Search

Here, we use a variety of microscopic imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, 3D visible light microscopy, and portable microscopy to capture the topography of rough paper. Paper coated with a model soot was cleaned with either a firm vinyl eraser or softer, putty-like kneaded eraser and reimaged to characterize the disposition of remaining soot. Although both methods remove soot from the upper-most surface of the paper, only the kneaded eraser can conform to the complex topography to remove soot from the interstices between paper fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though gamma radiation application, also at the minimum dosage required for disinfection, causes depolymerization and degradation of the paper substrate, recently published papers seemed, instead, to suggest that γ-rays application could be envisaged in some conditions for Cultural Heritage original documents and books. In some of the published papers, the possible application of γ-rays was evaluated mainly by using mechanical tests that scarcely reflect the chemical modifications induced in the cellulosic support. In the present article the effect of low dosage γ-irradiation on cellulosic substrates was studied and monitored applying different techniques: colorimetry, spectroscopic measurements, carbonyl content and average viscometric degree of polymerization. Two different papers were investigated, a non-sized, non-filled cotton paper, and a commercial permanent paper. To simulate a real deteriorated document, which could need γ-rays irradiation, some samples were submitted to a hydrolysis treatment. We developed a treatment based on the exposition of paper to hydrochloric acid vapors, avoiding any contact of the samples with water. This method induces a degradation similar to that observed on original documents. The samples were then irradiated with 3 kGy γ-rays at a 5258 Gy/h rate. The aforementioned analyses were performed on the samples just irradiated and after artificial ageing. All tests showed negative effects of gamma irradiation on paper. Non-irradiated paper preserves better its appearance and chemical properties both in the short term and after ageing, while the irradiated samples show appreciable color change and higher oxidation extent. Since the Istituto centrale restauro e conservazione patrimonio archivistico e librario is responsible for the choice of all restoration treatments that could be applied on library and archival materials under the protection of the Italian State ( http://www.icpal.beniculturali.it/allegati/DM-7-10-2008-Istituto.pdf ), it has been evaluated that the modifications induced by γ-rays irradiation are not acceptable as safe conservation treatment ( http://www.icpal.beniculturali.it/allegati/Nota_uso_raggi_gamma.pdf ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the degradation of cellulose is investigated with particular attention to the breaking of glucose chain units. Based on the analysis of the Raman spectra of experimental samples, public and private collections of books covering a period of seven centuries (XV–XXI), and literature data on cellulose, a successful kinetic model was proposed with the intention to correlate an estimated ageing time with the degradation process of cellulose. Raman spectra were collected by means of portable non‐destructive NIR μ‐Raman spectroscopy (B&W TEK i‐Raman Ex integrated system), a valuable characteristic for monitoring documentary heritage. The model was successfully applied to study the conservation conditions of books of a public library, evidencing how conservation conditions and use affect the ageing. The kinetic model promotes Raman spectroscopy as a very useful tool for conservation and restoration of ancient books and papers. Books and documents conserved at the "Biblioteca Universitaria di Cagliari" (BUCA) and belonging to a certified Private Collection, were analysed. Samples represent the temporal evolution of paper used during the investigated period, from 1400 until modern age. A comparison between Raman properties of ancient and valuable texts with modern books (XVIII–XX century) leaded to propose a kinetic model correlating the estimated ageing time with the degradation process of cellulose [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comparison between the results obtained at the application of a conservation treatment in cold high-frequency (HF) and afterglow plasma on historical papers dating in the 19th century. This article is focused on plasma biocide effects and on the impact of active species from the two types of plasma on the surface, highlighted by mechanical and physical–chemical analyses. The working gas was nitrogen and the treatment time was varied from 5 to 10 and 15 min. The result of physical–chemical analyses as SEM, pH determination, color, and tensile strength analyses, as well as microbiological investigations, converges to the conclusion that a treatment of 10 min achieves a complete decontamination, and the impact of active species is less intense in the afterglow plasma as compared to the direct discharge in cold HF plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Books, prints, drawings, watercolours, engravings, as well as all other works of art based on paper, are very susceptible to fungal development. The excreted substances and the fungal structures themselves are often coloured and interfere with the readability of the artefacts, diminishing their artistic and monetary value. In order to direct cleaning methods for specific fungal stains on paper, the colourants (molecules) responsible for those stains need to be assessed. However, the literature regarding fungal stains on paper and colourants produced by those fungi is very dispersed and scarce. Therefore, the main objectives of this work were surveying the most common stains on paper, the colourants present on those stains and the main fungi responsible for these colourants' production. To achieve these goals, two different but complementary literature reviews were made: one on paper conservation literature, where fungal stains observed on paper cultural heritage are reported; and another survey on the chemical/food/pharmaceutical fields where colourants' molecules produced by fungi, that can colonise paper cultural heritage, are identified and studied in greater detail. This paper presents the first literature review on this subject. The results show that the fungal genera more frequently related with fungal stains on paper cultural heritage are Aspergillus (29%) and Penicillium (13%). The most common colour of the stains is brown (54%), caused by foxing in most of the cases. However, in the paper conservation literature, no consistent correlation has been observed between stain colour on paper/specific fungal species and colourants/chemical compounds. On the literature review regarding