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Military tourism has been growing in Portugal in recent years with numerous initiatives to enhance and promote the country’s military and historical heritage. In the academic context, studies have emerged to consolidate the segment in the tourism activity. In this framework, INSIGNIA was born, a project aimed at monitoring, evaluating and optimizing the Military Tourism Route. The implementation of the route and the network-based strategies chosen to structure the supply have been monitored to register key insights gathered through this model of heritage asset intervention and tourism development. This paper proposes a reflective overview of the implementation and monitoring processes, a lookback at the work conducted. Firstly, proposes a reflection on the implementation process, tracing its genesis in response to the conjunctures of the structuring of tourism supply and the consolidation of the concept itself. It seeks to reflect on the specific choices and services developed during the implementation process. Based on this lookback, the authors then propose a replicable model to guide these implementation processes. Using the monitoring experience of this study as a reference point, the model suggests possible metrics, as well as proposals for the collection and analysis of data relevant to its wider application.

Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) is the application of BIM, a digital modelling and information management technique, to assets of historical significance, otherwise known as Cultural Heritage (CH). The adoption of BIM for CH is justified by government mandates and acknowledgement by leading heritage institutions that there is a need to utilise digital tools for heritage management. This paper establishes the current state of HBIM implementation within CH as well as research trends to date via a review of the existing literature. Geometric modelling was found to be the topic of very early research into HBIM, with particular focus given to improving the accuracy and efficiency of modelling. Thus, methods for improving modelling were evaluated. HBIM as an information management tool is discussed including the issues encountered, such as data storage and insufficient existing tools, as well as key information requirements proposed in the literature. An evaluation of key HBIM case studies found limited evidence of the created models being used in practice and an overall lack of consideration of the information needs. It was determined that the implementation of HBIM is limited by a lack of defined information requirements, and standardisation regarding the method of implementation.

This paper presents a preliminary scientific investigation of pigments used by Martiros Sarian, a prominent Armenian artist known for his vibrant and evocative paintings. The study focuses on five of Sarian’s paintings from different periods of his career, namely, Morning in Stavrino, Arabian Dancer, Caravan, Yerevan Zangu River, and Kirovakan, dated between 1909 and 1948. Non-destructive techniques, including micro-attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic imaging and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), were employed to characterize the pigments in the samples extracted from these paintings. The results reveal the presence of various pigments, including ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt cerulean blue, viridian, emerald green, cobalt green, celadonite green, cadmium yellow, chrome yellow, Venetian red, yellow ochre, red ochre, lead white, zinc white, and calcium carbonate. Additionally, metal carboxylates and oxalates, degradation products associated with the paint layers, were observed and discussed. The findings contribute to a better understanding of Sarian’s artistic technique and provide valuable insights for the conservation and restoration of his artworks.

This review paper aims to provide a meta-analysis of the scientific literature for heritage documentation and monitoring using geo-information sensors. The study initially introduces the main types of geomatic sensors that are currently widely used for heritage studies. Although the list provided here is indicative rather than exhaustive, it provides a general overview of the variety of sensors used for different observation scales. The study next focuses on the existing literature, based on published documents. Targeted queries were implemented to the Scopus database to extract the relevant information. Filtering was then applied to the results so as to limit the analysis on the specific thematic sub-domains that is applied for heritage documentation and monitoring. These domains include, among other close-range and underwater photogrammetry, Terrestrial Laser Scanner, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles platforms, and satellite observations. In total, more than 12,000 documents were further elaborated. The overall findings are summarized and presented here, providing further insights into the current status of the domain.

Mid-19th century maps of Tróia Peninsula (Grândola) indicated the existence of a site named “Fishermen’s huts” on the beach. The site was partially excavated in 2019 and presents the characteristics of a village where around a dozen vernacular architecture shacks accommodated people who lived there between approximately 1860 and 1920. The architecture, material culture, and settlement location reveal the presence of a population with specific social and cultural characteristics related to an amphibious or hybrid lifestyle between the land and the sea. This paper presents this community, considering the relation of the people living there with the surrounding environment (natural and cultural resources) and relations within the community, where it was possible to recognize different genders and identities. These considerations are framed within social, economic, and cultural concepts.

This paper presents current findings about the historical use of silver and metallic elements as part of the decorative technique from Colombia known as barniz de Pasto. The results are part of broader ongoing research. The aim is to interpret and assess the introduction of metal as a significant component in the consolidation of the technique. Our research uses well-established imaging techniques (visible light macrophotography; infrared and ultraviolet photography), cross-sections, and elemental mapping from SEM-EDS. The results are compared and interpreted within a holistic framework suggesting the introduction of silver as part of an innovation of the barniz de Pasto technique, either as whole silver leaf sandwiched between layers of mopa-mopa or as “venturine”, obtained by kneading, and therefore fragmenting, silver leaf within mopa-mopa layers.

Considering how difficult it is for a pin in the ocean to be found, painstaking searches among historical documents and eyewitness accounts often end up with more unknowns and questions. We developed a three-tier geo-spatial tech-based approach to discover and unfold the lost WWII heritage features in the countryside of Hong Kong that can be applied in other contexts. It started with an analysis of historical texts, old maps, aerial photos, and military plans in the historical geographic information system (HGIS) Project ‘The Battle of Hong Kong 1941: a Spatial History Project’ by Hong Kong Baptist University to define regions/points of interest. Then, 3D point clouds extracted from the government’s airborne LiDAR were migrated to form a digital terrain model (DTM) for geo-registration in GIS. All point clouds were geo-referenced in HK1980 Grid via accurate positioning using the global navigation satellite system—real-time kinematics (GNSS-RTK). A red relief image map (RRIM) was then used to image the tunnels, trenches, and pillboxes in great detail by calculating the topographical openness. The last tier of the tech work was field work involving ground validation of the findings from the previous two tiers and on-site imaging using terrestrial LiDAR. The ground 3D LiDAR model of the heritage feature was then built and integrated into the DTM. The three-tier tech-based approach developed in this paper is standardised and adopted to streamline the workflow of historical and archaeological studies not only in Hong Kong but also elsewhere.

