Risk assessment and sustainable protection of Cultural Heritage in changing environment

The aim of this report is the preliminary identification of suitable methods/models for the assessment of areas at risk from extreme events in Central Europe. Section 2 describes the climate models, downscaling approaches and data analysis tools used in ProteCHt2save, while section 3 describes the preliminary identification of pilot areas. Finally, section 4 summarises the data collection criteria to define an appropriate methodology for assessing the impact of extreme events on cultural heritage in Central Europe.

This report, which includes an inventory of existing risk assessment tools, aims to identify appropriate and relevant tools for the assessment of areas at risk from extreme events in Central Europe. Section 2 of this report summarises the climate models, downscaling approaches and data analysis tools used in ProteCHt2save.
Section 3 presents selected projects whose results can be activated and integrated into ProteCHt2save, as well as important international databases and national climate change adaptation plans. Finally, section 4 presents the processing of the collected data at different spatial scales (local/regional/national/international) for each country/region involved in ProteCHt2save.

This report highlights past, present and future prospects for extreme events that can affect cultural heritage, such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, droughts, floods and fires.

This report illustrates the methodology used and implemented in the realisation of the web GIS tool for the assessment of risk areas and "hot spots" where multiple hazards occurring simultaneously have potential impacts on cultural properties in Central Europe. It also provides information and guidance for use and consultation by non-specialist users, thus acting as a tutorial.

The main focus of ProteCHt2save is to develop practical and tailor-made solutions to strengthen the resilience of cultural heritage to climate change related extreme events by assisting regional and local authorities in developing measures and evacuation plans for emergencies.
The Web GIS Tool for risk mapping has been developed to support policy and decision makers in developing short and long term measures and strategies to protect cultural heritage in Central Europe from climate change related extreme events (in particular heavy rainfall, floods and dry fires).
It is used for the interactive visualisation of high spatial resolution risk maps for Central Europe. The developed maps show the changes of specific climate parameters and extreme indices for two historical periods (1951-1980 & 1987-2016) and two future 30-year periods (2021-2050 & 2071-2100) compared to the historical reference period (1976-2005).
The indices presented, selected from among the 27 defined by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI), relate to the following extreme events: heavy precipitation, floods, droughts and extreme heat. The resulting maps therefore describe how and where possible changes in these phenomena will affect the Central European region and its cultural heritage.

This report illustrates the methodology used to produce local maps showing the municipalities in Central Europe that have been assigned a high risk factor for both vulnerability and cultural heritage.  Sections 2 and 3 of this report summarise the climate models, downscaling approaches, data analysis tools, climate indices and variables used. Section 4 provides representative examples of the different map types, which are fully available in the ProteCHt2save Web GIS Tool.

Aimed at heritage managers, conservators and communities, this handbook has been developed to support the protection of cultural heritage in a changing environment. In line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which identifies cultural heritage protection as a key priority, the handbook aims to increase knowledge of hazards and risks associated with cultural heritage protection activities.

Based on the identified vulnerable areas, the cultural/historical value of the sites and taking into account the results of previous local, national, transnational and European projects, seven pilot sites were selected: Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Ferrara (Italy), Kaštela (Croatia), Kočevje (Slovenia), Krems (Austria), Pècs (Hungary), Praha-Troja (Czech Republic).

These pilot sites are divided into two groups according to the measures to be implemented at the sites:
 

1. preparedness strategies for monument complexes in historic city centres for the following events:

• Floods in large catchment areas: Praha-Troja, Krems
• Heavy rains: Ferrara, Pècs

2. emergency evacuation plans in historic buildings for the following events:

• Floods: Kaštela
• Fire due to drought: Kaštela
• Heavy rainfall: Kaštela, Bielsko-Biała, Kočevje.

The selected pilot sites are described in detail in this report.