the use of fungal colourants for industrial/commercial purposes, the referred colourants can be mostly classified chemically as carotenoids and polyketides. Biosynthetically, most colourants produced by fungi are polyketide-based and representative classes may include chemical structures such as azaphilones, anthraquinones, hydroxyanthraquinones, naphthoquinones and other structures. From a total of 80 different colourants, the ones mostly produced by paper colonising fungi were polyketide quinones, namely the hydroxyanthraquinoid (HAQN) colourants. This review showed that the most commonly studied colours are yellow and red, followed by orange. The production of these colourants is often associated with the genera Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. which are frequently found on stained paper. Overall, there is no doubt that colourants producing fungi are a serious problem to paper conservators, since there is a great variety of colourants produced by different species of fungi colonising paper. This review catalogues the fungal genera, species and excreted colourants mentioned in the literature as being responsible for staining paper cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhang Paper Workshop preserving the complete traditional papermaking process has been praised by experts as "the living fossil of Chinese papermaking". Due to the impact of industrial papermaking, however, the traditional papermaking has gradually lost its market advantage, and the Zhang Paper Workshop prevailing for a time is already on the decline. In order to retain this precious cultural heritage, for more than 10 years, the Gleaners has spared no effort to provide various efforts to papermakers and has found a way out for the manual papermaking, and results have been achieved. How to protect and inherit the traditional papermaking process under the premise of conserving the ecological environment and maintaining the integrity of the papermaking process, and establish the Zhang Paper Workshop as a place for spreading the concept of nature conservation and cultural heritage protection is an urgent problem to be solved. This requires the support of policies, the investment of funds and the upgrading of technology, as well as the promotion of understanding and the cultivation of feelings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is recognized as a powerful tool in many areas of research, among the investigative techniques used in the field of cultural heritage its application is still largely unknown. One of the reasons for this is that artifacts are complex heterogeneous systems whose analysis requires a multi-disciplinary approach. In addition, major drawbacks in the analysis of objects belonging to cultural heritage are their limited quantity, number of samples collected from the artifact, and their immovability. Consequently, a methodological approach where non-destructive, and possibly non-invasive techniques are used, is advisable. In recent years, thanks to the development of portable instruments, there has been an increasing use of the NMR methodology in the cultural heritage field. The use of portable NMR has allowed us to study several materials in the cultural heritage, such as frescoes, stones, wood, paper, and paintings, to address the challenges in monitoring dampness in historical masonries, to evaluate the penetration depth of a hydrophobic treatment into a porous material, and to study of the effect of cleaning procedures on artifacts. In this paper, recent studies illustrating the potential of NMR portable methodologies in this field of research are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of ionizing radiations for the preservation of cultural heritage (CH) has been recently demonstrated. Although these processes present many advantages with respect to the traditional methods, physico-chemical modifications induced by radiation (namely side effects) represent a concern for CH restorers, archivists and librarians. The present work is focused on the study of the effect of gamma irradiation parameters on the main features of paper. In particular, total absorbed doses up to 10 kGy (commonly suggested for preservation treatments) have been applied, with dose rates ranging from 3 to 10 kGy/h. Different experimental techniques (FTIR, EPR, viscosity and colorimetric analysis) have been used to study the side effects occurrence. The results indicate that the fine-tuning of irradiation condition allow to minimize the unwanted changes, induced by radiation in the treated paper samples. • Gamma radiation at absorbed doses common for preservation of cultural heritage (up to 10 kGy). • Side effects evaluation with several experimental techniques (FTIR, EPR, DP, colorimetric analysis). • Studies were performed at different dose rate values. • Irradiation parameters optimization to minimize the side effects. • Gamma rays represent a suitable and reliable tool for bio-deteriogens elimination purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive survey on the utilization of smart glasses in the context of cultural heritage. It offers a systematic exploration of prevailing trends, the latest state-of-the-art technologies, and notable projects within this emerging field. Through a meticulous examination of diverse works, this study endeavors to categorize and establish a taxonomy, thereby facilitating a structured analysis of the current landscape. By distilling key insights from this categorization, the paper aims to draw meaningful conclusions and provide valuable insights into the potential future trajectory of SGs technology in the realm of CH preservation and appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of accessibility to the information associated with European built heritage is a significant factor of exclusion that precludes many European citizens from appropriating a shared cultural heritage. Nowadays, three-dimensional scanning, modelling, and rendering technologies provide many highly effective tools to virtually access the available digital heritage of many European buildings in different historical periods through images, videos, texts, libraries, or specific databases of information associated with historical-scientific knowledge. However, several factors, such as the availability of human, economic, and technical resources, the heterogeneity of the standards and the lack of regulations, still hinder the possibility of translating data into usable content for a wider audience and the chances of creating collaboration between professional experts and scholars. Considering that, the paper focuses on defining the User Experience (UX) of INCEPTION's web platform, a European-funded multidisciplinary research project that has adopted new web technologies to develop open-source three-dimensional models of cultural heritage buildings for