The Impact of Built-Up Area Dispersion on the Cultural Heritage of the Region of the South Aegean, Greece

Bibliographic Data

ID22033362
AuthorsEfstratia Chatzi (0000-0001-7586-2607, University of the Aegean, corresponding author), Evangelia – Theodora Derdemezi (0000-0001-9421-6184, University of the Aegean), Georgios Tsilimigkas (0000-0002-2061-9703, University of the Aegean)
Year2025
Volume14
Issue3
Pages97
Publication date2025-02-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2220-9964 • E-ISSN: 2220-9964
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/ijgi14030097
OpenAlexW4407843467
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited35

Cultural heritage serves as a repository of a place’s history and identity, integral to its landscape and central to all three sustainability goals. However, managing and protecting cultural heritage through regulatory planning often proves inadequate. This particularly applies to islands where infrastructure development pressures and urban sprawl lead to significant changes. This study quantifies the impact of uncontrolled built-up area dispersion on islands’ cultural heritage, focusing on the Southern Aegean region. By identifying and delineating the boundaries of archaeological areas and historic sites, we assess pressures through the mapping and quantitative analysis of built-up areas derived from the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) program. The results reveal spatial relations and potential conflicts, underscoring the insufficient protection of cultural heritage due to inadequate management and ineffective planning tools. Specifically, on islands like Mykonos and Naxos, over 80% of their archaeological areas are impacted by urban sprawl. Additionally, this study finds that six islands (Antiparos, Irakleia, Kea, Mykonos, Paros and Patmos) have over 60% of their built-up areas in exurban regions, exacerbating pressures on heritage sites. These findings highlight the need for an integrated spatial planning system that incorporates landscape and cultural heritage assets into strategic planning regulations, ensuring the preservation of these essential resources amidst ongoing development pressures

Ancient history · Archaeology · Cultural heritage · Geography · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage · Archaeological Research and Protection · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · History

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access