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This paper aims to introduce the concept and objectives of a recently supported European project entitled “Geomatics and Civil Engineering Innovative Research on Heritage”, in short ENGINEER. The ENGINEER project visions to enhance and extend inter- departmental multidisciplinary research activities of the Department of Civil Engineering & Geomatics of the Cyprus University of Technology through coordination and support actions as well as through targeted research activities with the support of European leading institutions. Project tasks aim to fill research multidisciplinary gaps, push, and extend knowledge into new and innovative fields dealing with the monitoring, digitization, visualization, and preservation of ancient monuments and cultural heritage sites, assisting their protection, promotion, and safeguarding.

This chapter presents examples of remote sensing studies for monitoring natural hazards related to ancient monuments and archaeological sites in Cyprus. Through these studies, the use of Earth Observation, and specifically the contribution of the European Copernicus Programme, is highlighted. Most of them have been carried out during the last years, within the framework of funded research projects. The various case studies presented in this chapter underscore Earth Observation’s mingling with other remote sensing techniques (both middle range and terrestrial) and geoinformatics towards inclusive monitoring of cultural heritage and prevention against possible hazards. The chapter unfolds in two parts: The first part introduces an overview of the potential contribution of Earth Observation to the Cultural Heritage Disaster Risk Management (DRM) cycle, with specific focus on the Eastern Mediterranean basin. The DRM includes six consecutive steps that require various inputs, including the context, threats and monitoring phases. For each step, the role of Earth Observation sensors and their related products are discussed. The second part of this chapter focuses on studies dealing with natural hazards in Cyprus using optical and radar datasets . These studies include the following: (a) soil erosion by water, (b) vegetation growth, and (c) detection of surface displacements , in sites with archaeological interest. The chapter ends with a comprehensive risk assessment report of various hazards (both natural and anthropogenic) using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. This assessment concerns the western part of Cyprus , namely the Paphos District, where more than 200 monuments are found.

Since 2015, the Sentinel‐1 and ‐2 sensors systematically provide radar and optical images, that can be accessed and processed by the end‐users. This initiative is strongly supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) free and full open access (FFO) policy [1]. However, the use of these satellite datasets has not yet fully adopted by the archaeological community. This is partially due to the lower resolution of the Sentinel and other similar sensors (in comparison to the high‐resolution optical satellite data [2‐3]), and the different demands of the end‐users [4]. Nevertheless, this is a unique opportunity for the archaeological community to gain access into an extensive multi‐temporal satellite repository. In this respect, big data cloud platforms are essential for facilitating these imagesʹ processing. This paper presents, through various applications, the benefits and limitations of multi‐temporal change detection analysis using multi‐source radar and optical medium resolution satellite datasets for supporting heritage disaster risk management cycle [5]. In specific, the use of Sentinel‐1 and Sentinel‐2 sensors and Landsat images are processed in the Google Earth Engine cloud platform. The analysis includes a temporal trend investigation over archaeological sites in Cyprus, through integrated harmonized Landsat observations (Landsat 5 TM; Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI) [6], as well as supervised Random Forest classification for monitoring urban sprawl and land‐use changes. Vertical sprawl over the archaeological site of Amathus in Cyprus using the Rapid and Easy Change detection in radar TIme‐series by Variation coefficient (REACTIV) algorithm [7], are also presented. Finally, disturbance mapping and multi‐temporal vegetation indices and Tasseled Cap coefficient trends are provided [8]. The results of the research here presented make part of an ongoing project, entitled ʺCopernicus Earth Observation Big Data for Cultural Heritageʺ, in short NAVIGATOR (under the grant agreement EXCELLENCE/0918/0052). The project investigates novel methodologies for monitoring natural and anthropogenic hazards, employing Copernicus and other related satellite products and using big data cloud platforms.

This article summarises the European Union's Earth Observation Copernicus Programme's contribution and other satellitebased platforms for cultural heritage applications. It highlights the results of some national and European projects conducted in this domain. Even though the Copernicus Programme has recently been introduced for cultural heritage use (i.e., after the second half of this decade), the full, free, and open data policy, known as FFO, has increased the number of relevant applications. Since then, several studies dedicated to cultural heritage monitoring, management, etc., have been presented in the literature. Despite the medium spatial resolution of the radar and optical Sentinel sensors, their hightemporal revisit time combined with other legacy space programmes (e.g., the Landsat space programme) can provide useful information to local and regional stakeholders, and other national agencies. New developments in the domain of image processing like the use of big-data earth observation cloud platforms already showcased the potentials for dedicated space-based cultural heritage services. However, this technological shift remains still within the scientific and theoretical research domain. Therefore, much effort is still needed for the implementation of national policies.

Thanks to powerful search engines and innovative geo-portals able to display satellite imagery to the general public upon a click, the way we perceive and experience space technologies and their products has irreversibly changed in the last few decades. The new generations of satellites orbiting around the Earth are now being designed considering not only technology-driven possibilities, but also realistic user-driven necessities by providing a complete and timely coverage of the planet for research and monitoring purposes, in case of natural hazards and other emergencies. The next questions are why and how could information from satellites have a greater impact on research and business and on society today? And more specifically, what could be the outcome of this impact on our cultural heritage, including archaeological findings and cultural landscapes? This book aims to investigate the potential value that satellite technologies and remote sensing (RS) could provide for a more sustainable mapping, monitoring, and management of heritage sites, be it for purposes of regular maintenance or for risk mitigation in case of natural or man-caused hazards. The framework of the publication is enhanced by recent events during armed conflicts in the Middle East, and the renewed attention of public administration toward the importance of international collaboration when it comes to the protection and conservation of cultural heritage and common values.