digital architectural conservation. The paper evaluates the importance of adopting a User-Centred Design (UCD) approach and involving stakeholders and end-users throughout the design development process, as they actively contributed to fostering more accessibility and inclusiveness for the final INCEPTION's web configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is part of a wider framework of index literature studies that have been conducted in the past few years. Some of these have had a focus on specific remote sensing (RS) technologies, while others have tackled specific threats to cultural heritage and landscapes. By considering both damages to heritage sites and technologies used for documentation and the monitoring of such occurrences, this paper unveils the current trends on a global scale in the study of the threats to heritage caused by both human-induced and natural hazards. Papers published by Europe-based researchers over the last 20 years using RS and Earth Observation (EO) techniques were surveyed alongside recommendations and programmatic documents issued by institutions in charge of heritage protection and management of several countries in Europe. Around 300 documents, including scientific articles (published from 2000 until 2022) and Grey literature (from 2008 and 2022), were analysed. The data collection and analysis were undertaken by a working group that was intentionally composed to bring together diverse perspectives and expertise, i.e., requirements of heritage professionals using RS and EO technologies, knowledge on technologies and their use in the field, and expertise in methodology implementation to support heritage management. The results highlight the type of hazards considered the most and the geographical distribution of the archaeological sites and monuments targeted by these studies; the countries the researchers are affiliated with; the types of RS and specifically satellite-based technologies used (and hence the type of data used); the tendencies of satellite data usage—visual interpretation, image processing, employment of machine learning, and AI; the technologies most applied by public institutions and practitioners; and many others. Recommendations and future trajectories are then outlined to efficiently reframe discrepancies between types of damage that have received the greatest attention in the literature and the most impactful ones in terms of the number of sites damaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The PICCH research project contributes to opening a dialogue between cultural heritage archives and users. Hence, the users are identified and their information needs, the search strategies they apply and the search challenges they experience are uncovered. Design/methodology/approach: A combination of questionnaires and interviews is used for collection of data. Questionnaire data were collected from users of three different audiovisual archives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two user groups: (1) scholars searching information for research projects and (2) archivists who perform their own scholarly work and search information on behalf of others. Findings: The questionnaire results show that the archive users mainly have an academic background. Hence, scholars and archivists constitute the target group for in-depth interviews. The interviews reveal that their information needs are multi-faceted and match the information need typology by Ingwersen. The scholars mainly apply collection-specific search strategies but have in common primarily doing keyword searching, which they typically plan in advance. The archivists do less planning owing to their knowledge of the collections. All interviewees demonstrate domain knowledge, archival intelligence and artefactual literacy in their use and mastering of the archives. The search challenges they experience can be characterised as search system complexity challenges, material challenges and metadata challenges. Originality/value: The paper provides a rare insight into the complexity of the search situation of cultural heritage archives, and the users' multi-facetted information needs and hence contributes to the dialogue between the archives and the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning x‐ray fluorescence (MA‐XRF), Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy (RIS) and Luminescence Imaging Spectroscopy (LIS) are scientific methods extensively used in the investigation of artworks in Cultural Heritage Science. Nevertheless, these three highly complementary imaging methods have never been implemented in a single instrument. In this paper, we present a scanning system that is the first to simultaneously combine MA‐XRF, RIS, and LIS techniques, generating spatially aligned hyperspectral datasets. The specifications of the instrument and of the collected datacubes are described, together with the processing pipeline developed for the coupled exploitation and interpretation. The operation of this instrument, combining XRF with RIS and LIS mapping in an extended range (400–2500 nm and 200–1000 nm, respectively), is exemplified on an anonymous test painting, studied previously. A focus on a restored area of this painting allows to illustrates the complementarity of the three aforementioned methods, for the visualization and characterization of pigments, varnish, and binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renovation of traditional architecture contributes to the inheritance of cultural heritage and promotes the development of social civilization. However, executing renovation plans that simultaneously align with the demands of residents, heritage conservation personnel, and architectural experts poses a significant challenge. In this paper, we introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent, Architectural GPT (ArchGPT), designed for comprehensively and accurately understanding needs and tackling architectural renovation tasks, accelerating and assisting the renovation process. To address users' requirements, ArchGPT utilizes the reasoning capabilities of large language models (LLMs) for task planning. Operating under the use of tools, task-specific models, and professional architectural guidelines, it resolves issues within the architectural domain through sensible planning, combination, and invocation. Ultimately, ArchGPT achieves satisfactory results in terms of response and overall satisfaction rates for customized tasks related to the conservation and restoration of traditional architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage and transitional justice both seem to be established terms with fixed connotations: the former of universally valued and appreciated cultural objects and the latter of processes related to replacing a non-democratic regime with a democratic one. The social, political and legal