Recent Advances and Future Vision for Remote Sensing of Cultural and Natural Heritage
A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 116
Special Issue Editors
Interests: geoinformatics; remote sensing; GIS; soil spatial analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: archaeology; aerial and terrestrial digital technologies; laser scanning; photogrammetry; GIS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cultural and natural heritage sites are invaluable records of our collective past and vital components of global identity, yet they face increasing risks from environmental change, human activities, and natural degradation. As the need to document, monitor, and preserve these sites becomes more urgent, remote sensing technologies are emerging as powerful tools to support sustainable conservation and informed decision-making.
This Special Issue invites contributions that highlight recent advancements and innovative applications of remote sensing in the study, documentation, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage. We welcome research that explores how technologies such as satellite imagery, UAVs (drones), LiDAR, multispectral/hyperspectral imaging, 3D photogrammetry, laser scanning, laser spectroscopy, optoacoustics and geophysical prospection are being used to enhance our understanding and protection of heritage assets.
We particularly encourage submissions that showcase the following:
- Innovative uses of remote sensing for mapping, documentation, and monitoring of heritage sites.
- Case studies demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches in archaeology, conservation science, environmental monitoring, and heritage management.
- Methodological advancements in data acquisition, processing, and visualization (e.g., AR/VR, digital twins).
- Applications of AI, machine learning, and big data in the remote sensing of heritage.
- Early warning systems and risk assessment strategies informed by remote sensing data.
Remote sensing plays a transformative role in the documentation, monitoring, and long-term preservation of cultural and natural heritage. This Special Issue emphasizes how advanced sensing technologies support proactive heritage management, enabling detailed spatial analysis, condition assessment, and change detection over time. Contributions are encouraged that explore how these tools facilitate sustainable conservation strategies, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and inform policy and decision-making in the heritage sector.
By providing a platform for cross-disciplinary exchange, this Special Issue aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share knowledge, best practices, and emerging solutions for safeguarding heritage using remote sensing.
We look forward to your contributions that help shape the future of heritage preservation through the lens of remote sensing technology.
Dr. Athanasios V. Argyriou
Dr. Dante Abate
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- remote sensing
- cultural heritage
- natural heritage
- natural hazards
- cutting-edge technologies
- disaster risk reduction
- preservation
- change detection
- machine learning
- decision support systems
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