Ravello Lab 2024

The president of the PandA Foundation, Mrs. Jiang Wenyan, joined the RAVELLO LAB 2024 event, held from October 24 to 26 at Villa Rufolo in Ravello, by the magnificent Amalfi Coast, Italy, focused on «New Frontiers of Culture: Artificial Intelligence». The event featured over 80 speakers discussing the impact of digital technologies on cultural heritage. It would be a long list to name all the speakers, which contributed to add value to a very dynamic exchange of fruitful opinion. Among them, we can remember: 

Dr.Fabio Pollice – Rector of the University of Salento, who chaired the panel «Technology for Culture».

Dr.Alfonso Andria – President of the European University Center for Cultural Heritage and the Ravello Lab Committee.

Dr.Mounir Bouchenaki, an esteemed international archaeologist and former UNESCO official, participated in Ravello Lab 2024.

During the opening plenary session, Mrs. Jiang Wenyan, introduced her talk on the topic «Drones for the Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage», expressing a strong interest in the application of artificial intelligence in the management of historical monuments. This meeting brought together experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges posed by new technologies in the cultural sector.

During the debate following the speech of the president of the PandA Foundation, the main themes discussed included:

• Technology and Culture: A discussion on the relationship between technological innovation and cultural heritage, highlighting how technology can enhance accessibility and enjoyment of cultural assets.
• Sustainability: An analysis of sustainable management of cultural sites and the investments needed to preserve heritage.
• Future Implications: Reflections on the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence presents for the cultural sector, with a particular focus on future developments.

The main obstacles to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in historical monuments include:

1. Lack of Skills: There is a significant shortage of qualified professionals with the necessary expertise to implement AI technologies effectively in cultural heritage contexts.
2. Data Management Challenges: The overwhelming amount of data generated, particularly from remote sensing technologies, complicates management, processing, and interpretation, making it difficult to utilize AI effectively.
3. Regulatory Gaps: Existing legal frameworks regarding privacy and user security are often insufficient, creating uncertainties that hinder the initiation of AI projects.
4. Financial Constraints: Many cultural institutions, especially smaller museums and organizations, face budget limitations that restrict their ability to invest in digitalization and AI technologies.
5. Standardization Issues: A lack of shared standards and guidelines for data quality and AI implementation complicates collaboration across institutions and reduces the effectiveness of AI applications . These challenges must be addressed to fully harness AI’s potential in enhancing the preservation and management of cultural heritage.

Due to the shortage of digital professionals, there is a pressing need to train young individuals equipped with technological knowledge to accelerate the application of digitalization in cultural and monumental fields. The PandA Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Salento under Professor Fabio Pollice, will sponsor two scholarships on this subject. The outcome will not only focus on acquiring specific skills but will also have a social impact, preventing young people from leaving their homeland.