realities of actual transitions and cultural objects caught in their midst, however, are much more complex. One such particular case was the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and its immediate aftermath, which, despite being a distinct transition from one non-Western regime to another, encountered similar issues with regard to the preservation of cultural heritage objects linked to the former establishment. The purpose of this paper is thus to provide a better understanding of the non-traditional processes of transitional justice, with a special focus on the place of cultural heritage objects during a transition using the example of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts a comparative evaluation between Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) and photogrammetry for 3D reconstruction in the cultural heritage domain. Focusing on three case studies, of which the Terpsichore statue serves as a pilot case, the research assesses the quality, consistency, and efficiency of both methods. The results indicate that, under conditions of reduced input data or lower resolution, NeRF outperforms photogrammetry in preserving completeness and material description for the same set of input images (with known camera poses). The study recommends NeRF for scenarios requiring extensive area mapping with limited images, particularly in emergency situations. Despite NeRF's developmental stage compared to photogrammetry, the findings demonstrate higher potential for describing material characteristics and rendering homogeneous textures with enhanced visual fidelity and accuracy; however, NeRF seems more prone to noise effects. The paper advocates for the future integration of NeRF with photogrammetry to address respective limitations, offering more comprehensive representation for cultural heritage preservation tasks. Future developments include extending applications to planar surfaces and exploring NeRF in virtual and augmented reality, as well as studying NeRF evolution in line with emerging trends in semantic segmentation and in-the-wild scene reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of archaeological and historical textile fibres is important because it gives insight into resource management in former times. The arrival of new tools such as table-top scanning electron microscopes, have led to an increased interest in the topic. Unfortunately, there have been cases where a lack of documentation regarding instrument settings and selection criteria has led to questionable conclusions being drawn. Optical and scanning electron microscopy are powerful techniques, but they must be used correctly and with proper knowledge of their limitations. Furthermore, ancient fibre material is often difficult to examine due to issues such as sample degradation, mineralization and the scarcity of material, which means that conclusions based on a statistical analysis of a large number of fibres are essentially not possible. In a cultural heritage context, it is therefore essential to distinguish between characteristic features, by which we mean features that are often, but not always present in a particular species and distinguishing features, which are always present in a particular species and can therefore be used for identification even if only a small amount of sample material can be examined. We argue that the community will have to accept that, quite often, a secure identification is not possible and that absolute statements such as: "This textile is made of flax" will often have to be replaced by relative statements such as "The material is likely to be flax". In this paper, we address these issues as follows: first, we present a fibre identification diagram which can be used, with some limitations, to distinguish between flax, hemp, nettle, jute, hops, and cotton using optical and electron microscopy. We then move on to highlight some of the typical pitfalls of using optical and electron microscopy for fibre identification. Finally, we present measurement documentation tables for optical and electron microscopy images, which we suggest should always be included in publications. Material scarcity means that the amount of material used for investigations should be kept at an absolute minimum. It is thus crucial that results are published with proper documentation so that measurements do not need to be repeated (more material is used) in future studies. It is our hope that the measurement documentation tables will be adapted by the community and used in future publications in the field. The paper finishes with a demonstration example, presenting a fibre analysis of Viking Age textile fragments from the 10th Century with documentation tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper in question is focused on (1) valuing the expanded and transdisciplinary approach for the definition of cultural heritage, consolidated in Brazil from the 1970s/1980s onwards, (2) and its subsequent applicability in the field of education, under the influence of a liberating pedagogy proposed by educator Paulo Freire. An important consequence of this process involves the conception of a formal education system structured to promote collectivity, equality, diversity, and educational equity, as a solution towards ensuring both the learning and development of students. (3) The paper discusses the contribution of the expanded context of cultural heritage and its relationship with the field of education in the development of pedagogical strategies that promote educational equity, through the Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC), a document that parameterizes the curricula from early childhood education to high school in Brazil. From a bibliographic review, the paper presents the conjuncture on which the new look at cultural heritage has been consolidated, and the consequent redefinition of heritage education actions, and then, as a result, analyzes the approximation between this new approach and the formal educational strategies present in the BNCC, as well as the possibilities of intercommunication between both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problems surrounding the loss and illegal trafficking of Chinese cultural heritage have intensified in recent times due to an increasing demand for Chinese cultural heritage and huge profits to be gained in the art market. While the Chinese mainland government has taken active measures to protect cultural heritage and combat the illegal trafficking of cultural heritage, two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macao, have not only failed to take similar measures, but have also functioned as key transit locations for the illicit trafficking of Chinese cultural heritage over the past three decades. