[This document is an extended abstract of the articile]

The development and expansion of the urban tissue of the historical capital of Cyprus Nicosia over the years is studied through historical documents, maps, archived aerial photographs and recent satellite imagery. Documentation tools and the current technology of visualization is been used as a means for dissemination of the derived information to non-experts and the wide public. The case of Nicosia is quite indicative for a big number of city centers suffering from a similar problem: to keep a balance between a long historical evolution and enhance the public awareness from one hand, and revitalize a living urban center on the other hand. We feel that the contribution of photogrammetry, remote sensing and visualization techniques can be enormous and we intent to make a case through the Nicosia case study.

Being integrated to the Global initiatives like GEO or into the European Research Area (ERA) will allow Armenia to (1) further enable scientific exchange and partnering between the Armenian researchers and colleagues from ERA through long term strategic partnerships; (2) give Armenian researchers more opportunities for joint research or projects collaborations with EU funded projects, thus addressing the national scientific brain drain problem (i.e., Armenian scientists leaving the country to find a job elsewhere); (3) improve the competencies needed by Armenian researchers and staff members to participate to the EU funded projects calls.