Climate Change’s Impact on Cultural Heritage and Its Relevance for Land Administration and Geospatial Management: The Case of Greece

This research investigates the various impacts of climate change on cultural heritage and explores the potential contribution of land administration systems (LASs) to strengthening its protection and resilience. It also examines the implementation of cultural heritage policies and the role of geospatial information in supporting informed decision-making. The study presents the Hellenic Archaeological Cadastre, one of the most significant digital infrastructures developed, implemented, and operated by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture over the past decade. In addition, it discusses complementary geospatial tools for the documentation and management of archaeological sites, buffer zones, and historical monuments. Two successfully completed projects, which are coordinated by the Laboratory of Photogrammetry of the School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, NTUA are presented as examples: the national ‘5D METEORA’ project and the HORIZON ‘TRIQUETRA’ project. Both initiatives demonstrate the value of advanced geospatial infrastructures and digital technologies for the documentation, monitoring, and management of cultural heritage assets. The findings suggest that geospatial infrastructures, including national land administration systems and other geospatial tools, can significantly enhance preparedness for climate-related risks. When effectively integrated into cultural heritage management, these systems can support documentation, risk assessment, monitoring, and the development of disaster preparedness and response plans, thereby contributing to the mitigation of climate change impacts on cultural heritage and improving its long-term resilience.