New Digital Technologies Applied to the Management of Geoheritage

Abstract

During the last decade, the development of new digital technologies has strongly influenced the customs and practice of geoheritage and geotourism research. Digital tools, such as geoinformation, geovisualisation, digital monitoring and GIS systems have played an important role in the development of newmethods of assessment andmapping, as well as aiding the development of geosites for tourism and education. In September 2011, the University of Savoie and University of Lausanne co-organised an intensive course on the use of digital tools for geoheritage management activities (including geosite selection, geoheritage and geodiversity mapping, geotourism promotion and education about geoheritage) within the International Symposium on Geosite Management (ISGM) and under the auspices of the Working Group on Geomorphosites of the International Association of Geomorphologits (IAG) (Reynard and Coratza 2013). The course was held in the Chablais Geopark (Evian, France) and was financially supported by the HINT project (Heritage Interpretation through New Technologies) (Cayla 2012; Barton et al. 2014). This 2-year international project was funded by the European Leader programme and involved four partners: Geopark Shetland (Scotland), Chablais Geopark (France), North Pennines AONB (England) and Geopark de Hondsrug (The Netherlands). This special issue of the journal Geoheritage contains a selection of the papers presented during the symposium (including both on the intensive course and during the conference), as well as some additional papers dealing with this topic. The papers included focus on different digital technologies used for the assessment, monitoring and the promotion of geosites. Nathalie Cayla proposes a review of existing and emerging technologies for the depiction and interpretation of geosites. Three main topics in particular are analysed: Georeferencing and mapping of geoheritage, 3D digital imaging (including photogrammetry and laser scanning) and experiments in the promotion of geoheritage using augmented reality (a process which enriches discovery through digital media, or provides a virtual reality with which one can engage). The three following papers are case studies using new digital technologies applied to the management of geoheritage in specific geomorphological contexts. Luca Ghiraldi and colleagues present a comprehensive methodology for identifying, cataloguing, assessing, visualizing and promoting geoscientific data relevant to geological heritage, using geomatic tools, such as digital photogrammetry, GIS, GNSS, terrestrial laser scanner and web mapping. The case study was carried out in the Seguret Valley (Oulx, Turin Province) in the Italian Western Alps. This area was selected as it forms a part of the European “Cottian Alps Geopark project” which aims to develop a transboundary area between Italy and France. Fabien Hoblea and colleagues give an overview of various digital tools (including high-tech digital monitoring and 3Dmodelling technologies combining laser scanners, digital cameras and sensors) developed and used to study and promote a range of karst geosites. The paper focuses on the very high heritage value of endokarst sites (caves or karst networks) in the French Ardeche department (e.g. Chauvet Cave, Aven d’Orgnac), Chartreuse (e.g. Granier cave network), Vercors (e.g. Choranche Caves) and Bauges (e.g. Prerouge Cave) regional parks. High-alpine geomorphosites are a geoheritage which is extremely vulnerable to global warming. From the beginning of the 2000s, Ludovic Ravanel and colleagues have been N. Cayla (*) : F. Hoblea University of Savoie, Chambery, France e-mail: nathalie.cayla@univ-savoie.fr