Space surveillance protects heritage sites

China's satellites are providing a protective eye for the ruins of Angkor Wat, as the magnificent temples of the Khmer Empire in Cambodia face inundation by tourists and threats from environmental dangers.

"Basically, we have eyes in the sky, and we can immediately see what happens to the ancient temples and their environment," said Hong Tianhua, deputy director and secretary-general of the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage.

It is the first and only institute to use remote sensing technology to preserve cultural heritage sites under UNESCO.