Geotechnologies as tools for managing cultural heritage: the need to train future professionals
Résumé
Territories and towns change sometimes slowly, sometimes abruptly. For example, landscapes can be transfigured. Buildings or entire neighbourhoods can be demolished. Nevertheless, History, memory, events that took place there, remain immutable. Most often, inhabitants can have difficulties to imagine the exact context where these events occurred. Furthermore, managers need to be able to analyze and to understand the past the best way, but also enhance cultural heritage, especially for the general public. So, cultural heritage experts need to use efficient tools. Methods Geotechnologies appear as important tools to explain and understand the past. The digitizationof archival records, the creation of new data, the construction of geographic database... The creation of geographic information systems (GIS) or 3D GIS make the archiving of memories possible. They provide methods of analysis, understanding, preservation and management of cultural heritage. They are effective tools against oblivion. Results Using two different examples which mobilize two different kinds of cultural heritages, we will show that it is possible to acquire, archive, analyze and enhance cultural heritages. The first example focuses on the 3D geovisualization which allows restoring the visibility of sunken heritage sites, in a context of large reservoir dams. The second one deals with an interactive 3D map showing locations of the resistance and collaborationism movements in a town, during World War II. Conclusion Students of cultural heritage curriculum will be the next generation of professionals and experts. In this regard, it is essential to train them or at least to make them aware of geotechnologies. Especially since the methodologies developed in these contexts providing two important other skills: transdisciplinarity and teamwork.