MEGA-Jordan: A National Geospatial Platform for Cultural Heritage Management

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Jordan’s Department of Antiquities (DoA), has initiated the development of a national geographic information system designed to catalog, monitor, and manage Jordan’s extensive archaeological resources. Known as the Middle Eastern Geodatabase for Antiquities (MEGA) – Jordan, the platform will function as a Web-based, bilingual (Arabic and English) GIS environment serving inspectors, archaeologists, researchers, and government planners engaged in cultural heritage preservation.

Development of MEGA-Jordan has been entrusted to Farallon Geographics, a San Francisco-based geospatial technology firm, using open source software components. The system is scheduled for full deployment in 2009 and is designed with scalability in mind, allowing adaptation for Iraq and potentially other Middle Eastern nations.

Safeguarding a Nation’s Archaeological Wealth

Jordan possesses one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in the region, with over 10,000 documented sites and many more awaiting discovery. Historically situated within the Fertile Crescent alongside Iraq, the country has long served as a junction connecting the Mediterranean basin, the Arabian Peninsula, and Mesopotamia. Its territory bears witness to major phases of human civilization, from the Nabataean kingdom — exemplified by the monumental remains of Petra — to Hellenistic and Roman influence, visible in landmarks such as the Amman Citadel and the ancient city of Gerasa (Jarash). Managing such a vast and culturally critical inventory presents complex logistical and administrative challenges. The DoA requires a centralized, accessible platform capable of supporting legal protection frameworks, conservation strategies, infrastructure review processes, and long-term research planning.

A Decision-Support Tool for Planning and Development

Upon completion, MEGA-Jordan will serve as the department’s principal planning and decision-support system. It is designed to address regulatory compliance, World Heritage obligations, and the oversight of infrastructure expansion. Urban growth, transportation corridors, pipelines, reservoirs, and new construction projects all pose potential risks to archaeological resources. The new GIS will enable authorities to assess development proposals spatially and evaluate their potential impact before irreversible damage occurs. Farallon Geographics collaborated closely with GCI and the DoA to define operational workflows, user scenarios, and technical specifications. The objective is to create a sustainable platform that does not impose excessive training requirements or financial burdens. According to Alison Dalgity, Project Manager at GCI, long-term viability is central to the initiative. The system must remain functional without costly proprietary licenses or specialized technical staff. In Jordan, traditional desktop GIS licensing fees can far exceed the annual salary of a highly trained professional, making open source and low-cost technologies essential for sustainable implementation.

Core Capabilities of MEGA-Jordan

The platform is designed to provide comprehensive functionality tailored to heritage management. It will enable users to document the precise location and spatial boundaries of archaeological sites, along with associated cultural features and artifacts. A map-driven interface will allow non-specialists to access and interpret data without advanced GIS training. To reduce operational expenses, the system relies on freely available or open source technologies. Information will be presented in both Standard Arabic and English, ensuring accessibility across diverse user groups. Additionally, the architecture is intended to accommodate evolving administrative processes and custom workflows as institutional needs expand. The initial functional prototype, including the GIS database and mapping interface, is slated for implementation in spring 2009, followed by full system deployment in fall 2009. The technical stack incorporates PostGIS and GeoServer, complemented by a public-facing mapping interface such as Google Maps. Dennis Wuthrich, CEO of Farallon Geographics, emphasized the company’s commitment to applying advanced Web-based geospatial solutions to heritage conservation efforts across the region. Following its launch in Jordan, the platform will be adapted for Iraq under the broader Iraq Cultural Heritage Conservation Initiative led by GCI and WMF.

About Farallon Geographics

Headquartered in San Francisco, Farallon Geographics specializes in the planning, integration, and deployment of enterprise-scale GIS systems that support mission-critical operations. As a strategic partner to leading GIS vendors, the firm provides objective technical and implementation expertise for complex geospatial environments. Through MEGA-Jordan, the collaborative effort between conservation institutions and geospatial technology specialists demonstrates how open source GIS, Web mapping services, and interoperable data integration can support cultural heritage preservation at a national scale.