Project Description
The overall objective of the project was the preservation of Egyptian cultural heritage through improved Cultural Heritage Management. The purpose of the project was to provide the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) with new data management tools and resources and thereby improve its ability to perform its mandatory tasks of mapping, documentation and protection of archaeological sites in Egypt.
During the first phase (2000-02) a special geographical information system (Egyptian Antiquities Information System, EAIS) was designed to support SCA in these tasks and a completely new GIS-center was established as project unit in SCA. Once ready, the English-Arabic information system will be capable to manage data of all the historically important sites of Egypt, be they from the Pharaonic or Islamic era or more contemporary urban sites. The information system under construction will be of use to a wide range of officials all having specific tasks related to protection of cultural heritage (e.g. land use planners) and to national and international research and development institutions.
During the second phase the EAIS was further developed and tested to become a practical information system. This required technical development and training in mapping skills and quality control and storing of the data. Further, the collaboration with governmental offices and other end users was improved and special emphasis was on development and testing of methods and products to disseminate EAIS data. Institutional development was also an essential part of project; the project unit was converted into operationally and economically independent unit in SCA.
The services provided by SYKE include
- Consultancy on technical development of GIS, databases and network solutions;
- Decision-making support; such as studies, assessments and plans;
- Capacity building in development and use of GIS;
- Capacity building and consulting related to institutional development (e.g. establishing information service unit);
- Consultancy on dissemination of EAIS data (development of standard products, web-applications etc.);
- Workshops, seminars and study tours;
- Project management, monitoring and quality assurance.
More information
Mr Lauri Kattelus, Project Manager, International Affairs Unit, Finnish Environment Institute
EAIS brochure (pdf, 56 kt)
EAIS (link to the EAIS www-pages)