Sustainable Conservation of UNESCO and Other Heritage Sites Through Proactive Geosciences

Gad El-Qady, is a Professor of Applied Geophysics working in the area of application of Geophysical techniques for, but not limited to, Environmental investigations, archaeological, geotechnical, groundwater and geothermal investigations. Currently, Prof. El-Qady is the president of the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) since Jan 2019. Before that he was the Vice President of NRIAG)2018-2019), President of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt. From July 2016 to Jan 2017, he was head of geomagnetic department at NRIAG. While during 2013-2014 he was coordinator of the international relations of E-JUST.

Prof. El-Qady was the science and culture attaché of Egypt in Japan from 2010 to 2013. During 2013 to 2015 he was JSPS visiting professors at Kyushu university, that same group where He got his PhD on 2001. Since that time is an active member of the Egyptian Geophysical community. Prof. El-Qady supervised many post graduate students at different Egyptian universities. Prof. El-Qady, is the managing editor of the journal of National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) and has published many scientific papers, reviews, in peer reviewed international journals and he participate in several international Conferences and functioning as a referee for international Journals. He also organized several international conferences such as the 20th EMIW, ACAG 5^th, ACAG 7^th , AFSC2016.

He is also a working group committee member of the Electromagnetic induction in the earth (WMIW) that is now Div No. 6 of the IAGA (2008-2016).

Claudio Margottini (hab. full Professor of Engineering Geology) is the former Scientific and Technological Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Egypt and currently adjunct Professor at UNESCO Chair in the University of Florence (Italy), at Galala University in Egypt and at National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in Egypt. He has served at the Geological Survey of Italy (ISPRA) and, as adjunct Professor at Modena (Italy) University and Huazong University (Wuhan, China).

He is trained as an Engineering Geologist (Università la Sapienza, Rome, Italy, 1979, summa cum laudae) and Engineering Seismologist (Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK, 1983). Extensively supporting UNESCO and other international organizations all his life long, his major field of expertise embrace the development of engineering geological techniques for the conservation and protection of Cultural and Natural Heritages. With projects in 26 Countries worldwide, during his career he received numerous honours and award in recognition of his services, mainly in less advantages Countries of the world.

He is author of about 330 publications and books.

Landslide mitigation measures for the conservation of the archaeological site of Orongo (Easter Island-Chile).-
Conservation polices and mitigation measures for the Akapana Pyramid in the Tiwanaku archaeological site (Bolivia).- Multiscale analysis of geohazards affecting the Alhambra (Spain) Cultural Heritage.- Rock mechanic characterization and 3D Kinematic analysis of Katsky pillar (Georgia).- Petrological study on the Roman mortars from Kom El-Dikka Archaeological Site (Alexandria, Egypt).- Electrochemical desalination of salt infected brick masonry applying a double electrode system.- Keynote: Investigation and preservation of historic foundations.- Keynote: Preventive Conservation of the Central Tower of Bayon Temple under Global Warming: Case Study in Soil Filled Foundation and Character Defining Elements of Authenticity of Foundation in Angkor, Cambodia.- Slope instability induced by climate changes on the UNESCO Etruscan necropolis (Tarquinia, Central Italy).- Keynote: NRIAG effort to mitigate natural and geotechnical risk in cultural heritage site.- The Potential and Limitations of Electrical Resistivity and Magnetic Methods for Characterizing Highly Terrainous Archaeological Site: A Case Study At Tell Dibgou, Egypt.- The implementation of shallow geophysical survey for detection of some buried archaeological structures in Aswan city, Egypt.- The use of InfraRed Thermography (IRT) for the protection and conservation of rupestrian CH sites affected by slope instabilities.- Ground Penetrating Radar for investigating painted walls and floors of ancient buildings.- Frozen mounds of Altay mounting geophysical studies.- Keynote: Developments in the digital documentation of tangible Cultural heritage.  Advances in data acquisition, processing methods and curating.- Usage of laser scanning system to document the historical heritage of Beet Al Qadi, Cairo.- An HBIM HolisticApproach for Rehabilitation of Heritage Buildings.- Keynote: Geophysics' role in investigating and mitigating groundwater hazards on archaeological sites: Case studies from "Sphinx -Giza, Kom Ombo Temple-Aswan and Hawara Pyramid-Fayoum.- Hydrogelogical hazard assessment and monitoring of Maya Devi Temple World Heritage sites in Lumbini (Nepal): the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha.- Water Infiltration and Waterproofing of Susan-ri Tomb (North Korea).- Monitoring cultural heritage sites affected by geohazards.- Innovative structural monitoring as tool of preservation and valorisation of monumental architectures: the case of Neptune Temple in Paestum IT.- Structure Stability Analyses of Chapels Dedicated to Wives of Amun Using Non-Contact Techniques, Madinet Habu temple - Luxor - Egypt.- Integrated characterization of Apulian hypogean cultural heritage (Italy).- Geological control on the evolution of stability of Theban tombs at Sheikh 'Abd el-Qurna,Luxor, Egypt.- Keynote: Archeoseismology and the Impact  of Large Earthquakes on Cultural Heritage.- Integrated Geoscience Investigations in Hittite Imperial Sites Affected by Earthquakes.- Multi-Scenario Physics-Based Seismic Hazard Assessment of Cultural Heritage Sites.- State of buildings and related damage after the earthquake of 1856 in Jijel (Algeria). Considerations for seismic hazard assessment in Jijel and Skikda (Algeria).- Seismic hazard assessment of a cultural heritage minaret in Cairo.- Keynote: Analysis, integration and interpretation of Big Earth data in the Copernicus Era for the documentation, monitoring and preservation of natural and cultural heritage.- The potential of satellite interferometry for geohazard assessment in cultural heritage sites.- Instability processes and SAR data analysis in the Pompeii archeological park.- Remote Sensing applications for Cultural Heritage Sites Sustainability: case studies form Egypt.- Rome walls satellite monitoring and protection by prothego methodology.- The project of Parco Archeologico del Colosseo and the Italian network of archaeological parks: from satellite monitoring to conservation and preventive maintenance policies.- Adaptation, traditions and conservation: The Case of the Asante Traditional Buildings World Heritage Site in Ghana.- Management of Cultural Assets in Sudan from the Perspective of Sustainable Development Goals.- Improvement the State of Conservation of the Georgian Rock-cut Heritage through the Multidisciplinary Approach.- The Aswan declaration.