UNESCO Research Chair Digital Twins
A UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for Conservation of World Heritage has been established by Carleton University and Universidad del Azuay with the aim of advancing 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).
The general objective of the Research Chair is 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.
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 World Heritage Convention at national, regional and global scales, addressing the five fundamental strategic objectives of the Convention through the 5Cs (Credibility, Conservation, Communication, Capacity-building, and Communities).
More information on the goals and activities of the Research Chair can be found on the website and through the LinkedIn page.
Co-Chairs: Carleton University, Universidad del Azuay
Strategic Partners and Research Collaborators: • Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile • Hong Kong Shue Yan University / KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology • Athabasca University • Auckland University of Technology / ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand • Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg • Université de Montreal • Scott Sutherland School of Architecture at Robert Gordon University • Politecnico di Milano • University of Rome at Sapienza • University of Mines and Technology, Ghana • Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú • Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) • UNESCO International Centre on World Heritage Interpretation and Presentation (WHIPIC) • Penn State University
Management
Mario Santana Quintero
Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Azrieli School of Architecture, Carleton University
Carleton Immersive Media Studio Ottawa, Canada
Verónica Heras
Dean and Professor, Faculty of Architecture
Universidad del Azuay Cuenca, Ecuador
Elyse Hamp
Manager, PhD Candidate, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carleton University
Carleton Immersive Media Studio Ottawa, Canada
Andrés Delgado Pinos
Research Assistant
Universidad del Azuay Cuenca, Ecuador
Strategic Partners
Bora Pulatsu
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carleton University
Ottawa, Canada
Carlo Bianchini
Full Professor, Department of History, Representation and Restoration of Architecture, University of Rome at Sapienza
Rome, Italy
Douglas Pritchard
Associate Professor, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Robert Gordon University
INSITE Research Centre
Aberdeen, Scotland
Emilio De La Cerda Errazuriz
Professor, School of Architecture, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile
Fernando Montejo Gaitan
Specialized Professional, Sub-Directorate of Research and Scientific Production, Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History
Bogotoa, Colombia
Hyeseung Shim
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology (Arts, Culture, and Technology), Hong Kong Shue Yan University & KAIST
Hong Kong SAR, China
Luigi Barazzetti
Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
ABCLab Milan, Italy
Miquel Reina Ortiz
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Planning, School of Architecture, Université de Montreal
Montreal, Canada
Mona Hess
Full Professor, Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies, University of Bamberg, Chair of Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation
Bamberg, Germany
Naa Dedei Tagoe
Associate Professor, Department of Geomatic and Civil Engineering, School of Railway and Infrastructure Development, University of Mines and Technology
Geospatial Systems and Climate Resilience Research Group Tarkwa, Ghana
Rafael Aguilar
Full Professor, Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Engineering and Heritage Research Laboratory
Lima, Peru
Rebecca Napolitano
Assistant Professor, PennState University
Heritage 3D Lab, State College Pennsylvania, United States
Shabnam Inanloo Dailoo
Director and Associate Professor, Heritage Resources Management Program, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Athabasca University,
Ottawa, Athabasca, Canada
Sol Choi
Programme Specialist, UNESCO International Centre on World Heritage Interpretation and Presentation
Sejong, South Korea
Stacy Vallis
Lecturer, School of Future Environments, Auckland University of Technology, ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand, Future Neighbourhoods Lab
Systems & Communities Research Centre Auckland, New Zealand
Stephen Fai
Director and Professor, Azrieli School of Architecture, Carleton University
Carleton Immersive Media Studio Ottawa, Canada
Susan Ross
Associate Professor, Canadian Studies and Azrieli School of Architecture, Carleton University
Carleton Immersive Media Studio Ottawa, Canada
Umberto Bonomo
Director, Faculty of Architecture, Design & Urban Studies, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Heritage Documentation and Digital Humanities Laboratory Santiago, Chile
Yeo Heekyoung
Head of Research Office, UNESCO International Centre on World Heritage Interpretation and Presentation
Sejong, South Korea
Research Collaborators
Joe Kallas
Conservation Professional, PennState University
State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Maria Chizhova
Assistant Professor, Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation
University of Bamberg Bamberg, Germany
Nicolas Arellano Risopatron
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Carleton Immersive Media Studio, Carleton University
Carleton Immersive Media Studio Ottawa, Canada
Rana Tootoonchi
PhD Candidate, Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDwt), University of Bamberg
Chair of Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation Bamberg, Germany