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The ARGUS project is redefining how Europe preserves its cultural heritage. Facing increasing threats from climate change, environmental degradation, and human activity, ARGUS introduces a multimodal digital twin framework that allows heritage sites to be monitored, assessed, and safeguarded using AI-driven, data-integrated, and predictive technologies.
ARGUS’ vision is clear: to transform cultural heritage management from reactive interventions to proactive, preventive, and evidence-based preservation. The project is founded on three key pillars — scientific integration, technological innovation, and social sustainability — ensuring that heritage conservation is as inclusive as it is intelligent.
At the core of the ARGUS framework lies a dynamic digital twin, capable of fusing real-time sensor data, satellite imagery, archival documentation, and legacy GIS information into a single, evolving representation of each site. This digital ecosystem is powered by PANOPTES, an advanced ontology that semantically connects environmental measurements, risk indicators, and conservation decisions. By extending established standards such as CIDOC CRM, SOSA/SSN, PROV-O, and GeoSPARQL, PANOPTES ensures interoperability and scientific rigor across disciplines.
The project’s AI-powered analytical engine identifies early signs of structural instability, environmental stress, or biodeterioration, enabling predictive simulations and targeted interventions. Complementary GIS-based dashboards and interactive visualisation tools allow both experts and citizens to explore site conditions and understand ongoing conservation strategies. Through Living Labs and co-creation activities, ARGUS empowers local communities, students, and volunteers to participate directly in data collection and decision-making — turning digital monitoring into a shared act of stewardship.
Diverse Pilots Across Europe
To test its methodology, ARGUS operates across five contrasting European heritage sites, each facing unique environmental and structural challenges:
- Delos Island (Greece): A UNESCO World Heritage Site at risk from coastal erosion and salinity. ARGUS integrates remote sensing and in-situ data to model marine and climatic threats.
- Baltanás (Spain): An underground cellar town where humidity and landslides threaten subterranean structures. ARGUS deploys wireless sensors for environmental monitoring.
- Monti Lucretili (Italy): A cultural landscape prone to erosion and overgrowth, where satellite imagery and geomorphological modeling guide preservation strategies.
- Sant’Antonio di Ranverso (Italy): A medieval abbey endangered by infiltration and biodeterioration, monitored through structural and environmental sensors.
- Schenkenberg Castle (Switzerland): A mountain fortress subject to freeze-thaw cycles, where vibration sensors and UAV-based thermal imaging assess stability risks.
From Sensing to Semantics: A New Heritage Ecosystem
ARGUS integrates existing documentation, satellite data, and multimodal sensor readings into a unified data backbone, aligning with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Using the ICCROM/CCI ABC method, it quantifies risks based on their frequency, loss of value, and the fraction of the asset affected — creating a transparent, data-driven process for prioritising conservation actions.
However, ARGUS also addresses deeper challenges: ensuring ethical data management, balancing openness with cultural sensitivity, and overcoming technical barriers such as connectivity and maintenance in remote areas. By adopting open-source frameworks and promoting semantic interoperability, ARGUS sets a standard for future research and innovation in digital heritage.
Shared Data and Synergies
A key strength of ARGUS lies in its collaborative ecosystem. Its digital assets — from annotated datasets to ontology models and risk maps — are designed for integration and reuse across other Horizon Europe projects. Initiatives such as data sharing and joint analysis with the ERASMUS+ ARGUS and heritage digital twin networks can enhance predictive accuracy, reduce duplication, and strengthen Europe’s digital heritage infrastructure.
These synergies not only amplify the project’s scientific impact but also support the creation of federated digital twins, capable of linking multiple heritage sites and institutions into a shared European observatory for cultural resilience.
A Blueprint for the Future
The outcomes of ARGUS go far beyond the pilot sites. By combining AI, semantics, and participatory engagement, the project paves the way for a next-generation decision support system for cultural heritage. Its preventive strategies not only reduce restoration costs but also contribute to environmental sustainability by minimising waste and energy consumption.
Ultimately, ARGUS represents a paradigm shift — from static preservation to living, learning digital ecosystems that can adapt to changing environments and anticipate risks. It stands as a model for how European innovation can harness data, technology, and community engagement to future-proof cultural heritage for generations to come.