Remote Sensing Applications in Cultural Resource Management: Comparative Insights from Sentinel-2 Imagery and UAV-based 3D Modelling

Cultural Resource Management (CRM) faces persistent threats amid accelerating global urbanization and environmental changes, driving increasing demand for non-destructive remote sensing technologies. To explore the applicability and complementarity of different remote sensing technologies in cultural heritage preservation, this paper employs a comparative case study approach to systematically compare Sentinel-2 satellite image analysis with three-dimensional modeling methods based on UAV photogrammetry. Research indicates that Sentinel-2 imagery, with its advantages of wide coverage, multi-temporal monitoring, and free access, is suitable for macro-scale site surveys and dynamic environmental monitoring. Meanwhile, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, characterized by low cost, high spatial resolution, and flexible operation, demonstrates unique strengths in micro-scale detailed documentation and three-dimensional reconstruction of archaeological sites. The two technologies are not competitive but rather complementary in cultural heritage conservation, with specific choices determined by research objectives and management needs. The findings of this study provide guidance for technological decision-making in cultural resource management and indicate that the synergistic integration of multi-source remote sensing data represents a key direction for enhancing the scientific rigor and efficiency of heritage conservation in the future.