Heritage science

Data science for heritage 

This research area develops data-intensive methods and applications enabling deep understanding of heritage and heritage processes, including modelling, systems thinking and artificial intelligence. This includes the analysis of large data sets using statistics, computer science and other scientific methods often informed by machine learning and related techniques.

Our research in this areas includes:

• Developing tools and algorithms to prepare scientific data for modelling inputs to better understand salt weathering in the built environment.
• Applying deep learning methods and image analysis to crowdsourced images to monitor historic facades.

Climate change

This research area focuses on understanding the risks of climate change for heritage though the use of physical experiments and building and simulation.

Our research in this area includes:

• Aiming to understand how climate change will modify the environmental conditions around historic buildings using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Characterising changes in wind-driven rain in the UK using novel indices, with particular implications for material degradation

Simulation and digitisation of heritage

This research area focuses on the creation of methods that reproduce in a computer the real-life behaviour of heritage. It involves 2D, 3D, 4D digital capture of heritage for the purpose of study, engagement or conservation, as well as the creation of computational models of change.

Sensory heritage

This research area focuses on developing cross-disciplinary approaches to exploring the role of the senses in heritage (with an emphasis on smell heritage).

Our research

We know the hundreds of scents that we perceive every day have an impact on the way we think, feel and behave. Less is known about how they affect the way we engage with history and heritage: part of our research explores how certain smells can help the retention of memories and knowledge in a museum context, make heritage more accessible and inclusive and promote well-being.

Our framework to research heritage smells includes guidelines to identify smells of cultural significance, VOC analysis and sensory evaluation for odour characterisation and smell preservation.

Research into the scent of indoor spaces is strongly linked to indoor air quality (IAQ) research. However, while research on VOCs in the context of IAQ aims to assess potential hazards to human health and wellbeing, and document odour nuisance, olfactory heritage science focuses on non-hazardous, low-concentration odours which reveal links between indoor scents and identity, perceived historic value and collective memories. As such, both tangible (odour sources) and intangible (VOC/smell) heritage are of interest. UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage has extensive environmental research lab facilities.

Heritage citizen science and crowdsourcing

This research area develops methods and approaches based on participatory methods, to enhance the value and experience of heritage by visitors and users, while simultaneously delivering innovation 

Historic and contemporary materials

This research area takes an interdisciplinary approach that combines fundamental and applied science with methods adapted from the social sciences to explore mechanisms of material degradation, developing new analytical techniques for material identification and for identifying deteriorating objects and advancing our understanding of the way in which such objects are valued.

Sustainable Heritage MSc (Heritage Science)

There is a need for highly trained practitioners with the ability to apply rigorous scientific and technical knowledge to solve cultural heritage challenges. The Heritage Science route of the Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage MSc will introduce you to a unique assembly of scientific disciplines. With access to world-leading scientific facilities, you will learn a range of analytical techniques and scientific methods and apply them to real-world heritage challenges. 

Relevant modules

• Introduction to Heritage Science
• Statistics for Heritage Science
• Preventive Conservation
• Analytical Methods

In their third term students carry out their dissertation research on a topic of their choice closely linked to heritage science.

Find out more about Sustainable Heritage MSc (Heritage Science) on the UCL Graduate Prospectus ►

Sustainable Heritage (Data Science)

Digital technologies and data have a fundamental role in contemporary society, and cultural heritage is no exception. From historic buildings, sites, landscapes, museums and collections, the world of heritage provides an exciting setting to learn and apply data science skills. The Data Science route of Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage MSc will create expert data scientists taught through the exciting multidisciplinary lens of cultural heritage. 

Relevant modules

• Heritage Mapping and Visualisation
• Machine Learning
• Crowd Sourcing

Find out more about Sustainable Heritage MSc (Data Science) on the UCL Graduate Prospectus ►

Josep Grau-Bové
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Katherine Curran
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Pakhee Kumar
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Scott Allan Orr
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