The basic idea of this report is to focus on identifying the critical elements - key issues, barriers and challenges - that exist at the Central European level in relation to resilience and risk management of cultural heritage in the face of natural disasters.
More specifically, the report aims:

• to map the situation of cultural heritage resilience and risk management in Central European countries.
• to review existing policies and changes made in the past to improve and optimise the efficiency and adequacy of risk management measures.
• to outline the main barriers to the implementation of resilience and risk management strategies in Central European countries.
• to assess damage to cultural heritage as a basis for vulnerability assessment.
• to identify challenges related to the vulnerability of cultural heritage in Central Europe.

With the aim of identifying critical elements that can be the subject of optimisation measures for the risk management of cultural heritage during extreme events, the report aims to discuss criteria for defining transnational cooperation in the field of cultural heritage protection and to provide an overview of transnational strategies applied in Central Europe and their possibilities for improvement.

The focus is on:

• presenting the importance of transnational cooperation, including its added value and expected impact.
• identifying existing needs for transnational cooperation in Europe in relation to and for the protection of cultural heritage.
• reviewing existing transnational solutions and instruments for cultural heritage in Europe.
• formulating a transnational approach to threats to cultural heritage in Central Europe, discussing current problems that need to be addressed, possible improvements and an optimal framework for transnational activities.

The main objective of this work package is to define a decision support tool for harmonising data on the vulnerability of cultural heritage. It also aims to define procedures, agreements and cooperation in a comprehensive transnational approach.
It also supports the identification of critical elements (physical, economic, social, administrative) related to cultural heritage vulnerability in the resilience and risk management process that can be improved or that represent research gaps or barriers requiring innovative solutions.

The publication focuses on the critical analysis of local vulnerability and measures to be taken in emergency situations for cultural heritage. The aim is to provide a handbook with a critical overview of the main examples of good and bad practice, experiences in dealing with risks to cultural heritage in Central Europe (mainly floods, heavy rains and fires caused by drought).
Specifically, this document has the following objectives:

• to present past and current examples of extreme events in Central Europe, highlighting the main aspects and shortcomings of risk management approaches and measures..
• to identify the main examples of good practice in risk management in the field of cultural heritage..
• to identify the aspect of risk (hazard, vulnerability/exposure or resilience) targeted by the good practice measures, together with their feasibility, impact on cultural heritage protection and limitations.

With focus on a critical analysis of local vulnerability and emergency response for cultural heritage, this work package aims to provide technical details and results for the application of the 'Manual of good and bad Practices for Disaster Resilience of Cultural Heritage Risk Assessment' by local and regional authorities.
Specifically, this report has the following objectives:

• to provide a general overview and definitions of the resilience of controllable critical conditions of cultural heritage, suitable for innovative protection measures.
• to define a simple and appropriate methodology for categorising the critical resilience factors that can be found in cultural property.
• to outline the main critical issues related to climate change related events, including technical details and insights into possible mitigation measures and examples.

The report focuses on emergency preparedness measures and guidelines for dealing with different types of water and fire damaged cultural heritage during and immediately after emergency situations.
It outlines the status quo of cultural heritage protection measures in the partner countries and the results of a SWOT analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats carried out through knowledge sharing and consultations among the project partners and associated strategic partners, as well as state-of-the-art material available online.

As part of the effort to define a comprehensive methodology for targeted inspections and diagnostics for resilience assessment and preparedness planning, and to gain further insight into the necessary cooperation with authorities, professionals and communities at the policy level, the transnational strategy is developing workable preparedness and action strategies to improve the resilience of cultural heritage to floods, heavy rainfall and drought.
The robust and cost-effective strategies being implemented in the seven pilot sites build on the findings of previous reports.

Damaged objects in different states pose different hazards. In order to assess the damage and the resulting new vulnerability of the object, an accurate knowledge of the material composition and the decomposition process of each material is required. This collection of recommendations for cultural heritage emergency responders presents rescue techniques and addresses specific issues related to the handling of wet objects.

