AI for Heritage Preservation in Petra workshop - (in conjunction with EP-IT Data Science Seminairs)

by Dr Bayan Faisal Fathi El Faouri

Thursday 17 Sept 2026, 11:00 → 12:30 Europe/Zurich

31/3-004 - IT Amphitheatre (CERN)

Abstract

The  conservation  of  cultural  heritage  faces  mounting  challenges  from  accelerating environmental  change,  climate  uncertainty,  intensifying  tourism,  urban  development pressures,  and  evolving  social  relationships  between  communities  and  place.  These challenges are especially acute at World Heritage sites, where heritage is recognized as possessing Outstanding Universal Value and where losses are often irreversible. Today, heritage significance is understood to emerge from the dynamic interplay between tangible and intangible dimensions, encompassing not only monuments, archaeological remains, historic buildings, and cultural landscapes, but also traditional knowledge, oral histories, cultural practices, collective memory, and community attachment. Long-term safeguarding of  heritage  therefore  requires  approaches  that  address  both  the  material  and  living dimensions of cultural value. 

Using Petra, Jordan, as a case study, this talk explores the interconnected nature of tangible and intangible heritage and the challenges of preserving both in complex, dynamic heritage environments. Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage  Site,  is  widely  celebrated  for  its  extraordinary  rock-cut  architecture  and archaeological  remains;  however,  it  is  equally  a  living  cultural  landscape  shaped  by centuries of interaction among people, the environment, and place. The site embodies a rich assemblage of heritage values, ranging from monumental architecture and engineered water systems to Bedouin traditions, oral narratives, cultural practices, and enduring social connections. At the same time, Petra faces multiple, overlapping threats, including erosion, flash  flooding,  seismic  vulnerability,  climate  change,  tourism  pressures,  institutional fragmentation,  and  the  ongoing  challenge  of  balancing  conservation  objectives  with community needs and sustainable development goals. 

The talk examines the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in heritage conservation and argues that its significance extends far beyond technological eTiciency or automated analysis.  Existing  applications—including  remote  sensing,  photogrammetry,  machine learning, computer vision, predictive modeling, and digital documentation—have already demonstrated  considerable  value  for  monitoring  physical  deterioration,  identifying vulnerabilities,   and   supporting   risk-informed   conservation   interventions.   Yet   these applications remain largely focused on the material fabric of heritage, often overlooking the social, cultural, and experiential dimensions that contribute equally to a site's significance. 

 

The talk therefore advances a broader understanding of AI as a governance-enabling and decision-support infrastructure capable of integrating diverse forms of knowledge across heritage systems. In doing so, it highlights the inherently interdisciplinary nature of heritage conservation, demonstrating how safeguarding cultural heritage increasingly relies on the convergence of architecture, engineering, mathematics, computer science, environmental sciences, archaeology, and the social sciences to address complex conservation challenges and  support  informed  decision-making.  Particular  attention  will  be  given  to  emerging concepts such as digital twins, predictive analytics, and intelligent monitoring systems that can  synthesize  environmental,  structural,  social,  and  visitor-related  data  to  support adaptive and anticipatory management strategies. Equally important, the talk explores the largely untapped potential of AI for documenting, analyzing, and safeguarding intangible heritage, including oral histories, traditional ecological knowledge, community narratives, and cultural practices that are often underrepresented within conventional conservation frameworks. 

By positioning Petra as both a vulnerable World Heritage site and a laboratory for innovation, the talk argues for a shift from reactive preservation toward predictive, integrated, and people-centered  conservation.  Ultimately,  it  proposes  that  the  future  of  heritage management lies not in replacing human expertise with technology, but in leveraging AI to strengthen  the  connections  between  monuments  and  memories,  conservation  and community, and cultural continuity and sustainable development. 

Bio

Prof. Dr. Bayan F. El Faouri

Architect | Urban Planner | Heritage & Sustainable Development Specialist

 

• Assistant Professor, Architecture – Hashemite University (Jordan)
• Editor – Journal of Cultural Heritage Management & Sustainable Development
• Founder and Chair of ICOMOS Jordan Sustainable Development Goal Working Group Scientific Committee (ICOMOS Jordan SDGWG) 
• Representative of ICOMOS-Jordan in the international ICOMOS SDGWG and member of Task Team 3: National Liaisons and Localizing SDGs 
• Received a PhD in Architecture from Cardiff University (UK), focusing on the UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Process and Heritage-led Urban Regeneration. 
• Specialist in Urban Heritage, World Heritage processes, Tourism, Culture and SDGs, and AI application for cultural heritage preservation.
• Former Postgraduate Tutor – Cardiff University (urban design, conservation, interpretation)
• Conservation Architect – As-Salt Greater Municipality (2014–2019), key contributor to the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of As-Salt City.
• Reviewer and consultant for UNESCO World Heritage nominations, ICOMOS World Heritage Reviews, World Monuments Watch, and international heritage assessments.
• Member of ICOMOS, ACHS, Petra National Trust, and the Jordan Engineers Association
• Published extensively in peer-reviewed international international journals in sustainability, heritage conservation, and urban regeneration, and research grants.