Reza SHARIFI1 | Somaye FAZELI2 | Alireza IBRAHIMI3
(1Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus Senftenberg | 2Directorate for Preservation of Historic Cities in the Afghan Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Kabul, Afghanistan | 3Avicenna University, Kabul, Afghanistan)

Keywords: Urban Heritage Conservation, SDI, the Old City of Herat

Abstract:
The development of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) in the field of urban conservation in Afghanistan is a new topic and less explored. This article studies the framework of the SDI to provide a platform for sharing, assessing and discovering the data by users, spatial data providers in different sectors of public and private. This paper not only contextualises this tools and methods in the old city of Herat, a city in western Afghanistan that contains some of prominent Timurid architect but also develops the core part of preparation phase and data management in the research project of “Regeneration and Preservation of the Historic Urban Fabric of Herat”. After archiving and managing various forms of spatial and non-spatial data related to the Site, which have been produced by different institutions since 2001, the research develops an SDI with combining the satellite images, spatial datasets and attribute data (e.g. social survey, household survey). It continues with designing several conceptual models and also a Geoportal to visualise, modify and discover historic urban fabric of Herat. To reach this aim, we utilise the standards of ISO and OGC. The product of this study enables the different key institutions in the field of heritage conservation to access the portal to obtain, modify and contributing to the data collection. Taking the strength and limitation of SDI in to consideration especially in Afghanistan, this research aims to facilitate the researchers, urban planners and managers in proper decision-making to protect the cultural heritage.

Relevance for the conference: The article develops the new technologies related to the GIS to the field of urban heritage conservation.
Relevance for the session: We are developing a platform with using GIS and SDI for gathering, sharing and managing the data, aiming at the preservation of cultural heritage in Afghanistan.
Innovation: Using these tools and methods are new in Afghanistan, a county in post-armed-conflict.
References:

  • Vacca, G.; Fiorino, D. R.; Pili, D.(2018). A Spatial Information System (SIS) for the Architectural and Cultural Heritage of Sardinia (Italy). ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2018, 7, 49; Available online: http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/7/2/49
  • Petrescu, F. (2007). The Use of GIS Technology in Cultural Heritage. XXI International CIPA Symposium, October 1-6, Athens, Greece.