Future Tense Reviving the past and digital mapping for the future
Oct 2, 2025
Professor Peter Dawson leads digital heritage at the University of Calgary, and Adam Lowe heads the Factum Foundation in Madrid. They explore the urgent preservation of Herschel Island's cultural legacy amid climate change. The duo discusses creating 'digital twins' using high-tech tools like lidar to capture heritage sites in stunning detail. They also delve into the importance of recording ancient artifacts, merging digital and physical restoration, and utilizing AI to explore cultural narratives, ensuring future generations can connect with their history.
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Growing Up With Herschel Island
- Richard Gordon grew up travelling the North Slope and learning the land from elders, with Herschel Island part of his childhood landscape.
- He stresses that living off the land and talking with elders taught him the cultural importance of the island.
Erosion Escalated Rapidly Since 2000s
- Richard Gordon observed slow erosion starting in the early 2000s that accelerated to 3–20 metres per season over several years.
- That rapid change prompted alerts to researchers and started systematic permafrost and erosion studies.
Climate Drivers Of Heritage Loss
- Peter Dawson links coastal loss to reduced sea ice, storm surges and melting permafrost that together strip large sections of shoreline and heritage sites.
- He notes flooding and ice pans pushed ashore now threaten buildings and force relocations that alter historical context.