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the laws related to cultural heritage between the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. This paper argues that, while differences exist in these places, these differences should not be an obstacle to taking an integrated approach to cultural heritage in the region. There is a practical need for an integrated approach given the shared initiative of heritage protection and art market regulation. This paper argues that an integrated approach to cultural heritage is possible and should be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On civil society, there are different opinions from different authors regarding the years of the beginning of the use of the notion of civil society, but also regarding the definition of this same notion. The civil society as a rare mentioned concept until its re-discovery is becoming a reality, basic category and keyword phrase in political and social life. Also, the civil society is a contested and controversy concept, because different authors have different opinions for it, where some of them have the opinion that the civil society is a strong opponent of governmental politics, while some others doesn't have this meaning, but they say that the civil society is just one corrector of the government's policies. We can mark that the civil society includes various non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, humanitarian organizations, religious (fractions) organizations, organizations that deal with culture and cultural heritage, trade unions and other. The role of civil society is on the increase. The number of nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, trade unions, mass media and associations of different kinds grows changing the nature of state's functions. So does the influence the institutions exert on domestic and international policy. Nowadays the state merely controls some fields rather than governs them. Though some spheres, with the military one as the most obvious example, are still monopolized by state, others, for instance, economy, social sphere, ecology and even politics witness the expansion of civil society's power over them. The civil society's involvement in the above-mentioned areas has been quite well studied so far, yet there is still a lot to research. However, it is the cultural sphere that lacks deep study, not least due to being often considered as additional and not as important. Democratization advances development of civil society. Culture is another sphere in which civil society nowadays enjoys rightful influence. However, this issue has been understudied. The theme of civil society's participation in preserving cultural heritage, in particular, has not caused much interest among the scientific community. The present article will focus on describing the role civil society plays in this process and highlighting some specific features of its participation. Civil society accumulates information and filters it, forming requirements that represent people's concerns. It helps governments and international organizations stay informed about some vital cultural issues. The NGOs, which are the eyes and ears of the community, but also of the citizens at local level and they are in a more favorable position for realization and implementation of governmental and European policies, but also of respecting the human rights and freedoms. In this paper our aim is to give an overview of the role the civil society plays in the sphere of culture, considering its participation in preserving cultural heritage in particular. Also, the aim of this paper is to study the matter of civil society, its positive impacts, the relationship with politics. Within this paper, we will also present facts about the number of civil societies created in North Macedonia in the last 10 (ten) years, and we will focus on presenting how many of them deal with the field of cultural heritage. The paper is of particular importance since during its drafting all efforts were made to address its history, definitions and the beginnings of its appearance in North Macedonia, the last ten years of them through research using different methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the last decades, engaging with cultural landscapes has been a scientific, social, ethical, political, and economic imperative that calls for novel theoretical approaches, effective strategies and, above all, participatory action. Facing this multifarious challenge, academic disciplines have to redefine their traditional methods and aims, and demonstrate an openness towards new and risky paths of scientific pursuits. The present paper arose from interdisciplinary cooperation between the humanities and social sciences with the main objective to explore the potential of cultural landscapes as resources for social innovation in rural regions, addressing issues such as out-migration of original inhabitants, unemployment, and an overaging population. Based on an overview of landscape semantics and theoretical approaches, the paper first analyzes (cultural) landscape and social innovation as applied concepts. In a second step, both disciplinary angles mingle into a joint approach. Moving from methodologies to challenges, the authors discuss the Social Grid Model, which allows for an integrated analysis of social networks, institutions, and cognitive frames. They also delve into the Structured Democratic Dialogue as a tool for the revitalization of 'active' and 'inactive' cultural landscapes by reinforcing the role of local communities. Finally, the authors investigate how such novel ideas for the promotion of tangible and intangible heritage in rural habitats can be employed by example of two intervention regions in Greece (Koumasa) and the People's Republic of China (Honghe Hani Rice Terraces), and as part of an orchestrated collective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preserving and managing historical cultural heritage necessitates innovative approaches that harmonize technology with historical documentation. This paper presents a case study showcasing an adaptable online database tailored for the incorporation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) models and associated historical records. Notably, this approach offers distinctive integration with historical data, enabling users to contextualize heritage assets historically. The study delves into the database's capabilities, focusing on its role in cultural heritage structure management. It explores interactive exploration, semantic querying, and attachment features, highlighting BIM's potential in digital conservation, documentation, and archival efforts for historical structures. Additionally, the paper underscores the database's significance as a valuable tool for education, research, and collaboration among heritage professionals and the public. While addressing specific modeling challenges, it emphasizes the