Cultural heritage in the Mediterranean is increasingly threatened by climate change, earthquakes, and urban development. In Cyprus, where monuments and archaeological landscapes are exceptionally rich but institutional resources remain limited, the ENGINEER project set out to build excellence and capacity in the research and protection of cultural heritage. Its full title, Civil Engineering and Geomatics Innovative Research on Heritage, reflects its central idea: to bridge civil engineering and geoinformatics for a holistic understanding of monuments and their environments.
The project addressed a long-standing fragmentation in the national research landscape. While Cypriot researchers had advanced expertise in structural engineering, remote sensing, and photogrammetry, these fields rarely worked together. Through the Horizon Europe Twinning scheme, ENGINEER enhanced the scientific and managerial capacity of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)—the only institution in the country where civil and geomatics engineers collaborate within one department. The project provided intensive knowledge transfer, modernised research management, and fostered a culture of open and interdisciplinary science.
To achieve these goals, CUT joined forces with three leading European universities—Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI), University College London (UCL), and University of Aveiro (UAVEIRO)—and the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence. Each partner contributed complementary expertise: advanced geometric documentation and HBIM from POLIMI, structural and climate-resilience engineering from UCL, and materials characterisation from UAVEIRO. Together they implemented a structured programme of training, mobility, and pilot studies fully aligned with the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Cyprus, which identifies cultural heritage as a horizontal pillar for sustainable development.
ENGINEER aimed to raise CUT’s research excellence in 3D modelling, digital twins, and non-destructive testing, while providing high-quality training in data acquisition, structural monitoring, and conservation technologies. It also modernised research management through open-science and gender-equality policies, and strengthened cooperation with public authorities, industry, and local communities. By integrating Earth-observation data, geospatial analysis, and engineering models, the project created replicable workflows for documenting, diagnosing, and preserving heritage sites under climatic and seismic stress.