To understand the significance that cultural heritage has today and, above all, the role of citizens in decision-making for its valorisation, transmission, and management, it is necessary to approach it from a very early age, specifically through childhood education. Hence, this action research study is proposed for 56 infant teachers in initial training at the University of A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). This is a descriptive case study that aims to investigate the perceptions of early childhood education teachers in initial training about cultural heritage (definition: economic, cultural, and educational uses; agents involved in its transmission, management, etc.). In addition, the paper analyses the changes and continuities that occur in student teachers’ perceptions after carrying out a didactic proposal through relevant social problems linked to the Ribeira Sacra cultural landscape. This action research study has allowed students to give more importance to intangible cultural heritage and to gain a better understanding of controversial issues related to cultural heritage, such as the balance between economic and cultural use, as well as citizens’ roles in a decision-making process related to cultural heritage. Despite engaging in didactic activities, a substantial portion of students still retain a conservative outlook on heritage education.

The paper aims to study the geometrical quality and opportunities of the state-of-the-art 3D camera Matterport Pro and examine its potential for industrial archaeology applications. The presented study consisted of two steps. In the first step, the geometrical quality of the camera-generated point cloud was investigated on the calibration test field. The geometrical quality was checked in two ways: (1) with distance comparison between reference targets and (2) with point cloud comparison. The coordinates of the reference targets were determined using a high-precision total station, while the FARO Scanner generated the reference point cloud. The study established that Matterport Pro has a scale systematic error that must be accounted for in 3D modeling and the inventory of archaeological objects. In the second step, the geometrical quality of the camera was checked for the actual archaeological object. As such an object, the historical copper-shaft Quincy Mine in Michigan State Upper Peninsula was considered. The specific subject of the study was one of the largest hoist engines in the world. The Matterport Pro camera scanned the indoor environment of the hoist engine house. The accuracy of the 3D model of the hoist engine was checked using additional linear measurements on-site. It was found that the accuracy of 1% showed that the camera specification can be improved through calibration. As an output of the second step, the accurately refined 3D model of the hoist engine’s interior was built. That model was embedded into a 3D model of the hoist engine’s house for usage in virtual tours of the Quincy Mine Museum. Finally, a virtual tour was created of the Quincy Mine house with exterior and interior models referenced to the geographical frame.

Dalle de verre windows consist of thick slabs of coloured glass set in a matrix of reinforced concrete. The invention of this special art form is closely linked to the developments in modern architecture in the first half of the 20th century that are characterized by using new technologies such as steel-frame construction, reinforced concrete and the increasing use of glass. Many of these windows are showing damage, some of it severe. Until now, the causes of damage have hardly been investigated and there is still no practical and suitable approach to the analysis of the state of conservation of dalle de verre glazings. One of the main objectives of an interdisciplinary project (2019–2021) was therefore to evaluate the potential of non-destructive techniques for the characterisation of and identification of damage of dalle the verre windows in their structural, physical and climatic context. Various non-destructive methods (Ground-Penetrating Radar, Electric resistivity, Half-cell potential, Ultrasonics, Induction, Magnet and Thermography) have been tested on two prominent dalle de verre examples: the windows created by Fernand Léger for the church of Saint-Germain d’Auxerre in Courfaivre (Swiss Jura mountains) and the large tripartite by Alexandre Cingria once decorating the choir window church of the Franciscan monastery at Fribourg, Switzerland. The results of the analyses presented in this paper provide valuable information on the advantages and limitations as well as the costs of the methods used.

In recent years, researchers in the field of natural heritage have intensified their efforts to develop new ways to enhance the promotion and accessibility of natural content in order to attract more audiences using virtual representations of physical objects (digital twins). Therefore, they are increasingly incorporating new technologies and digital tools in their operations since their usage by the general public and in the natural heritage (NH) museums is considered particularly effective. Simultaneously, the increasing quality of the produced digitizations has opened up new opportunities for the exploitation of the outcomes of digitization beyond the initial anticipations. Responding to the growing demand of museum visitors for a personalized digital tour experience, especially amidst the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the v-PalM project aims to develop a digital platform to offer virtual guidance and education services at the Museum of Paleontology and Geology, which is hosted at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. The development of the platform will be based on collecting data through various methods, including crowdsourcing, innovative information, and communication technologies, taking advantage of content digitization using 3D scanning devices. This paper demonstrates an enhanced methodology for the digitization of paleontological exhibits. The methodology uses photogrammetry and laser scanning methods from various devices, such as drones, laser scanners, and smartphones. These methods create digital twins that are suitable for various scenarios, including research, education, and entertainment. The proposed methodology has been applied to over fifty paleontological museum exhibits of varying sizes and complexities, and the resulting 3D models exhibit high accuracy in both their material and geometric aspects, while they also feature crucial details that assist researchers and the scientific community.

This paper deals with a metrological and qualitative evaluation of the Artec 3D structured-light scanners: Micro and Space Spider. As part of a larger European project called ITSERR, these scanners are tested to reconstruct small archaeological artefacts, in particular cuneiform tablets with different dimensions. For this reason, Micro and Space Spider are compared in terms of the entire workflow, from preparatory work to post-processing. In this context, three cuneiform replica tablets will serve as examples on which the Artec scanners will have to prove their worth. Metric analyses based on distance maps, RMSe calculations and density analyses will be carried out to understand metrological differences between these tools. The creation of 3D models of cuneiform tablets is the first step in developing a virtual environment suitable for sharing the archaeological collection with collaborators and other users. The inclusion of semantic information through specific ontologies will be the next step in this important project.

