The NERITES project was presented at the regional conference “THALASSA 2024” organized by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), which took place on May 28th and 29th in Larnaca, Cyprus. The purpose of the conference is to serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, bringing together experts and stakeholders from academia, research institutes, industry, NGOs, and the public sector.
Specifically, Mr. Angelos Manglis from Atlantis Consulting presented the NERITES project in the Session 5 ‘’Marine Cultural Heritage’’ about the “Integrated approaches fostering capacity building, protection, preservation, and sustainable valorization of Underwater Cultural and Natural Heritage.” He emphasized on the need to present integrated approaches for the protection, preservation, and valorization of Underwater Cultural and Natural Heritage (UCNH), aiming at the sustainable management of Underwater Cultural Heritage sites (UCH). He also explained the NERITES framework for remote monitoring of UCH set of multidisciplinary scientific and engineering approaches which includes a systematic autonomous remote surveying of UCH sites and artefacts using non-destructive, cost-effective solutions(e.g. innovative use of laser technology to analyze materials underwater), autonomous remote sensing (AUVs, smart BUOYs and ROVs) and the transition to greener solutions (reducing OPEX/CAPEX).
The goal is to raise awareness of the cultural and socioeconomic value of UCNH and address the challenges of the marine environment through capacity building at the regional level, support of scientific research, use of blue culture technologies, and active involvement of actors and citizens. These interdisciplinary approaches are based on a variety of corroborating models and technological approaches, adaptable and replicable to the needs of areas and characteristics of the UCH sites.