FENIX Project: Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies Applied to the Prevention and Management of Fires and Natural Disasters in Movable and Immovable Cultural Heritage

The main objective of the FENIX project: "Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies Applied to the Prevention and Management of Fires and Natural Disasters in Cultural Heritage (CH) Movable and Immovable", is to research and develop protocols based on Artificial Intelligence, Best Management Practices, Geographic Information Systems, and Information and Communication Technology for the protection and conservation of CH in scenarios involving multiple hazards, to support decision-making by local governments and managers on preventive conservation strategies and emergency preparedness for potential disasters.

Historic cities, their monuments, and works of art suffer the dramatic consequences of climate change, wars, earthquakes, floods, etc. Furthermore, the risk of fires and pollution is increasing due to prolonged droughts. CH is also at risk due to demographic movements, tourism, or social factors. Although real conditions combine the effects of long-term environmental processes with short-term natural and anthropogenic disasters in the holistic life of monuments, an interdisciplinary and multi-risk approach is rarely considered.

The novelty of this CHALLENGE lies in a new interdisciplinary approach for the integrated assessment of multiple risks that enables the protection of our movable and immovable CH by preventing: 1) the loss of physical and social values, 2) the loss of monuments or masterpieces, 3) the failure of local businesses and tourism-dependent enterprises, and 4) the lost opportunity to enjoy our CH.

FENIX builds upon excellent research and existing knowledge from different disciplines, integrating them into a collaborative, transnational, interdisciplinary, interinstitutional, reflective, and innovative project. The team includes a wide range of experts (15 profiles) from pure sciences with experience in CH diagnostics (chemistry, biology, environmental sciences, etc.), architects, civil or construction engineers, ICT profiles (mathematics, computer science, etc.), public sector management, and humanities (art history, geography, restoration/conservation, etc.) who will contribute their expertise to develop new tools using the DELPHI methodology.

Expected outcomes include strategies for movable and immovable CH in rural and urban areas such as:

• Pilot protection plans at local and regional levels for disaster scenarios (floods, fires, earthquakes, etc.) to minimise damage.
• Protocols and tools (free online software) based on artificial intelligence and the DELPHI methodology to prioritise preventive conservation and restoration. These tools, based on fuzzy logic (using Xfuzzy 3.3), will include risk and resilience assessments.
• Action plans for managing emergencies and post-emergencies (first aid for CH and resilience protocols) developed in collaboration with CH managers and rescue teams.
• An interdisciplinary, open-access platform: an International Observatory on the effects of climate change, environmental emergencies, and armed conflicts on CH.

FENIX is an interdisciplinary project whose main impact is to assist local managers and organisations in improving their understanding of risk management for CH conservation, reducing the likelihood of CH and tourism losses.

Project FENIX Members:

Organizations:

Generalitat Valenciana Cultura Arts IVC+R.

Universidad de Sevilla.

Universidad Pablo de Olavide.

Fundación Universitaria Popayán.

Agenzia nacionale per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo económico sostenible ENEA.

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.

Xiloscopio Conservación y Restauración.

Universidade de Aveiro.

Consejería de Cultura, Junta de Andalucía.

AGH University of Science and Technology.

Universidad Austral de Chile.

Research team members:

Pilar Ortiz Calderón: Principal Investigator of the team. Doctor in Chemistry. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Rocío Ortiz Calderón: Doctor in Architecture. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Macarena Tejada Tejada: Doctor in Geography and History. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Dolores Segura Pachón: Doctor in Biology. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Serafín Ojeda Casares: Doctor in Geography and History. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Juan Manuel Macías: Doctor in Architecture. Professor at the University of Seville.

María de los Ángeles Garrido Vizuete: Doctor in Mathematics. Professor at the University of Seville.

María Josefa Chávez de Diego: Doctor in Mathematics. Professor at the University of Seville.

Daniel Cagigas Muñiz: Doctor in Computer Science. Professor at the University of Seville.

Gemma Contreras Zamorano: Doctor in Art History. Director of the Institut Valencià de Conservació, Restauració i Investigación of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Inmaculada Chuliá Blanco: Doctor in Restoration-Conservation. Technician at the Institut Valencià de Conservació, Restauració i Investigación of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Working team members:

Javier Becerra Luna: Doctor in Restoration-Conservation. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

José María Martín Ramírez: Geologist. Master's in Lasers and Applications in Chemistry. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

María Auxiliadora Gómez Morón: Doctor in Chemistry. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Julia María Martín Martínez: Geologist. Master's in Lasers and Applications in Chemistry. University Pablo de Olavide.

Julia Benítez Jiménez: University Pablo de Olavide.

Jesús Jurado Estévez: University Pablo de Olavide.

Ana María Tirado Hernández: University Pablo de Olavide.

Arturo Pérez Plaza: Archaeologist. Master's in Architecture and Historical Heritage. Technical Archaeology Advisor, General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums, Ministry of Culture, Regional Government of Andalusia.

Paula Montilla Gómez: Architect, Head of the Civil Protection Service, General Directorate of Interior, Emergencies, and Civil Protection of the Regional Government of Andalusia.

Elena Gandía Guijarro: Institut Valencià de Conservació, Restauració i Investigación.

Andrzej M. J. Skulimowski: AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

Antonio Formisano: Doctor in Engineering. Professor at Università di Napoli Federico II.

George Papadopoulos: Professor at the University of Cyprus.

Andrés José Prieto Ibáñez: Doctor in Engineering. Professor at the Universidad Austral de Chile.

María Isabel Turbay: Doctor in Architecture. Professor at the Fundación Universitaria de Popayán (Popayán, Colombia).

Mónica Moreno Falcón: Doctor in History. Professor at the University Pablo de Olavide.

Laura Toro Murillo: Biologist. Research support technician at the University Pablo de Olavide.