Ipamed

Computer assisted remote sensing cartography of heritage sites in Tunisia

IPAMED (Carte Informatisée du Patrimoine Mediterranéen) shows the benefit of applying new technologies to heritage inventories.The idea was to combine Global Positioning System (GPS) with satellite and aerial photography to create a map-based Geographic Information System (GIS) that shows heritage sites in relation to the threats they face.
Tunisia was chosen for the pilot since its archaeological heritage is plentiful and distributed throughout the country. Given the scale of the heritage challenge, this approach could be of immense benefit throughout the Mediterranean.
IPAMEDrevealed that people pose the greatest threat to Tunisia's heritage.
IPAMED succeeded because the entire team (25 computer scientists, geologists, geographers, topographers, architects and archaeologists from Algeria, the Palestinian Territories, France and Tunisia) were given thorough training in using the system. But throughout the southern Mediterranean, there is a serious shortage of people with the specialist skills and experience needed for heritage conservation.