importance of enhancing software solutions to elevate historical asset management. Historical BIM emerges as a powerful resource bridging the gap between historical structures' conservation and modern technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review constitutes a comprehensive systematic review analyzing cultural routes, with a particular focus on the concept of the cultural route as a tourist–cultural product. Within this framework, the paper offers an overview of contemporary technological challenges, concerns, and limitations. It thoroughly explores cutting-edge technologies pertaining to the promotion of cultural heritage, both in general and in the specific context of realizing the concept of the cultural route, a tourist–cultural service enriched by the utilization of new media. Additionally, it extensively references the latest techniques and models for enhancing the user experience of digital cultural tourism products. Moreover, the paper showcases existing digital platforms and tools that encapsulate and emphasize the notion of cultural tourism. It assesses the respective methodologies, technologies, and techniques employed in each case, accompanied by illustrative instances of their applications. Finally, an empirical evaluation was conducted focusing on user needs and expectations during a cultural route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of digitalizing cultural heritage, HBIM is garnering increasing attention from heritage conservationists for its advantages. In conservation practices for cultural heritage, expressing regional characteristics and documenting in HBIM has become increasingly crucial, and these needs are inextricably linked to the need for models with a high level of detail (LOD). This paper presents a combination of Terrestrial Laser Scanning surveys, UAV photogrammetry, and handheld laser scanning to scan cultural heritage. The scan data obtained from multiple digital surveys serves as the foundation for modelling HBIM. For the regional characteristics, the HBIM model was built with detailed geometric shapes, configurations, materials, and colors of each element, as well as complex patterns and damage using the parametric models and mesh models. The information of the building and its components stored in the HBIM model. Consequently, obtained a highly detailed HBIM that not only captures the intricate details of the ideal state and real-world damage and degradation with minimal error but also serves as a repository for a multitude of information types. It has been concluded that a high LOD is essential to representing the regional geometric feature of a building and recording the damage of cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. federal government is unbalanced in its capacity to recognize, manage, and engage cultural heritage as part of its response to climate change. Legislation from the 1906 Antiquities Act to Executive Order (EO) 13990 signed in 2021 has set an overarching approach in which heritage is understood to be primarily tangible places and things that should be conserved, foremost through monument and park boundaries and significance designations. Such conservation, however, does not protect heritage from impacts of climate change and how to manage these components of heritage is nearly invisible in recent climate-focused publications of the two agencies assigned by legislation to serve as leads for cultural heritage in the U.S. government. Yet further, the long-standing tangible approach to heritage does not incorporate emerging understandings of its intangible components and the diverse connections of all forms of heritage to place, meaning, identity, and global change goals of sustainability and equity. In contrast, analysis of 27 federal agency climate adaptation plans prepared in response to 2021 EO 14008 shows that multiple agencies not assigned lead roles for heritage recognize a range of responsibilities that include heritage as part of climate adaptation, mitigation, equity, and coordination with Indigenous communities. This paper explores U.S. heritage legislative history, the definition it helped create for heritage, more recent understandings of heritage, and relationships of these to climate change and how these are represented in climate work and plans across U.S. federal agencies. On these bases, recommendations are provided for research and policy steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the application of hierarchical splines on the representation of models with extremely rough surfaces. The displacement between the smooth spline and the rough shape is stored as a set of images, where the displacement scalar is approximated using all three channels of the image (red, green, and blue). This type of surface representation allows easy and fast scientific analysis, interactive web display, and a significant reduction in the size of the extremely rough shapes. By using hierarchical splines over B-spline in combination with a compact displacement representation, we aim to achieve the same displacement quality of the whole surface, taking care that the model does not require much memory and is suitable for fast rendering. The focus of the study is on models from cultural heritage, without diminishing the importance of applying the approach to models from other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary Greek Cypriot popular music scape, we witness various and varying instances that feature cultural heritage elements: the frontman of a hard rock band performing in a vraka, the traditional male trousers; a trap song making references to lefkaritiko, a traditional lace; a metal band opening their album with an acapella tsiattisto, a traditional oral poetic style. This paper discusses these and other instances by placing them in the wider historical and political framework of the Republic of Cyprus. Distinguishing between tradition and heritage, as well as place and space, it suggests that the creative turn to the cultural past of Cyprus can be interpreted as a redefinition of the modernisation and decolonisation process of the Republic of Cyprus, which is accomplished through an inward look that emphasises the geographical and cultural particularities of the island. This inward look, it is argued, speaks back to the historical process of decolonisation that was defined by external references (attachment to the motherland(s), desire for Westernisation, and opposition to the 'Other'). The decolonisation process, itself the cause and effect of conflict and sentiments of ethno-nationalism, defined the identity of postcolonial Greek Cypriot subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of its geographic location, cultural diversity and historical trajectory, the Gaza strip is a key zone of scholarly enquiry and has a central role in the historical, social, political, economic, legislative