The future of conservation: Citizen Science models for the Photomonitoring of cultural heritage

This study investigates the effectiveness of photomonitoring as a remote sensing technique for cultural heritage conservation, focusing on the Aurelian Walls (Rome) and the Church of Santa Apollonia (Ferrara), Italy. Using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, structural changes—including brick detachment and vegetation growth—were detected through Structural Similarity Index (SSI) mapping. The results highlight both the advantages and limitations of mobile-based monitoring, emphasizing its flexibility and rapid deployment. Key challenges include variations in pixel size and lighting conditions, which influence data consistency. Despite these limitations, the study supports the potential of citizen science integration to enhance spatial and temporal data collection. By leveraging crowdsourced imagery, monitoring efforts can become more comprehensive and cost-effective. The findings align with broader citizen science initiatives, demonstrating how non-invasive, mobile-based techniques can contribute to sustainable heritage preservation. Future research should focus on optimizing data acquisition and processing methodologies to improve the robustness of this approach.