepened cooperation with UNESCO, the three advisory bodies to the World Heritage Convention—ICOMOS, IUCN and ICCROM—and relevant States Parties. It also laid a foundation for implementing HIST’s third-phase development plan.
The HIST side-event series at sessions of the World Heritage Committee serves as an international platform connecting international organizations, government agencies of States Parties, heritage site management authorities, research institutions and universities. The series aims to promote the conservation, management and sustainable development of World Heritage through space information technologies and other digital tools.
Keynote session. (Image by HIST)
Scenes of the side event. (Image by HIST)