UNESCO Chair

Digital Twins for World Heritage Conservation

General

A UNESCO Chair in Digital Twins for World Heritage Conservation has been established by Carleton University and Universidad del Azuay with the aim of advance research on digital twins to support the conservation of UNESCO-listed cultural heritage sites, aligning with climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A digital twin is a dynamic virtual copy of a physical asset, process, system, or environment that looks identical to its real-world counterpart. They integrate real-time data to predict performance, identify potential issues, and enhance management through advanced visualization interfaces. By enabling interactive collaboration across disciplines, digital twins facilitate the design, monitoring, and operation of complex heritage systems. Their predictive capabilities support informed decision-making through simulation, analysis, and immersive 3D visualization, aiding in heritage conservation efforts (Unity, 2023).

Felipe Cobos

General objective

To mobilize research to support the design and implementation of digital twins for World Heritage conservation in the context of climate change and the need to monitor indicators associated with SDGs.

Specific objectives

1. To mobilize research to support the design and implementation of holistic approaches using digital twins for World Heritage conservation, in the context of climate adaptation and the need to monitor indicators for sustainable development goals through a robust collaboration with south-north stakeholders.
2. To build and maintain strong networks, including links with other UNESCO Chairs and community and industry experts in cultural heritage conservation to inform the adoption of digital twin technologies that can allow data-driven decisions for World Heritage Stakeholders to make informed decisions concerning for example conservation strategies, visitor management plans, and other aspects of site maintenance.
3. To provide training opportunities for about 25 undergraduate and graduate students each year for a total of 100.
4. To integrate robust ethical and privacy frameworks when implementing digital twins for World Heritage sites, preventing digital appropriation of knowledge and cybersecurity measures to protect the digital assets from unauthorized access or manipulation.

Project impact

The proposed UNESCO Chair is designed to foster educational, socio-economic and cultural development at various levels (local, national, regional, and global) through the production of comprehensive outputs that support the design, implementation and adoption of digital twins’ technologies to improve the conservation of the UNESCO World Heritage attributes without compromising the sustainability of the local custodians and community, as well as, increasing the effectiveness of the implementation of the convention at national, reginal and global scales addressing the five fundamental strategic objectives of the convection through the 5C (Credibility, Conservation, Communication, Capacity-building, and Communities).

Project beneficiaries

The UNESCO Chair will benefit diverse stakeholders including local, national, regional, and global actors.
The academic institutions involved in this Chair will benefit from increased collaboration, research opportunities, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise. Faculty, researchers, and students will engage in projects that enhance the quality and relevance of education and contribute to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The knowledge generated from the UNESCO Chair will inform the development of evidence-based policies related to the adoption of digital twins in education, culture, and socio-economic development, thereby benefiting relevant stakeholders.