The Honor Frost Foundation is pleased to announce the publication of a new White Paper, Satellite Monitoring of Underwater Cultural Heritage, produced by the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST) with the Maritime Observatory with funding from the Foundation.
Authored by Giles Richardson and Jessica Berry (MAST), in collaboration with Peter Campbell (Cranfield University), the paper explores how satellite technologies and large-scale digital datasets can be used to monitor and protect underwater cultural heritage. Drawing on case studies such as the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area in Sicily, the research demonstrates how tools including AIS vessel tracking, satellite imagery, and machine learning can help identify risks, deter heritage crime, and support both real-time monitoring and retrospective investigations.
This work highlights the growing potential for cost-effective, scalable approaches to safeguarding underwater cultural heritage, particularly in remote or hard-to-police locations. It also provides practical guidance for heritage managers and authorities seeking to implement remote monitoring strategies.
This White Paper has been published as part of the Honor Frost Foundation’s Steering Committee for Underwater Cultural Heritage, which supports research, policy development, and practical guidance to strengthen the protection of underwater cultural heritage worldwide.
Satellite Monitoring of Underwater Cultural Heritage is now available to download from the Honor Frost Foundation website.
Underwater Archaeology and Maritime History jobs 