This deliverable (D4.6: Mass media material) presents a detailed list of all the mass media material pertaining to MedSTACH project outreach activities during phase I. The list, which is described in detail in the following paragraphs, includes interviews by Consortium members, newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, social media and website references to the project and the proposed Centre of Excellence, its mission and vision and its expected contribution to the socio-economic and scientific development of Cypriot society and the wider eastern Mediterranean region. The activities discussed below were primarily addressed towards the broader Cypriot society in order to raise awareness within the country’s general public about the significant efforts undertaken by MedSTACH for future-proofing the society’s development. As such most of the material in the press and radio interviews were conducted in the Greek language and in the national media avenues. However, promotion activities crossed the borders, primarily through mass online media material (social media pages and MedSTACH dedicated website) as well as publications (press releases and articles) in newspapers/magazines covering the international members of the Consortium, namely Greece and the UK. Dissemination in two languages – Greek and English – resulted in reaching a very wide audience.

This deliverable (D4.7: Conference papers/posters participation) presents a detailed list of all conferences where the MedSTACH project was presented, during Phase I, in order to disseminate MedSTACH’s activities in the academic and industrial sectors. The list includes presentations in international and local conferences and workshops. The presentation of MedSTACH project and the Centre’s activities in the specific conferences served the networking with key and relevant associations, stakeholders, private agencies, archaeological missions, and universities at a local and international level.

The purpose of this Report is to describe the webinars that took place during the project, related to TASK 6. Particularly, through the webinars, all the methods and techniques used during the project are described. This deliverable includes the agenda, the participants and the presentations of ATHENA’s webinars.

The present deliverable makes part of the Work Package 5: Promotion of the centre locally and internationally, and more specifically it adress the International networking achieved through the website of the project.

The Deliverable 6.6 with the title “7 conference papers”, is part of WP6 “Dissemination and Exploitation” of Athena project with a basic aim to knowledge sharing, network development and exposure to an international environment. Three conference attendances were foreseen (e.g. CAA; SPIE; EARSeL) within the project duration whereas more than 30 posters and oral presentations were presented during the project in the conferences such as: SPIE 2016, SPIE 2018, EUROMED 2016, EUROMED 2018, EGU 2016, EGU 2017, EGU 2018, RSCy2016, RSCy 2017, RSCy 2018, etc.

Work package 4 focused on the training and knowledge transfer between the existing personnel of the Remote Sensing Lab of the Cyprus University of Technology and experts from the high performing partners’ institutions. The current deliverable consists precisely of the specific training/knowledge transfer activity of the virtual trainings that have took place throughout the project. The deliverable provides a brief description for each virtual training, all relative information as per topic, participants, date etc. Also, the material produced by each trainer, is also hereunder displayed. The topics of virtual trainings focused on the analysis of hyperspectral images, the use of remote sensing for looting monitoring and the multi-temporal remote sensing analyses. In addition, the fourth virtual training was focused on the Integration of RS data for Cultural Heritage management in the Copernicus Era.

The present deliverable reports the short-term visits of the CUT personnel to Germany and Italy hosted by DLR and CNR, for training on remote sensing technologies, data and sensors as well as active and passive remote sensing (including geophysics) for archaeology. In collaboration with the project partners, selected members of the ATHENA team from Cyprus visited different facilities and had the opportunity to train, discuss and implement novel remote sensing technologies. The main goal of these activities was to further build on the synergies of the ATHENA network. With the involvement of high performance partners (CNR and DLR), the network will encourage the development and exchange of knowledge, technology and innovation in the domain of the cultural heritage. A great effort has been made by all partners to maximize the role and capabilities as well as increase the strategic collaborations in the region of the ATHENA Centre, thereby providing access to their links and making use of the available networks.

The present report describes in detail the International Promotion Strategy that was implemented in the framework of ATHENA project along with the targets set at the beginning of the project. Thereafter, the international promotion events and activities, via which the project was disseminated and promoted, are showcased.

The present deliverable consists of the report on the local promotion strategy of the ATHENA project, and makes part of WP5 (Promotion of the centre locally and internationally).The strategy, was based on the promotion of the ATHENA locally with the aim to create a substantial and collaborative network, in order to sustain the Centre’s future activities.

The specific deliverable summarizes the material related to the form of interviews and articles in newspapers and magazines of the project. Radio, journals and newspapers are also used as means to promote and advertise some of the dissemination events of the project. Mass media promotions at a national level as well in the European Research Media Centre are organized to promote and raise awareness. Guest appearances on TV and radio shows and national newspapers are used to ensure the access to the widest community.

The specific deliverable is a collection of the special leaflets that were designed to inform stakeholders and other possible interested parties regarding the activities of the Remote Sensing lab within the framework of ATHENA project. For this purpose, 14 special leaflets were designed and uploaded on the project’s website. Additional information will be provided to all interested parties via the WP6 deliverables of the project.

The specific deliverable displays the brochures of the ATHENA project which have been created, printed and distributed throughout the project, for dissemination purposes.

The specific deliverable summarizes the material related to the fourth workshop of the ATHENA project entitled as “ATHENA: Remote Sensing and archaeology: future and expectations”. The deliverable includes the overall agenda, the list of participants as well as the presentations carried out during the event. The minutes and the main outcomes of the workshop are also included in this report.

The specific deliverable summarizes the material related to the 3rd Summer School of the project entitled “Geophysics applied to Cultural heritage monitoring”. The deliverable contains actions completed prior the accomplishment of the Summer School acted during September 2018. The current report provides an overview of the event, such as the agenda, all material delivered during the Summer School (e.g. presentations, supportive documents etc.), the list of participants and pictures from the event. Also, some preliminary results and measurements are provided.