and environmental discourses for the wider region. Existing historical knowledge of Gaza is dominated by combative narrative trends that emphasise the events of the 20th and 21st centuries and invoke archaeology extensively. In this context, cycles of material preservation and damage—often accompanying other forms of violence—have attracted the attention of academics and international media. Among the corollaries of this situation, is the destruction and marginalisation of vulnerable cultural heritage, particularly maritime cultural heritage, which is subjected to additional environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic pressures. As a means of countering the challenges on current field research in the region and to further assess the damage and threats faced by archaeological fabric, this paper combines data from coastal and archaeological research conducted in the Gaza Strip to create a benchmark for the study of its maritime archaeology. Additional information on the alteration of coastal landscape is deduced through the analysis of aerial photographs and satellite imagery. This study falls within the scope of the Maritime Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and Africa Project (MarEA). MarEA aims to comprehensively document and assess vulnerable maritime archaeology (underwater, nearshore, coastal) and produce baseline information that can enhance existing infrastructure on archaeological monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Digital Cultural Heritage dataset of synthetic vaults exported as point cloud, based on shape grammar discussion. • A vaults synthetic dataset creation method for automatically generating training data when real 3D objects are insufficient. • A Deep Learning system able to segment and distinguish types of architectural vaults according to standard classifications. Historical heritage is demanding robust pipelines for preserving, enhancing, and disseminating its prominent value. Semantic segmentation of 3D Point Clouds has gained increasing attention over the years, since it might assist in automati-cally recognizing historical architectural elements, thus facilitating large dataset management. Nonetheless, semantic segmentation is particularly challenging in Cultural Heritage (CH) domain, due to the shapes complexity and the limited repeatability of elements across different architectures, which strengthens the difficulty to define common patterns within the same class of elements. Besides, as Deep Neural Networks demand an appreciably amount of labelled data to be trained, the lack of available annotated heritage point clouds prevent the research in this direction. To tackle these issues, in this paper it is proposed a Deep Learning system able to recognize historical building elements by lever-aging synthetic point cloud. The generation of the 3D models, vaults, is based on a procedural modeling approach that follows the ideal shapes, according to the rules of descriptive geometry for the main types of vaults. The approach has been applied to a newly synthetic dataset which is publicly available. This dataset comprises 6 labelled points clouds, derived from a comprehensive on-tological taxonomy in order to describe an univocal and robust architectural hierarchy: barrel vaults, groined vaults, mirror vaults, barrel vaults with clois-ter heads and lunettes, barrel vaults with lunettes, sail vaults. The experiments yield high accuracy, demonstrating the effectiveness and suitability of the pro-posed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed study of the ancient caravan routes connecting Mongolia and Tibet has yet to be established. This paper describes the results of initial investigations on the identification of caravan traces through Mongolia from historical sources, fieldwork, and remote sensing reconnaissance. Recreating the Roerich Central Asian Expedition of 1927, we identify several artifacts and locations that support our belief that these routes contributed to the movement and exchange of people, ideas, and commerce across the desert landscapes of Inner Asia and helped shape cultural and religious identities that still exist to this day. Moreover, we argue the Mongolia to Tibet caravan routes were part of the greater network of ancient Silk Roads and should be considered as such: an important, intangible cultural heritage worthy of further exploration, preservation, and scholarly study. • Mongolia-Tibet caravan routes were pivotal in shaping Inner Asian identities but are often overlooked in Silk Roads research. • Evidence of these routes include tracks, cairns, temples, and forts, signifying their role as well-traveled trade paths. • These routes were part of the broader Silk Roads network and merit attention for their intangible cultural heritage value. • Inclusive Silk Roads heritage acknowledges diverse cultural contributions and fosters understanding and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review investigates the critical role of the School of Living Traditions (SLT) and its educational approaches in preserving the cultural heritage of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the Philippines. A set of pre-defined inclusion-exclusion criteria led to the selection of six pertinent papers, which were comprehensively analyzed and synthesized. The examination of these articles revealed recurring themes, allowing for the development of thematic constructs to address the study's objectives. The findings underscore the pivotal role of SLTs in safeguarding the profound traditions of Indigenous Peoples, thereby ensuring the transmission of cultural legacies to younger generations and empowering IP communities. Notably, the significance of SLTs lies in their ability to preserve the authentic essence of cultural practices, contributing to the empowerment of Indigenous communities. In the transmission of this indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices, pedagogical approaches within SLTs are centered on culture-based education and experiential learning. These approaches aim to facilitate meaningful learning experiences that enable individuals to derive personal significance from their acquired knowledge and apply it in real-world contexts. Consequently, this research sheds light on the instrumental role of SLTs in fostering cultural preservation and empowerment within Indigenous communities through tailored educational methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this introduction to the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy special issue "Advanced Raman procedures applied to natural/cultural heritage and forensic questions: Mobile set‐up, data treatment and associated techniques," the aim is to assess the state of the art in the field and to highlight potential new perspectives. The novel approaches employed