Addressing Cultural Heritage Challenges: Applications of Open-Access Remote Sensing Datasets for Monitoring Threats

Abstract. This study investigates soil erosion risks in various European heritage sites using open-access satellite remote sensing data and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) methodology. The aim is to assess and visualize erosion risks to support the sustainable management and preservation of cultural heritage sites. Results show significant soil loss in several areas, with many exceeding the tolerable threshold of 1 t/ha/yr, indicating the need for targeted conservation strategies. In Monti Lucretili, over 61% of the area experiences moderate to extreme soil loss, while Sant’Antonio di Ranverso, Baltanás, and Delos Island also face considerable erosion threats. Sant’Antonio and Delos show 12.66% and 14.76% of their areas at high to very high risk, respectively. In Baltanás, 66% experiences low to moderate erosion, around 31% is at high to very high risk, and only 2.27% faces severe erosion. A unified methodology was applied across all study areas, integrating multi-temporal satellite data to estimate erosion risks. This approach combines RUSLE and GIS to produce a model that identifies areas requiring immediate attention. Results were validated against RUSLE 2010 and 2015 datasets provided by ESDAC, showing consistent patterns, with minor differences due to spatial resolution and terrain characteristics. Through spatial analysis techniques such as trend analysis and multi-temporal integration, this study offers valuable insights for land management. The findings highlight the critical role of remote sensing tools in assessing and mitigating soil erosion risks, which is essential for safeguarding cultural heritage under ongoing environmental and anthropogenic pressures.