Eastern Africa is home to strikingly beautiful landscapes, unique wildlife and exotic cultural heritage that create outstanding tourism appeal. Unfortunately, these attractive features do not always translate to high tourism revenues. This paper focuses on analyzing the relationships between tourism performance indicators—arrivals, revenues and the revenue-based revealed comparative advantage (RCA)—and compare them to the components of destination facilities and endowments measured by the Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Index (TTCI). The analysis concentrates on Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, using secondary data from 2005 to 2017. The methodology applies correlation analysis and panel regression. As the results show, the TTCI and RCA are negatively correlated, but the components of the TTCI have different relationships to the RCA. Natural heritage positively influences the RCA, while cultural resources do not. The higher RCA values are also enhanced by better tourism services and better ground travel infrastructure. Similar analyses have been performed for Europe and some Asian countries, but not for Eastern Africa. The novelty of the present research is the fact that natural heritage resources can contribute considerably to tourism revenues, while cultural resources are not utilized to their full potential in terms of tourism success.

Design has shaped the world in which we live; it has improved our lives in ways we cannot even begin to imagine. Even if design is everywhere and is the memory of the world, collections associated with it are not usually well-known as design archives which capture spatial and temporal narratives. Saving these types of archives and making them accessible to the public, using them as cultural hubs, might improve our lives thanks to visual literacy, creativity, and innovation. The Arxiu Valencià del Disseny aims to recover, preserve, protect, and disseminate the archival cultural heritage of the Valencian designers. With a collection of more than 150,000 objects, it recovers history and evolution from the applied arts and product design, but with a markedly future-oriented character through the enhancement of the collections and their dissemination thanks to an intelligent computational system featuring cutting-edge technologies in order to prove our understanding of Valencian and European design. The aim of this paper is twofold: first, we introduce the AVD project, an interdisciplinary project that has been recently funded by the Valencian Government in order to preserve and promote the heritage of design archives; second, we introduce a set of interactive tools related to the project, such as the digitisation and cataloguing of the collection, the generation of a Design Memory Archive, advanced searching, and semantically relating the digitised collection of the Arxiu Valencià del Disseny based on data interoperability across its collections and a benchmarking tool for designers.

This paper aims to analyze the role of natural heritage cataloging when criminal events challenge natural history museums. This study investigates the rhino horn thefts in Italian natural history museums from 2011 to 2015 to provide a comprehensive framework for these robberies while highlighting the weaknesses and strengths to prevent thefts and safeguard both rhino horns and natural history collections from future targeting.

The documentation and management of the cultural heritage of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the heritage of the digital age are emerging discourses in cultural heritage management. The enthusiastic uptake of a generative artificial intelligence application (ChatGPT) by the general public and academics alike has provided an opportunity to explore (i) whether, and to what extent, generative AI can conceptualize an emergent, not well-described field of cultural heritage (the heritage of COVID-19), (ii), whether it can design an exhibition on the topic, and (iii) whether it can identify sites associated with the pandemic that may become significant heritage. Drawing on an extended ‘conversation’ with ChatGPT, this paper shows that generative AI is capable of not only developing a concept for an exhibition of the heritage of COVID-19 but also that it can provide a defensible array of exhibition topics as well as a relevant selection of exhibition objects. ChatGPT is also capable of making suggestions on the selection of cultural heritage sites associated with the pandemic, but these lack specificity. The discrepancy between ChatGPT’s responses to the exhibition concept and its responses regarding potential heritage sites suggests differential selection and access to the data that were used to train the model, with a seemingly heavy reliance on Wikipedia. The ‘conversation’ has shown that ChatGPT can serve as a brainstorming tool, but that a curator’s considered interpretation of the responses is still essential.

The aim of the paper is to analyse the performance of the Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) algorithm, implemented in Instant-NGP software, for photogrammetric purposes. To achieve this aim, several datasets with different characteristics were analysed, taking into account object size, image acquisition technique and geometric configuration of the images. The NeRF algorithm proved to be effective in the construction of the 3D models; in other words, in Instant-NGP it was possible to obtain realistic 3D models in a detailed manner and very quickly, even in rather weak geometric configurations of the images. The performance obtained in the latter environment was compared with that achieved by two software packages, one widely used in the photogrammetric field, Agisoft Metashape, and one open source, Colmap. The comparison showed encouraging results in building 3D models, especially under weak geometry conditions; although, the geometric description of objects under point clouds or meshes needs improvement for use in the photogrammetric field.

This paper presents the path of knowledge developed for assessing the structural safety of the Norman-age Pisan Tower, which is mostly incorporated into the Royal Palace in Palermo, Italy. Historical, geomatic, and mechanical investigations were conducted and the most relevant results are herein collected and presented. The research path was addressed to specific tasks: identification of the building, geometric surveys, recognition of the sequence of phases of building transformation, detection of the components of the load-bearing structure, structural diagnostic surveys, and investigation of the subsoil and foundations. The explicit vulnerabilities found were mostly confined to the Piazzi library floor, while implicit vulnerabilities were identified in the presence of false walls and in high loads and fillings on the vaults of the last levels. The results of the analyses allowed the individuation of the confidence factors to use in structural analysis models aimed at the assessment of the seismic safety of the building.

The cultural heritage associated with rural systems is extremely valuable and is a sign of identity for cultures that are disappearing or undergoing transformation. This paper explains and illustrates the series of procedures that have been carried out to document and subsequently virtualise the ethnological site of the “El Plantío” underground wine cellars in Atauta. The ensembles of underground wine cellars are located immediately outside the village of Atauta, from which they are separated by the stream of Arroyo de la Laguna or Golbán, thus giving rise to two environments that are characterised by the perfect interrelation between their natural and architectural heritage. The visual and scenic relations between both these elements make this area a prime example of a cultural heritage that is associated with wine production systems. This documentation was obtained through a combination of different geomatic techniques. The results are organised on a web platform to enable their digital visualisation (2D/3D). This platform provides a virtual environment such that users can understand these underground heritage assets in an integrated way together with the immaterial cultural heritage and the cultural landscape—all of which converge on this ethnological site. The project offers different types of audiences, both real and virtual, access to all of the documentation.

