Invitation to a lecture "Robotic...

Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies (LABUST) in collaboration with the IEEE OES University of Zagreb Student Branch Chapter is inviting you to a lecture "Robotic and Remote Sensing Applications in Coastal Heritage Conservation, Advantages and Challenges" held by Dr. George Alexandrakis from the Coastal & Marine Research Lab (CMRL) – Foundation For Research and Technology Hellas, Greece, as part of the UWIN-LABUST project.

The lecture will take place on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 at 2 p.m. in Banjavčićeva 1a, Zagreb (meeting room 3-21/3rd floor). The lecture will be held in person in English language, followed by a short overview of the TECTONIC collaboration project by Dr. Vladimir Đapić, and is estimated to last 60 minutes, including questions.

A summary of the lecture as well as the lecturer's biography can be found below.

Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach to the protection and risk assessment of coastal and underwater cultural heritage, emphasizing the use of advanced monitoring, modeling, and robotic systems. This includes the integration of remote sensing techniques such as satellite and drone imagery, LiDAR scanning, aerial photography, and underwater technologies like side-scan sonar and ROVs, which enable high-resolution seabed imaging and detailed documentation of submerged archaeological structures. Robotic systems play a key role in ensuring precise and non-invasive mapping, especially in shallow, wave-dominated environments where traditional survey methods are limited. These environments benefit from the deployment of high-resolution observational tools, including wave gauges, current meters, and coastal cameras, at both offshore and nearshore stations, allowing for continuous, real-time environmental monitoring. Applications in such dynamic settings support the evaluation of site stability, erosion patterns, and sediment transport. While these technologies offer significant advantages in data quality, accessibility, and preservation of fragile heritage, they also present challenges such as operational constraints in turbulent waters, visibility limitations due to suspended sediments, and the complexity of modeling nearshore processes. Despite these limitations, the combined use of robotic, observational, and modeling systems provides a robust framework for effective conservation and risk-informed management of cultural heritage in coastal zones.
 
Biography

George Alexandrakis, PhD, is a collaborative researcher at the Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), specializing in coastal processes, risk and vulnerability assessment, and integrated coastal zone management with a focus on cultural and natural heritage. His work bridges field research, numerical modeling, and spatial analysis, employing tools such as UAVs, ROVs, wave and current sensors, and GIS-applications. He was Principal Investigator of the ClimaTourism project (2012–2015), which studied the impacts of climate change on coastal environments in relation to tourism planning and currently serves as scientific lead in several national and EU-funded HORIZON projects related to heritage resilience and environmental risk. He also led the Brains2Islands project in collaboration with INGV-OV Naples (Italy), addressing natural hazard risks to archaeological sites in the Aeolian Islands. Dr. Alexandrakis has participated in over 16 major research projects, authored more than many peer-reviewed journal entries, book chapters, and conference proceedings. He actively collaborates with academic and research institutions across Europe.

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