On Behalf of HKSYU, We Are Honoured to Join Global Experts in Launch of UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for World Heritage Conservation co-led by Carleton University and Universidad del Azuay

A new UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for World Heritage Conservation has been launched, co-chaired by Prof. Mario Santana Quintero (Carleton University) and Prof. Veronica Heras (Universidad del Azuay). The Chair brings together a global team of experts, including Dr. Hyeseung Shim of Hong Kong Shue Yan University, who is honoured to join the initiative and contribute to advancing digital applications and integration for safeguarding UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This Chair aims to advance research on digital twin technologies such as dynamic, data-driven virtual representations of heritage sites, to address conservation challenges, particularly those posed by climate change. It focuses on developing monitoring frameworks aligned with the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and promoting equitable, cross-regional collaboration between partners from the Global North and South.

As part of this initiative, a special roundtable entitled “UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for UNESCO World Heritage Conservation” was organised at the 30th ICOMOS CIPA International Symposium (CIPA 2025 Seoul, 25-29 August 2025, Korea). Moderated by Carleton University, the session gathered six international panellists, including Dr. Hyeseung Shim, along with international experts from ICOMOS CIPA-HD, the Getty Conservation Institute, University of Bamberg, INSA Strasbourg, and UNESCO International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites.

Discussions addressed key barriers such as limited local participation, technological dependence, and the lack of ethical frameworks and knowledge transfer. From a Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) perspective, Dr. Shim emphasised the need to foster community-driven participation through three interconnected stages, integrating cultural knowledge into simulations, engaging communities as co-designers and co-custodians, and validating outcomes through participatory feedback. The panel underscored that such inclusive and collaborative approaches are essential for ensuring that digital transformation truly supports sustainable heritage conservation worldwide.

Looking ahead, further discussions will be initiated to develop future research collaborations under this Chair. Dr. Shim will contribute to the Chair’s research activities by bringing HCI perspectives to the development of digital twin methodologies for World Heritage conservation.

 * Dr. Shim served as the Symposium Director of the 30th ICOMOS CIPA International Symposium, co-organised by the National Museum of Korea and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), with the support of ICOMOS CIPA-HD, ICOMOS International, ISPRS, and ICOMOS Korea (CIPA 2025 Seoul: Heritage Conservation from Bits. From Digital Documentation to Data-Driven Heritage Conservation 25-29 August, National Museum of Korea, Republic of Korea), where the UNESCO Chair special session was held.

 

International experts of the Special Session “UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for UNESCO World Heritage Conservation” organised at the 30th ICOMOS CIPA International Symposium (CIPA 2025 Seoul, 25-29 August 2025). ©CIPA 2025 Seoul

 

Prof. Mario Santana Quintero, Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for UNESCO World Heritage Conservation, speaking at the CIPA 2025 Seoul Special Session. ©CIPA 2025 Seoul