This paper presents the first results of a current interdisciplinary research project on the polychromy of Roman provincial stone artefacts in selected areas of the Danubian provinces (PolychroMon). The statuary group of Minerva and the Genius immunium from Carnuntum (Archaeological Museum Carnuntinum inv. CAR-S-48) is dated to the second half of the second century AD and still retains traces of the original polychromy. The aim was to focus on non-invasive techniques and to employ micro-invasive methods for necessary cross-checking and gaining information otherwise not accessible. The investigation revealed that paint was applied on a layer of white lime wash. Additionally, the object shows several traces of Egyptian blue, which was mainly detected in Minerva’s and the Genius’ clothes. Other pigments whose traces were found on the sculpture include green earth, yellow and red ochre, as well as red lead and carbon black. Microscopic analysis confirms the presence of modern-age compounds as well (barium sulphate and zinc oxide) used for modern retouches. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed the use of egg as the major proteinaceous binding medium in the red lead polychromy.

This paper presents the findings of the first multi-analytical investigation of the Book of Uí Mhaine, one of the largest Gaelic Books surviving from the medieval vernacular period. A combination of protein analysis, point X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), multispectral imaging (MSI), point Fiber-Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) and point Raman spectroscopy was used to perform a systematic investigation of the Book of Uí Mhaine’s constituent materials, including parchment, inks and pigments. The analysis revealed that the parchment was made of calfskin, both blunt tools and Pb-containing materials were used for ruling the pages throughout the manuscript, and iron-based inks were used to write the content of the book. The decoration was restricted to the initial letters and rubrication across the body text. The decoration color palette was limited to yellow and red, comprising arsenic-, mercury- and lead-based pigments. A copper-based green pigment was found only on one folio. The scientific knowledge acquired through this multi-analytical approach complemented a substantial corpus of knowledge already built by Gaelic scholars, paleographers, codicologists and conservators. This work not only allowed for the consolidation of existing information on methods and materials used for the production of medieval Gaelic manuscripts but also laid the basis for future comparative work with other contemporary traditions in Ireland and Europe.

The paper presents the results of static and dynamic experimental tests conducted on historical heritage structures and sculptures. In recent years, there was an increasing need to address the behaviour of these types of structures due to several reasons. Diagnosing the actual condition of a historical structure involves not only identifying the cause of a detected defect, but also determining its impact and assessing whether the structure can continue to perform safely. This article utilises unconventional loading methods to generate measurable mechanical responses. In one case, a lifting procedure is employed to study strains in a composite structure, while in another example, the mass and movement of people are used as a form of loading. Proof load tests conducted on a monumental sculpture allowed for the determination of load distribution among its heterogeneous structural components, namely a bronze shell and an iron reinforcing frame. Furthermore, the static and dynamic loading of a ceiling supported by a masonry vault demonstrated its ability to withstand anticipated loads resulting from unconventional use as a temporary exhibition space.

The historic designation of individual properties and entire neighborhoods has experienced an evolution in its meaning in recent decades. The original passive approach to managing historical buildings, which primarily regarded them as “values” to be defended and preserved for future generations, has been supplemented by strategies aimed at their valorization, derived from an awareness of the potential of such resources for the community, as a means of promoting the economic and social conditions of local populations. This paper proposes a review of all the main research carried out in the literature over the last thirty years concerning the impact of the historical–architectural significance of property values, both from an intrinsic point of view by evaluating the weight that the examined variable assumes in relation to the market value of the individual property and an extrinsic point of view by addressing the issue of the evaluation of “spatial spillovers”, positive and/or negative externalities that neighborhoods with historical–architectural significance—understood as historical districts—produce on the values of the properties falling within them. The analysis conducted shows that, according to the studies carried out, historic-architectural value can have both a positive and negative impact on property values. This output is related to the type of historic designation (local rather than national), the architectural style, the building typology, and the conservation and enhancement activities envisaged for the property.

Dinko Kovačić is a prominent Croatian architect and university professor. His design approach is characterised by exceptional empathy that results in architectural works of intense connection with the environment as well as with that of their future users. Although many of Kovačić’s works have been published in the daily press and professional publications, the complete oeuvre of this architect has so far not been the subject of scientific research. The aim of this scientific work is to look at his specific design approach based on the analysis of representative examples. Research methods in this paper include the analysis of primary and secondary sources and on-site observation. The article gives a systematic presentation of Dinko Kovačić’s work as related to his specific approach, which integrates the modernism of the second half of the 20th century and the Mediterranean tradition.

This study examines the intriguing peculiarities of the surface paint layer found in the painting Village scene (1931) by renowned Singapore artist Liu Kang (1911–2004). The incorporation of non-invasive visible light (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) photography techniques, combined with high-power digital microscopy, revealed unusual features on the surface paint layer. Flattened impastos, clusters of incrusted foreign paint unrelated to the existing paint scheme, and fragments of paper with printed traditional Chinese characters were identified on the painting’s surface. The results of the analyses cross-referenced with the archival photographs enabled the consideration of the specified features of the paint layer as unintentional damage caused by the artist due to inadequate storage and transportation conditions—paradoxically, in his attempt to protect the painting. As these damaged areas pose potential display and conservation problems, three conservation strategies were proposed based on ethical guidelines formulated by various governing bodies for the conservation profession. This study demonstrates that there is no universal conservation solution that can satisfy conflicting aesthetic and ethical opinions. The damage to the paint layer affects the visual properties of the artwork but also provides evidence of its complex history. In light of the above, there may be valid arguments both for returning the painting to its original state and for preserving its current condition. Therefore, good practice would require balanced judgments from conservators and curators, considering Village scene in the broader context of Liu Kang’s early painting practice and the existing archival information about the artist.

The castle on Kozlov Rob above Tolmin is one of the most important historical sites in western Slovenia. Over the years, large quantities of finds dating from the late medieval and early modern periods have been recovered from the castle ruins in the process of archaeological investigations and construction works. Many of the recovered iron artefacts are extremely difficult to identify due to their fragmentary state. This paper presents the study of four relatively recently discovered artefacts. The available evidence suggests that at least one of them belongs to a helmet, while another has been identified as the remains of a lock. The artefacts were analysed with X-ray radiography and X-ray diffraction. Additionally, samples were taken for microhardness Vickers measurements and metallographic analysis with a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Additional microchemical and structural phase analysis were done with the electron microscope. The aim of archaeometallurgical analyses is to contribute to a more precise interpretation and add a new dimension to our knowledge of the castle site at Kozlov Rob.

