Heritage Conservation Highlighted at Ealing Civic Society Event
University of West London's Dr Efcharis Balodimou gives lecture
Dr Efcharis (Haroula) Balodimou
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August 10, 2026
The future of heritage conservation took centre stage in Ealing last week as Dr Efcharis (Haroula) Balodimou, Senior Lecturer in the Built Environment at the University of West London, delivered a wide-ranging lecture on emerging technologies and the evolving role of architects in protecting historic buildings. Hosted by the Ealing Civic Society at Open Ealing in Dickens Yard, the event drew an engaged local audience keen to explore how innovation is reshaping the way communities safeguard their built heritage.
Dr Balodimou, who leads UWL’s Architectural Design Technology course, set out the case for conserving historic structures not only for their architectural merit but for their deeper cultural value — the way they anchor identity, memory and continuity within rapidly changing urban environments. Her talk, Innovation in Heritage Conservation: Emerging Practices and Future Directions, traced how new tools are transforming the discipline while still relying on the craft and judgement of conservation professionals.
Laser scanning, thermal imaging, digital surveying, artificial intelligence and 3D printing are now part of the conservation toolkit, she explained, offering ways to analyse, document and repair historic buildings with unprecedented precision. These technologies, she argued, do not replace traditional skills but enhance them, allowing architects to understand structural behaviour, diagnose deterioration and plan interventions with far greater accuracy.
To illustrate the point, Dr Balodimou turned to the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris — a project that has combined centuries-old craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital modelling and scanning. The cathedral’s reconstruction, she said, demonstrates how innovation and heritage values can work hand in hand to protect landmark buildings for future generations.
The lecture also highlighted UWL’s commitment to widening participation in technical fields. Dr Balodimou showcased the School of Computing and Engineering’s Women in STEM (WInSTEM) initiative, which promotes diversity across science, technology, engineering and mathematics and encourages more women to pursue careers in the built environment.
Reflecting on the evening, Dr Balodimou said it had been “a pleasure to speak with members of the Ealing Civic Society about the exciting developments taking place in heritage conservation”, emphasising that while digital technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming the sector, they “complement rather than replace the expertise of architects and conservation professionals”.
Indira Chauhan, Head of Subject for the Built Environment, said the invitation recognised the strength of UWL’s teaching and research. “Her presentation reflects the strength of our Built Environment team and our commitment to advancing sustainable and innovative approaches to heritage conservation while engaging with the wider community,” she said.
Alongside her public engagement work, Dr Balodimou is an active member of UWL’s Architecture, Construction and Urban Study Research Group and collaborates with the Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing. Her research focuses on applying non-destructive testing, remote sensing and digital technologies to the monitoring and preservation of historic structures — helping to develop new methods for protecting culturally significant sites.
Further information about the awards and the Society’s work can be found at ealingcivicsociety.org.
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