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Satellite Technology in Service
to the Protection of Cultural Heritage

Interview with
Einar Bjorgo

Director, Division for Satellite Analysis and Applied Research,

Manager, UNOSAT and A2030 Unit UNITAR

We do not normally think about it, but satellite images have could confirm the destruction of historical sites, such as the
a wide variety of uses beyond what we are used to imagining Temple of Bel in Palmyra.
for such images. Cultural heritage surveillance is one of them.
We had a chance to meet with Einar Bjorgo, the Norwegian Q: How do you see the situation currently? Is it as really as
Director of the UNOSAT Programme that has become one of bad as we might think?
the United Nations’ success stories. A: Talking about Syria, fortunately, not everything is damaged.
However, we also work in Libya and Iraq, as well as in other
Q: You had a “Library Talk” presentation recently where places, so, we are not focused only on Syria. Of course, there has
you discussed UNOSAT’s involvement in the preservation of been considerable damage in Syria, and we did issue a report
cultural heritage. Could you talk more about this and what earlier about the situation, and we are going to issue a new report
exactly you are doing? soon. Recently, we issued a report focusing on Aleppo and the
A: Sure, with pleasure! It is a project we carry on with old town, and it’s clear that there is considerable damage.
UNESCO, and it goes back to the time when we were working
for the humanitarian community in Syria. As you know, we The good news is that several of the sites can be restored, but
use satellite imagery to assess the damage to buildings and this is of course going to take time.
infrastructure. One day we came across damaged historical Let me just say, at UNOSAT, we are excellent when it comes
sites in Syria, and we immediately contacted colleagues in to looking at satellite imagery and interpreting it. But it’s only
UNESCO. It goes without saying that this was of great interest when you work with the historians and the archaeologists
to them. UNESCO had recently established an emergency that you truly understand the immense loss and the true
unit, so, joining forces, we immediately started to assess the value of what has been totally or partially destroyed.
extent of damage of cultural heritage in Syria.
Q: You mentioned Iraq and Libya. In Libya, there is a civil
UNESCO provided us with data of the most important war going on. How do you see the situation there?
historical sites. We also were able to work on an “on-call A: We are assessing some sites. We want to make sure that our
basis” and, as events were unfolding at the time, we could technology is available to UNESCO whenever it is required.
sometimes denounce rumors about certain historical sites.
Certain sites had been reported to be damaged, whereas it The use of this type of technology is unique and highly
turned out to untrue. Unfortunately, on several occasions, we valuable, especially when you do not have access to the sites,

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