This research paper focused on tourists’ experiences after engaging in a rural tourism experience, the activities developed during that period, and the relevant factors they considered when planning the holidays. We collected data in the Azores, a region known to implement rural tourism. Therefore, the collected data were analyzed using mainly summary statistics, graphical representations, and exploratory data analysis methods, including the nonlinear (categorical) principal component analysis (CatPCA). The CatPCA’s objective is the same as that of the principal component analysis (PCA). We found that the landscape, adventure-related activities, and local gastronomy were some of the reasons tourists choose the Azores as a destination. The rural living experience and the local population’s welcoming traits were mentioned as factors that make tourists want to return to the Azores on holidays. Moreover, rural tourism in the Azores offers a unique opportunity to connect with the region’s rich cultural heritage. The islands have a long history shaped by centuries of settlement and the blending of various cultures, resulting in a distinct Azorean identity.

The use of stone to build shelters was an important step in terms of ensuring buildings’ durability and security in pre-historic times. It was also an acknowledgment of power and grandeur when societies demonstrated their respect for their leaders and gods by building stone monuments. For this reason, cathedrals, churches, and other magnificent religious monuments were built around the globe; however, the importance of the stone used in their construction itself is not sufficiently appreciated as the key factor ensuring the endurance of these historic buildings. While Western countries have long used iconic buildings to promote their heritage and advance in other socio-economic aspects, including tourism, other regions are yet to take full advantage of this outlook, even though their monumental structures may be equally impressive. Those important monuments are built of stone, which were referred to as Heritage Stones by some research groups, and their recognition would showcase the cultural and geological diversity of the world. However, there are many stones of heritage importance from geographic areas that are under-represented in the scientific literature and the work of research groups. This paper presents a review of the degree of geographical diversity in the recognition of stones and their heritage value.

Although archaeological excavations have recovered a large number of vessels used to hold perfumes or ointments in ancient Rome, little is known about the chemical composition or origin of the substances they contained. Most available information pertains to ointment and/or cosmetic bases rather than to essences. The discovery in 2019 of an ointment jar (unguentarium) made of rock crystal (quartz) that was sealed with a stopper and contained a solid mass in a Roman tomb in Carmona (Seville, Spain) was a rather unusual finding. This paper reports the results of an archaeometric study of the unguentarium stopper and its contents. Based on them, and on comparisons with commercially available patchouli and nard oil standards, the perfume held in the unguentarium was probably patchouli. To our knowledge, this may be the first time a perfume from Roman times has been identified, which is a major advance in this field. The unguentarium stopper consisted of dolomite, a material also unknown in this type of use, and bitumen was used to seal the unguentarium with the stopper.

The cultural heritage sector increasingly integrates augmented and virtual reality (VR) solutions to meet dissemination and interpretation needs for its collections. As research in the field grows, the required entertainment and learning impacts of such applications are rising. This study presents a VR museum that aims to facilitate an understanding of cultural heritage. More specifically, an exhibition was designed, curated and developed in a VR environment based on a framework that encourages the public’s interaction with the artworks and experiential learning through activities that utilize VR functionalities in a meaningful way. This framework was applied in a contemporary art museum where the description of artistic concepts is not always obvious to the general public due to the abstract forms of the artworks or the particularities of different artistic movements. This paper focuses on the application development and three user experience evaluations (museum experts, technical experts and general audience). The results were positive regarding the perceived sense of control, usability and the feelings of the user, including their sense of entertainment. Additionally, the participants valued the educational value of the developed activity types and their usefulness. Moreover, the users were interested in exploring the cultural heritage content available in the exhibition, and they would suggest the application to colleagues or friends.

Heritage rehabilitation can be a sustainable operation when it succeeds in conveying the intangible, historical, artistic, and symbolic value of the building and, at the same time, to ensure the preservation of soil and material resources. The sustainability of the operation must cover the entire life cycle of the building, starting with the management of materials on the construction site, which allows for an increase in its durability while safeguarding its residual performance. This paper, therefore, outlines a process for the sustainable management of materials at the building redevelopment site using the history of the building and the life cycles of related materials. In particular, the following are explored: residual performance of historical and coeval materials, their endogenous and exogenous reuse of materials in the redevelopment project, the traceability aimed at controlling the supply chain, and the material/component identity card. The latter evolves dynamically, providing useful information for carrying out environmental assessments and monitoring the building’s maintenance cycle. The process is applied to a case study involving the redevelopment of the historical built heritage following the 2009 earthquake that struck the city of L’Aquila and neighbouring territories. The case study demonstrated the validity of the method and at the same time made it possible to introduce an innovative process in the territory, raising awareness among those working in the sector of the value of choices that have environmental and economic advantages.

This work contributes to the knowledge of historical contexts that have radically mutated over centuries and have lost their original characteristics. In these cases, information techniques and technologies can support the reconstruction of peculiarities in the digital domain and reveal their distinctive traits. This process applies to the architectural complex of Villa Farnesina in Rome, the realization of which involved the collaboration of influential artists from the 16th century; in particular, we focus on the Stables building, which no longer exists and can only be visualized by joining survey data, historiographic data, and metric measurements in digital and virtual assets. Starting from an integrated digital survey project, the paper highlights the potential of the graphic analysis of iconographic-archival and cartographic components for reconstructing a 3D model of the original appearance of the building. Furthermore, the correlation of geometric data and information parameters allows for the construction of a digital model to fulfill the demand for the transmission of interdisciplinary information to portray this jewel of Renaissance Rome to real and virtual tourism consumers.

