Environmental monitoring of cultural layers in Norwegian cities
NIKU has signed a new framework agreement - "Cautus Web is incredibly important to us," says archaeologist Vibeke Vandrup Martens.
28. 28th September 2022
Written by Rino Andersen
- A great confirmation for our solutions," says CTO Lars Krangnes in Cautus Geo.
NIKU (Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research) has signed a new framework agreement for "environmental monitoring of cultural layers" with Cowi. Cautus Geo is a subcontractor and is responsible for instrumentation, data collection and handling.
- We have several framework agreements with NIKU. They continue to run. We are pleased to continue our co-operation with Cautus Geo on these agreements. It makes us complete. Cautus Geo has all the technology, and Cowi analyses and describes possible measures where the preservation of cultural heritage may come under pressure," says Stein Brock Olsen at Cowi.
Cautus Web
Archaeologist Vibeke Vandrup Martens at NIKU describes Cautus Web as a key. Information from the monitoring is available there. It can be read location-independently and shared with others.
- Cautus Web makes it possible to share data with others, such as those building the city railway in Bergen. "In addition, we can be present and follow developments in both Svalbard and Tønsberg at the same time, without having to physically travel back and forth to read measurement data. This is very important and useful for management and research. It's also more environmentally friendly and sustainable," says Martens.
Medieval towns
NIKU and Cautus Geo are monitoring cultural layers in several of the country's medieval towns, such as Tønsberg and Bergen. The project is funded by the Ministry of Climate and Environment via the National Heritage Board.
- That monitoring will continue regardless of this new framework agreement," says Martens.
The new framework agreement that has now been signed applies to assignments in towns and cities for developer-financed projects that require environmental monitoring. In such cases, the impact of the development on the surrounding cultural layers must be investigated," says Martens.
Wetter climate
The climate is changing. Increased precipitation poses challenges. The supply of water to the cultural layers is often good, but can be a threat.
- "Automatic and continuous monitoring is important, so that when we are alerted to changing conditions, we can take action and obtain a knowledge base for any management or political decisions," says Martens.
- "We see that NIKU is emphasising equipment more than before. So it's good to have Cautus Geo as a partner. It's all about ensuring that the equipment is of good quality and that data is available," says Olsen.
Images: For several years, Cautus Geo has assisted NIKU with "environmental monitoring of cultural layers", including monitoring of cultural layers from the Middle Ages in several Norwegian cities, Stavanger Cathedral and the pier in Bergen.
