Kazakhstan plans to establish a national geoinformation database of historical and cultural heritage sites as part of the international CAAL (Central Asian Archaeological Landscapes) project. This was announced by the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, Aida Balayeva,El.kz reports.

On August 2, a working meeting was held with Professor Tim Williams of University College London — a leading Silk Road archaeologist and head of the CAAL project. The initiative aims to create a geospatial digital platform for the monitoring and analysis of historical and cultural monuments.

“Today, the preservation of historical and cultural heritage has become one of the most pressing global issues,” Aida Balayeva emphasized.

According to the minister, the President of Kazakhstan has instructed authorities to actively implement digital tools in the cultural sphere. The CAAL project aligns with this directive by enabling the systematization and analysis of heritage sites through satellite monitoring, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and open digital platforms.

To date, over 60,000 sites across the region have been documented within the CAAL framework. This allows for timely responses to threats and informed decision-making in the protection of cultural landmarks. In Kazakhstan, the project will serve as the foundation for a unified national heritage database.

“We discussed the potential use of the CAAL platform in Kazakhstan as a basis for developing a national digital database in the field of cultural heritage,” said Aida Balayeva. “Special attention was given to training specialists, adapting international solutions to our national standards, and building digital infrastructure within subordinate institutions.”

The agenda also included discussions on the impact of climate change, large-scale construction, and rapid urban development on heritage sites. All these challenges demand sustainable and technology-driven responses.

The implementation of the CAAL project is designed to not only help preserve valuable sites, but also ensure continuous monitoring of their condition, systematic protection, and digital access to cultural heritage for both researchers and the general public.