The loss of archaeological heritage continues today, because of both natural disasters and human-made actions. Alarmingly, a significant amount of the destruction is perpetrated by looters and illegal excavations. This problem is not a new one. However, it has increased exponentially in recent years, especially in countries which witnessed internal turmoil (i.e., the Arab Spring) but also throughout Europe. Local authorities struggle to provide adequate controls because of a lack of human resources, budget constraints or technological know-how. This paper describes a multimodal documentation and monitoring workflow applied to an archaeological site for which, due to the sensitivity of the topic, no specific details can be publicly disclosed. The techniques used include UAV aerial surveys, image-based modelling, change detection, relief visualization and GIS mapping. Thanks to the analysis of the multitemporal datasets, it was possible to assess the extension and spatial progression of illegal excavation over a two-year period.

Early Japanese books, classical humanities resources in Japan, have great historical and cultural value. However, Kuzushi-ji, the old character in early Japanese books, is scratched, faded ink, and lost due to weathering and deterioration over the years. The restoration of deteriorated early Japanese books has tremendous significance in cultural revitalization. In this paper, we introduce augmented identity loss and propose enhanced CycleGAN for deteriorated character restoration, which combines domain discriminators and augmented identity loss. This enhanced CycleGAN makes it possible to restore multiple levels of deterioration in the early Japanese books. It obtains the high readability of the actual deteriorated characters, which is proved by higher structural similarity(SSIM) and accuracy of deep learning models than standard CycleGAN and traditional image processing. In particular, SSIM increases by 8.72%, and the accuracy of ResNet50 for damaged characters improves by 1.1% compared with the competitive CycleGAN. Moreover, we realize the automatic restoration of pages of early Japanese books written about 300 years ago.

The use of computers and other digital technologies have had a long history in classical archaeology, but in the last decade, advances in software and especially hardware have begun to transform the way that archaeologists work in the field. This paper explores three examples of this phenomenon from my perspective as co-director, director, or assistant director of three different research projects between 2010 and 2019. These are the Pompeii Quadriporticus Project (2010–2013), the Pompeii Artistic Landscape Project (PALP, 2018–present), and the Tharros Archaeological Research Project (TARP, 2019–present). As a whole, these projects trace one history of digital technology’s impact on the organization of archaeological labor, from intensifying work due to increased efficiency, to increasing the pressure due to newly available data sources, and to reorganizing the in-field procedures that at once takes advantage of efficiencies and frees up labor at the trench edge.

This paper illustrates and discusses a novel method for the digital documentation of human remains in narrow spaces. A 360° borescope prototype made up of a panoramic camera and a lighting LED system was designed and assembled to acquire data in confined spaces for photogrammetric processing. A series of laboratory experiments were planned to assess the method’s validity. A modern concrete tunnel and a mock grave were surveyed using surveying instruments and a laser scanner, comparing the results with the borescope prototype. Then, data acquisition was moved to the field, i.e., in a real case study. Two burial vaults in a church containing human remains were selected and surveyed. The remains were accessible only from small breaches. The results show that using the 360° borescope is suitable for documenting narrow/confined spaces with minimum alteration of the scene. This result can be of interest for archaeological and forensic purposes, especially when the context is hardly accessible, with minimal intervention on the scene.

From the 17th to the 19th century, a score of military events, campaigns and battles took place in the Czech lands, leaving numerous traces and distinctly changing the appearance of the cultural landscape in some regions. The results of long-term aerial-archeological surveys in the Czech lands have demonstrated that this detection method is advantageous in identifying buried sites built in the past in the context of military conflicts. Experience hitherto has made it possible to label archeological remote sensing as a collection of the potentially most effective methods for uncovering sites of field fortifications dated to the modern period and the beginning of the industrial era. This includes finds of both solitary sites and segments of strategically built fortification lines. This paper is an attempt to critically evaluate these hitherto recorded landmarks which have been discovered and documented via aerial prospection from the 1990s to the present. At the same time, this study reflects on the possibilities offered by the modern methods of remote sensing which have played a significant role in the discovery, mapping, documentation, digital terrain modelling, and the 3D virtual reconstructions of these sites.

In the last 20 years, research on the observed and projected impacts of climate change on cultural heritage has led to significant developments regarding damage quantification and risk assessment, which unfortunately are not yet exhaustively transferred to practical applications and to the sector of policy and decision making. One of the major reasons for this still lacking alignment remains with the inadequate handover of quantitative data, which is a prerequisite for the development of measures and strategies for the mitigation of the impacts and risk reduction. In this paper, we focus on the methods and approaches put in place for the production of projections providing quantitative assessments of climate change-induced impacts in the near and far future (up to the 21st century) on outdoor built heritage mainly constituted by stone and stone-like materials. Our critical study found that different approaches have been applied for quantifying slow cumulative damage due to the ongoing variations of climate and air pollution parameters and to risk assessment caused by hydrometeorological extreme events induced by variations of temperature and precipitation. There is clear evidence that efforts are still needed for directing research to provide concrete solutions and tools addressed to meet the requirements of stakeholders and to solve the existing challenges in the field: selected effective models and tools are illustrated. The discussion is structured in order to highlight the driving role of research in supporting the definition of priorities for heritage managers and the development of strategies by decision and policy makers for the prevention and safeguarding of cultural heritage at risk.

This paper focuses on the first investigation of the 19th-century manufacture of red lake pigments obtained from madder by Winsor & Newton (W&N), prominent artists’ colourman at that time. The first approach to their manufacture was carried out by studying the madder entries of the company’s book P1, found in the W&N 19th Century Archive Database. Eleven production records were discovered under names such as Rose Madder, Madder Carmine, Madder Lake and Madder Rose. Three main methods of synthesis were identified and reproduced, revealing three main steps: washing of the madder roots (Rubia tinctorum L.); extraction in acid media and complexation with Al3+ using alum; and precipitation by the addition of salts such as ammonium carbonate and sodium borate. The syntheses were followed by UV-VIS spectroscopy, and the pigments were further characterised by colourimetry, Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). They all exhibited a rose hue in a highly insoluble aluminate matrix. Although the dye extraction was incomplete, alizarin, purpurin and pseudopurpurin were identified. An analytical comparison with a Rose Madder 19th-century oil paint tube was also performed by micro-FTIR and microspectrofluorimetry. This work intends to be foundational to a systematic study of the W&N’s 19th-century madder colours aiming to contribute new knowledge towards their identification and preservation in heritage objects.