ProteCHt2save aims to establish Cultural Heritage Rescue Teams (CHRTs) in partner countries. Within the framework of ProteCHt2save, CHRTs are intended to be national emergency units or task forces for the protection and restoration of cultural heritage in the event of natural disasters, in particular those disasters dealt with in detail in ProteCHt2save, such as water and fire.
These guidelines focus first on experiences at the international level, before breaking down developments and experiences at the national level, as envisaged for the CHRTs of ProteCHt2save. The required competencies of the teams are identified and a possible structure is presented, which can be adapted regionally. The focus is on team members, who should be selected in close cooperation with local stakeholders to ensure the functionality and sustainability of the CHRTs.

The aim of this handbook is to highlight the key preparatory measures for adequate protection and recovery of cultural heritage in the event of a disaster and to provide a practical and interactive approach to the development of preparedness strategies, rescue procedures and materials management.
This paper presents the ProteCHt2save video game CHRT: Vltava Rising, designed as an educational game for cultural heritage managers and interested parties, and developed as an interactive mobile training application for smartphones by game designer and developer Kimberly Himmer, a retired U.S. Navy commander.
Based on a hypothetical scenario of a river flood in Prague, players learn how to organise and execute the evacuation of cultural heritage objects on display in a fictional palace. The game thus serves as a digital manual for evacuation operations, taking into account all the preparatory measures and strategies developed within ProteCHt2save.

The Austrian pilot action was carried out at the pilot site in Krems, at the State Gallery Lower Austria. At this site, the focus was on the vulnerability of cultural property to floods and fire. The report 'Pilot Action Austria' provides an overview of the activities carried out to assess the suitability and effectiveness of the precautionary measures at the Austrian pilot site.
The evaluation report 'Evaluation Report for Pilot Action Monitoring and Assessment of Preparation Strategies' provides an analysis of the experiences, feedback and lessons learned from the pilot actions carried out, including the defined measures related to preparedness and emergency plans.
The report 'Setting up of Emergency Plans for the target Heritage Sites – Austria' contains the final version of the emergency plans for the protection of cultural heritage in case of emergencies, tested at the Austrian pilot site (Krems).
The report 'Guidelines for Improvement and Adoption of Emergency Plans at Heritage Sites in changing Climate' describes the processes and methods used within ProteCHt2save to improve and adopt emergency plans for heritage sites in a changing climate. The aim is to improve the capacity for sustainable use of cultural heritage and resources in practice. It is a documentation with guidelines and standards for the implementation of contingency plans, with recommendations for follow-up at local level and for transfer to other regions in Europe.

Krems (AT), 23.1.2018
The main objective of this event is to provide an overview of the current state of relevant European studies and initiatives on cultural heritage risk management. It also aims to raise the awareness, needs and requirements of stakeholders and policy makers involved in disaster risk reduction processes and to integrate them in their global approach and improvement intentions.

Pécs (HU), 12.9.2018

The main objective of this international event is to present an update of the ProteCHt2save project and relevant European Interreg initiatives on cultural heritage protection, with a special focus on experiences and best practices in Hungary.
Furthermore, the event aims to raise awareness among local authorities and stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction processes and to sensitise them to improve the situation.

Prague (CZ), 27.6.2019
The main purpose of this international event is to address an international audience. It serves to disseminate the project results outside the project.

The purpose of this handbook is to engage citizens and the general public in disaster risk reduction in order to better prepare communities for crisis situations, especially natural disasters.
The manual provides users, such as owners of movable and built heritage, with advice on how to assess and determine the vulnerability of their property and enables them to identify critical deficiencies that can be addressed to reduce the impact of disaster events. The information contained in the handbook includes actions that can be taken at different stages of a natural event.
These are:

• Preventative measures before a disaster occurs
• Immediate actions during a disaster
• Recovery measures after a disaster, which at the same time help to improve preparedness for future events

The handbook has two objectives: To raise awareness of the vulnerability of our cultural heritage and the need to protect it from disasters, including those caused by climate change, and to optimise the recovery of cultural heritage after a disaster.

online, 23.6.2020
The international web conference marks the end of the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE project ProteCHt2save. Topics range from risk assessment and protection of cultural and natural heritage to the impact of climate change, contingency planning and cooperation.