ICOMOSi

ICOMOSi is a program within the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) that coordinates digital and information-management activities related to cultural heritage preservation. The program seeks to advance standardized documentation, data sharing, and the use of digital tools for conservation planning and site management. It operates as a network that connects national committees, universities and research institutes, professional associations, and heritage practitioners around the world.

Core activities include developing guidelines for digitization, metadata schemas, and data interoperability; curating a knowledge repository with case studies, best practices, and technical reports; and providing training and technical support to implement digital documentation projects. ICOMOSi also fosters collaboration on tools such as photogrammetry, 3D modeling, geographic information systems, and heritage databases, aiming to improve data accuracy, accessibility, and long-term preservation.

Governance is provided by an ICOMOS steering group, with regional working groups and a lightweight secretariat to coordinate standards, communications, and outreach. The program emphasizes open data and capacity building, seeking to enable transparent conservation decisions, cross-border information exchange, and more effective disaster risk reduction and adaptive reuse planning. While ICOMOSi is not a separate legal entity, it functions as an integral component of ICOMOS’s mission to safeguard historical monuments and sites through the integration of digital technology into heritage practice.

See also: ICOMOS, cultural heritage preservation, digital heritage.