This paper describes the Climate Toolbox—a set of utilities for assessing and comparing real internal climates in terms of hazards they pose to museum collections. The Toolbox is a Microsoft® Excel® workbook with complex VBA codes optimised to process large datasets efficiently and quickly. The Toolbox takes user-provided climate data (up to 8000 sets of temperature, T, and relative humidity, rh, data) and characterises the climates in terms of critical parameters for stresses and mechanical damage, risk and magnitude of mould, relative permanence compared to (selectable) reference specifications, the proportion of data lying within and without selectable specification ranges, and the proportion of rh data swings exceeding a given magnitude. The interface is easily customisable, allowing users to input desired specification ranges, insert opening and closing times (to allow for different temperature specifications for periods when a space is open and occupied to when it is closed and empty), selectively change material critical strain parameters, and adjust the cycle periods for stress analysis. Results are summarised in a range of different graphical and tabular outputs and can be processed further to compare and rank spaces for their suitability to house different collections.

Architectural structures, the basic elements of the urban web, are an aggregation of buildings that have been built at different times, with different materials, and in different styles. Through research, they can be divided into groups that present common morphological attributes and refer to different historical periods with particular social, economic, and cultural characteristics. The identification of these common repeating elements and organizational construction structures leads to the identification of the “type” of the building, which until now has required specialized knowledge, time, and customized proof checking. Recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and, more specifically, in deep learning (DL) appear to contribute gradually to the study of the typological evolution of buildings, especially those of cultural heritage (CH). In this paper, we present a deep-learning-based method for the classification of modern Athenian architecture (since 1830) using the YOLO algorithm. This research work can contribute to the digital management of the existing urban building stock, the autonomous large-scale categorization of data that are available from street view images, and the enhancement of the tangible CH.

This paper presents the results of non-invasive diagnostic investigations performed on the canvas oil painting depicting the Marian iconography “Mater Boni Consilii”. The painting, whose author and origin are unknown, was found in an old shop in Florence following the overflowing of the Arno River in 1966. In order to define the importance of the artwork, a multianalytical analysis was performed on the painting, using multispectral imaging, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) for the definition of materials, with a particular focus on the identification of pigments. The results allowed for the drawing up of a color palette, composed mainly of ochre and earth pigments, cinnabar, lithopone, lead white, and ultramarine pigments. After cross-referencing the acquired information with other findings, it was possible to place the painting in the period between the end of the XIXth and the beginning of the XXth centuries.

In the last few years, blockchain technology and NFTs have been the subject of much research in different sectors ranging from informatics, to medicine, to economics. Although it is most often associated with cryptocurrencies, due to its features of immutability and durability, this technology has found its place in various fields, including GLAM institutions. This article will review the literature from 2017 to 2022 dealing with blockchain and NFTs in the heritage sector. Topics covered, proposed models, and projects will be highlighted. Archives are currently leading the research into the use of blockchain technology and have already developed models such as TrustChain. However, libraries, museums, and galleries are also beginning to show an interest in the new technology and its potential benefits. Therefore, we also approached the GLAM sector as a whole, to emphasize the importance of the joint development on the advancement of shared approaches and protocols in utilizing blockchain technology to enhance the trustworthy management and preservation of digital resources. This is particularly important because GLAM institutions care for a shared heritage and serve a common audience. In the second part of the article we will discuss the proposed uses of the technology and highlight still unexplored topics that should be elaborated in further research. The aim of this paper is to make a synthesis of previous research and bring the potential of blockchain technology and NFTs closer to experts in the heritage field, given that they are still quite unknown.

The Antonine Wall Distance Sculptures are iconic and unique sculptural reliefs that marked Rome’s most north-westerly frontier across central Scotland. Their inscribed texts and iconography depict graphic tales of frontier life, and recent non-invasive analysis has confirmed they were originally brought to life through vibrant polychromy. This paper tracks the trajectory of one Distance Sculpture that was embedded into the dramatic setting of Dunnottar Castle off the north-east coast of Scotland during the 16th century, where it was recorded as having been repainted during that episode of use. A suite of complementary analytical techniques, including pXRF, FTIR, and SEM/EDS, was recently reported on which identified pigments and surface treatments as well as their chronology of application, confirmed through stratigraphic sequencing visible in cross-section. That approach facilitated the investigation of all episodes in the itinerary of this iconic sculpted relief from the second century to the Scottish Renaissance. That vanguard research has provided an unprecedented opportunity to unravel the rich hidden history behind this unique monumental inscription and re-tell a fascinating transformational tale of a pivotal period in its past. The combination of historical, archaeological, and scientific approaches to an understudied, and overlooked, phenomenon of post-antique colouration is revolutionary in polychromy studies. It provides innovative and well-contextualised information that lifts an aesthetically modest Roman monument into a vibrant, colourful, and sumptuous decorative feature fit to grace the walls of a Renaissance castle emulating Roman imperial practices. We can now trace its journey through time by delving into the detail of its Renaissance repainting to present, for the first time, an accurate digital reconstruction as it performed for 16th century audiences.

Gastronomy, as a part of cultural heritage, has exceptional potential in tourism, and its key representatives and conservationists/guardians are hospitality facilities that provide food services. Vojvodina (the Republic of Serbia) is a region inhabited by more than 30 ethnic minorities that have nurtured their cultural heritage and have been incorporating it into gastronomy for many years. The subject of this paper is the gastronomy of ethnic groups in Vojvodina and its significance for tourism development from the point of view of hospitality workers as important actors in the sustainability of heritage. One of the motives behind this study is the twelfth UN sustainable development goal (SDGs) defined in 2015, which refers to providing sustainable forms of consumption and production and which emphasizes the development and application of tools for monitoring the impact that sustainable development has on tourism that promotes local culture and products (12b). The aim of this study was to obtain data on the preservation of heritage, that is, on authenticity within the region/area and ethnic groups, and then to perform a valorization of dishes and define steps on how to make gastronomic heritage a more visible tourist attraction, from the perspective of sustainability. Our survey included a sample of 508 respondents, all employees in the hospitality industry. The obtained results were statistically processed. The research showed that the Južnabačka district has the greatest importance in tourism from the aspect of the implementation, preservation, and sustainability of gastronomic heritage in tourism. Among the ethnic groups, the Vojvodina Hungarians place the greatest importance on the preservation of gastronomy, which includes dishes such as goulash and uses ingredients such as river fish. The research led to the conclusion that those in the hospitality industry are of the opinion that gastronomic heritage should be promoted through activities such as tourist exposure, marketing activities, and promoting the diversity of authentic food offers in catering facilities.

