The “Research and Innovation Knowledge Centre for Engineering in Heritage” proposal, in short CONNECTING, is built around the vision of the “Strategic Infrastructures” research call, towards the creation of a knowledge centre, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and platforms, like vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones, RGB, multi- and hyperspectral cameras, LiDAR system, terrestrial laser scanner, soil moisture, ultrasonic, inclinometers, wireless strain sensors and multibeam echosounder, that can promote research excellence about the detection, monitoring, documentation and analysis of cultural heritage sites and monuments, both in land as well as underwater.

The knowledge centre visions to become a reference research node for the four partners and six supporters (providing Letter of Support, LoS) of the project, bringing together geomatics, civil engineers, ICT experts, archaeologists, and heritage managers. This multidisciplinary approach is essential to group together the necessary expertise able to select the most appropriate methods, techniques, and tools for supporting heritage science, management, and preservation, interpret the outcomes from state-of the-art equipment and provide solutions to problems and needs of the cultural heritage sector. The project will deliver evidence for the use and re-use of its equipment, results, services and products, through the design and development of a cloud Data Centre.