EPOCH

EAHTR is a partner in the EPOCH project. EPOCH is an acronym for ‘European Research Network of Excellence in Processing Open Cultural Heritage. The project relates to the use of new technologies in the field of cultural heritage covering the full range of possibilities, from use of technology for the protection of the physical fabric, through to the use of the new technologies in interpretation of cultural heritage as a promotional tool.

EAHTR is represented on the management board and will help represent, through its members, ‘user interests’. An initial advance has been made of €20,000 to cover EAHTR’s costs on the basis of full financial accountability to the project board. This will ensure that EAHTR’s involvement in the project is self- financing.

EAHTR contributed to a ‘Stakeholder Needs ‘ workshop in September last year, prepared a paper on the technology needs of local authorities and hosted a meeting of historic cities in Strasbourg in June of this year. This latter meeting identified a framework of needs relating to information and technology associated with: -

• Mapping (i.e. recording, managing, collecting): for instance to known the archaeology under the ground, developing, raising awareness to the citizen, politician and developer, providing information on different levels: town – district (street block) and house
• Preservation (i.e. repair, raise issue of fire): prevent fire for instance by cameras, remote areas
• Promotion (interpretation and presentation): raise consciences, publishing, public involvement, sustainability, using technologies to understand the visitor’s behavior

It has been proposed that work on EPOCH in year 2 should develop 2 or 3 case studies covering aspects of the above and proposals are being developed with Chester, Malta and Gothenburg. The extent of this work will be subject to agreement on a year 2 budget which will not be known until November 2005.