AMAL in Heritage

A grassroots technology platform for rapid documentation of endangered heritage

Natural disasters and human conflict constantly threaten historic sites around the world. The catastrophic 2019 fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the 2015 earthquake in Kathmandu and 2001 Taliban destruction of two monumental 6th century stone carved Buddha figures at Bamiyan in Afghanistan remind us that nowhere are the world’s cultural sites immune from danger.

Global Heritage Fund developed AMAL in Heritage in partnership with ICOMOS-ICORP, ICCROM, and other conservation institutions to document site-specific risk in the cultural heritage sector by providing state of the art tools for preparedness, response, and recovery. The AMAL in Heritage mobile app launched in August 2017. This innovative heritage management program not only incorporates a technology platform that gathers data for risk analysis and preparedness, AMAL also can be deployed in the immediate aftermath of an emergency, to gather information then assist in prioritizing interventions and planning emergency actions.

By monitoring sites before and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, AMAL preserves crucial information that can be used to repair or reconstruct historic structures. The user-friendly technology also supports locals around heritage sites where access to expertise is challenging. Equipping anyone with an accessible, cost-effective digital toolkit for effective management and protection of cultural heritage, AMAL in Heritage represents the next generation in Global Heritage Fund’s efforts to protect heritage globally by empowering locally.

In the wake of the August 2020 port explosion in Lebanon, Global Heritage Fund launched a campaign to deliver AMAL in Heritage to the people of Beirut in partnership with the Lebanese Department of Antiquities (DGA). A local team recorded and assessed over 200 buildings in two days using the AMAL toolkit. This information was passed to a copy of Oxford University’s Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (EAMENA) Project that is specific to Lebanon and managed by the DGA.

Next steps for enhancing AMAL’s vital capabilities include introducing a team management tool, expanded training and adding a platform for participating communities to share knowledge, concerns, records, and documentation across borders.