The fringe projection (FP) method is an outstanding tool for reconstructing painted surfaces. This technique, which has been used for conservation and digitization, does not damage the artwork and can reach sub-millimeter accuracy. To carry out this type of analysis, it is necessary to achieve the most accurate measurements possible. Measuring the precision that a projector-camera-object arrangement can achieve is a complex task. In this paper, we show an experimental method used to measure the accuracy of this technique with instrumentation within the reach of most conservation laboratories. The method consists of capturing, as a reference model, a stepped cylindrical Nylamid® pyramid, as a construction whose shape, size, and manufacturing accuracy are known with high precision. The pyramid has eight well-defined steps, which are fashioned with an accuracy more exact than that of the fringe projection method. The height of each step was measured, obtaining the mean and variance of the height measurements fitted to a Gaussian distribution. In this work, we show the measured heights of the steps, obtained by varying the period of the fringes. The smallest detectable step height was less than 44.1 µm; however, this was obtained with a variance in the order of the step height. The smallest detectable step height with a small variance was 0.1008 mm. In addition to this accuracy measurement, a qualitative evaluation of a painting was carried out, finding the presence of possible superimposed thin layers, fabric, and microcracks, which commonly occur in the drying and aging processes. Further research would provide an experimental measurement of the method’s accuracy and its variance as essential for obtaining a confidence criterion that could then be applied to the model of the painting’s surface.

Digitalization techniques, such as photogrammetry (PG), are attracting the interest of experts in the cultural heritage field, as they enable the creation of three-dimensional virtual replicas of historical artifacts with 2D digital images. Indeed, PG allows for acquiring data regarding the overall appearance of an artifact, its geometry, and its texture. Furthermore, among several image-based techniques exploited for the conservation of works of art, multispectral imaging (MSI) finds great application in the study of the materials of historical items, taking advantage of the different responses of materials when exposed to specific wavelengths. Despite their great usefulness, PG and MSI are often used as separate tools. Integrating radiometric and geometrical data can notably expand the information carried by a 3D model. Therefore, this paper presents a novel research methodology that enables the acquisition of multispectral 3D models, combining the outcomes of PG and MSI (Visible (VIS), Ultraviolet-induced Visible Luminescence (UVL), Ultraviolet-Reflected (UVR), and Ultraviolet-Reflected False Color (UVR-FC) imaging) in a single coordinate system, using an affordable tunable set-up and open-source software. The approach has been employed for the study of two wooden artifacts from the Museo Egizio di Torino to investigate the materials present on the surface and provide information that could support the design of suitable conservation treatments.

This paper presents the results of the characterisation, identification, provenance determination, and quantification of the white, greco scritto-like and polychrome marbles used for architectural purposes at Forum Sempronii, a Roman town in the Marche region of Italy. Samples of five fragments of white marble and one fragment of a greco scritto-like marble have been studied using mineralogical and petrographic observations and stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) of carbon and oxygen. Polychrome marbles were macroscopically identified by comparison with reference samples and available image databases. Analytical results of the white and greco scritto-like marbles identified the material as coming from the quarries of Carrara (Luni, Italy) and Proconnesos (Marmara, Saraylar, Turkey) for white marble, and of Ephesos-Hasançavuslar for greco scritto-like marble. Further, at least eleven imported polychrome stone varieties were distinguished. The study clearly illustrates that Forum Sempronii had access to the main marble trade networks of the Roman Mediterranean. The early attestation of Proconnesian marble at the town’s augusteum (i.e., Augustan date) is unique for central Adriatic Italy.

The technological advancement of software and hardware and the lowering of the prices of instrumentation has made photogrammetry the preferred instrument for surveying activities in archaeological projects. Consequently, archaeological datasets have been enriched with 3D models of archaeological finds and structures. Each project has developed its work pipeline for raw data acquisition and the elaboration of models and their archiving and dissemination. In most cases, the pipeline is the result of empirical experimentation and is designed to act within the specific context of the project. To date, we still lack a shared method for a photogrammetric survey that derives from the specific design and techniques/contexts. This paper aims at proposing an approach for a shared 3D survey workflow for photogrammetry in archaeology. The general approach relies on the digital data curation framework for cultural heritage and encompasses several specialized tasks. We describe the general functions and processes and how they can be implemented in a practical workflow. As a proof of concept, we show how a preliminary release of the workflow has been applied in the context of the BeArchaeo project, for the acquisition, processing, export, modeling, archiving, and indexing of 3D models, resulting from photogrammetric surveys. A long-term aim is a methodological approach for different endeavors of cultural heritage.

This paper examines eight marble samples from the architectural elements and liturgical furniture of the ecclesiastical complex of Santa Giustina in Padova (Italy), founded by the Rufus Venantius Opilio before AD 524. The provenance determination of the marbles was carried out by means of a multi-analytical approach combining mineralogical–petrographic investigations, performed by microscopic observations of thin sections, and the measurement of the ratios of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes. The results obtained were compared with up-to-date petrographic and isotopic databases (Antonelli and Lazzarini 2015), and they showed that the analyzed marbles come from the quarries of the island of Proconnesus in Asia Minor, modern Marmara Adası (Turkey). Archaeometric evidence, together with the stylistic and functional analysis of the pieces, suggests the direct importation of a complete set of sculptures, shipped at different stages of workmanship from the workshops of Constantinople and expressly ordered by a single patron, who can be identified as Opilio, founder of the basilica of Santa Giustina and praetorian prefect at the court of King Theodoric.