As part of the Heprestone project, a pilot visit to the Alcazaba of Mérida was conducted alongside project partners with the aim of studying the monument and advancing the development of innovative tools for its conservation. The project is co-financed by the Interreg Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2021-2027 programme, highlighting the importance of cross-border collaboration between Extremadura and Alentejo in the protection of the cultural heritage of the EUROACE region.
Beginning of a new cultural heritage conservation
Pilot visit to the Alcazaba of Mérida as part of the HEPRESTONE project
Heprestone aims to implement the Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) methodology, a system that enables the capture and management of detailed information on the construction, use, and evolution of historic buildings over time. This approach will allow for the systematisation of management plans, preventive and predictive conservation of monuments, addressing challenges such as climate change and mass tourism.
Among the monuments included in this project are the Alcazaba of Mérida, the Évora wall, and the Portezuelo castle. Through the HBIM methodology, critical indicators and digital twins of these monuments will be developed, promoting predictive conservation, sustainable tourism, and more efficient and preventive heritage management.
The Heprestone project not only aims to protect cultural heritage but also to promote sustainable, eco-friendly, and inclusive tourism, adapted to the challenges posed by climate change. These actions seek to support both the economic development of the region and the preservation of its cultural wealth.
By implementing best practices and innovative measures, the project underscores the need to safeguard cultural assets against growing threats, ensuring that monuments like the Alcazaba of Mérida continue to stand as living witnesses to the region’s history and culture for future generations.
