# Aqua Cultural Heritage | Unterwasserkulturerbe Österreich — LLM Context File
# https://www.aquaheritage.at

> Aqua Cultural Heritage (ACH) ist ein Forschungsprojekt zur digitalen Dokumentation, zum Monitoring und zum gemeinschaftlichen Schutz des österreichischen Unterwasserkulturerbes (Unterwasserarchäologie).

## About the Project

Aqua Cultural Heritage combines traditional archaeology with cutting-edge digital technology to discover, document, and protect submerged cultural heritage across Austrian lakes and waterways. The project uses underwater photogrammetry, sonar prospection, 3D modelling, and citizen science to build a comprehensive digital record of underwater archaeological sites.

## Key Focus Areas

- **Citizen Science**: Engaging recreational divers to report underwater archaeological finds via a dedicated web application (aquafind.at).
- **3D Documentation**: Creating high-resolution digital twins of underwater heritage sites using photogrammetry.
- **Environmental Monitoring**: Tracking the spread of invasive species (especially the quagga mussel) that threaten submerged cultural heritage.
- **Sonar & Acoustics**: Non-destructive geophysical prospection using side-scan sonar, multibeam echo sounders, and sediment sonar.
- **Training Programs**: Workshops for divers on legal frameworks and archaeological documentation methods.

## Project Consortium

- **University of Vienna** — Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science (VIAS), project coordination. PI: Immo Trinks.
- **Kuratorium Pfahlbauten** — UNESCO World Heritage Prehistoric Pile Dwellings site management. Co-PI: Cyril Dworsky.
- **Natural History Museum Vienna (NHM)** — Citizen Science and public outreach. Co-PI: Karina Grömer.
- **Bundesdenkmalamt (BDA)** — Austrian Federal Monuments Agency, legal frameworks and protection strategies. Eva Steigberger.
- **University of Innsbruck** — Institute for Limnology, ecological and environmental monitoring. Markus Möst.

## PhD Research

- Helena Seidl da Fonseca: Citizen Science & Public Archaeology — developing strategies for diver involvement and a quality-assured find-reporting platform.
- Stefan Krojer: 3D Documentation & Prospection — optimizing photogrammetric and sonar-based recording methods for challenging underwater conditions.

## Funding

Funded by the **Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)** within the Heritage Science Austria 2.0 program.
Project number: Heritage_2024-09_ACH. Duration: 3.5 years from March 1, 2026.

## Contact

- Email: info@aquaheritage.at
- Website: https://www.aquaheritage.at
- Find reporting app: https://www.aquafind.at
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aqua.cultural.heritage/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACH-Austria
- Sketchfab (3D models): https://skfb.ly/pIpw9

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.aquaheritage.at/index.html) — Haupt-Landingpage mit Projektübersicht, News und Team.
- [Impressum](https://www.aquaheritage.at/impressum.html) — Rechtliche Informationen.
- [News: Quagga-Muschel Bedrohung](https://www.aquaheritage.at/news/quagga.html) — Artikel über die Bedrohung des Kulturerbes durch invasive Muschelarten.
- [News: 3D-Modell Station See](https://www.aquaheritage.at/news/3D_modell_Station_See.html) — Erster digitaler Zwilling der UNESCO Welterbefundstelle am Mondsee.
- [News: Aqua Cultural Heritage auf Ö1](https://www.aquaheritage.at/news/oe1_radio.html) — Radiobeitrag und Projektvorstellung in der Sendung Dimensionen.

## Languages

The website is available in German (default) and English.