in the published papers are described and can be grouped as such: application of multivariate statistical analysis to Raman spectra, use of mobile instrumentations directly in situ for both cultural and forensic contexts, tackling with optics and spectral range issues, and coupling with mobile instrumentations based on different analytical techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grand Canal is one of the most important hydraulic engineering projects in Chinese history. The city of Suzhou has abundant and concentrated cultural heritage sites in the southern section of the Grand Canal. However, due to natural hazards, anthropogenic damage, and lack of human management, the cultural heritage sites have suffered irreversible damage. Digital preservation of these sites will make it possible to maintain their aesthetic and cultural value. This paper takes cultural heritage sites along the Suzhou Canal as its research subject and establishes a cultural heritage dataset using geographical information system (GIS). The paper uses geocoding and spatial analysis methods based on GIS, including nearest neighbor analysis, kernel density analysis, center of gravity analysis, and standard deviation ellipse. The paper explores the distribution of 104 cultural heritage sites along the Suzhou Canal across six historical periods and discusses the influencing factors for evolution of the distribution. The results show that: (1) major constructions on the Grand Canal water system were started in the Pre-Sui period and completed in the Sui and Tang Dynasties; (2) the degree of clustering of the distribution has increased since the Sui and Tang Dynasties until Modern Times; (3) the high-density area has been centered around the ancient city since the Pre-Sui period, and has shown a migration trend towards the Shantang Canal since the Ming Dynasty; (4) the center of gravity first moved from northwest to southeast along the Canal and then moved northeast towards the ancient city; (5) the aggregation of the sites peaked in the Qing dynasty (1636 CE-1911 CE), and the elliptical direction of distribution has become stable since then; and (6) the types of the cultural heritage in the evolution process are affected by the joint effects of natural and human factors, namely, elevation, canals, population, water transportation, and intangible cultural heritage, among which the canal characteristics play the decisive role. This study reveals the internal evolution mechanisms of the cultural heritage in the Suzhou Canal area and presents a scientific basis for the protection and utilization of the cultural heritage in other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth observation (EO) techniques have significantly evolved over time, covering a wide range of applications in different domains. The scope of this study is to review the research conducted on EO in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa (EMMENA) region and to identify the main knowledge gaps. We searched through the Web of Science database for papers published between 2018 and 2022 for EO studies in the EMMENA. We categorized the papers in the following thematic areas: atmosphere, water, agriculture, land, disaster risk reduction (DRR), cultural heritage, energy, marine safety and security (MSS), and big Earth data (BED); 6647 papers were found with the highest number of publications in the thematic areas of BED (27%) and land (22%). Most of the EMMENA countries are surrounded by sea, yet there was a very small number of studies on MSS (0.9% of total number of papers). This study detected a gap in fundamental research in the BED thematic area. Other future needs identified by this study are the limited availability of very high-resolution and near-real-time remote sensing data, the lack of harmonized methodologies and the need for further development of models, algorithms, early warning systems, and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the possibilities that it opens for a variety of fields and practices, gamification has increasingly garnered significant attention. This has put it at the forefront of many significant debates around its applicability and implications. In the case of its application to cultural heritage, although there is much trailblazing to do, the body of work has been growing and the field is gaining its maturity. As such, this paper aims to take stock of the directions the field has been moving towards—to provide orientation for future work and projects that are yet to be developed. To do this, the paper aims to map out the publications in the field of gamified cultural heritage, by conducting a broader and systematic literature review. The study has found that, with regards to who the main actors with publications in the field are, a prominence of European institutions and networks, namely from Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom, can be observed. Regarding what heritage is being gamified and for what purpose, the study found a prominence of focus on historical, architectural and archeological heritage values and a very significant focus on gamification being used for motivation/engagement and for creativity enhancement. When looking at the gamification design dimensions that are given prevalence, intrinsic motivation seems to be prioritized, and, with regards to the observed target publics, tourists and visitors and seem to prevail in gamified heritage projects, with children as a specific group coming in second. Regarding technologies and tools being used, Mobile Applications, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are particularly prevalent. Regarding mentioned future orientations, the study found that a vast majority of papers are self-contained, both in scope of work and discussion, with most of those that do mention future directions indicating continuation and/or expansion of their specific project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PVA based chemical hydrogels are characterized and proposed for cleaning paper. • Characterization of modern and ancient paper before and after the cleaning was performed. • The cleaning abilities of the gels have been tested on ancient and modern paper. • Hydrogels cleaning ability depends more than their structure than on paper type. Wet cleaning of paper artworks by using hydrogels is a recently proposed process in the cultural heritage field. In this contest, on one side, research has focused on more effective and tuned cleaning hydrogels; on the other, the cleaning performances of the proposed hydrogels have been studied on ancient paper and very little on modern paper. This lack of information is not negligible, since the two kinds of paper differ strongly in composition. The difference, in turn could affect the performance of cleaning gels. In this article, new chemical hydrogels were synthetized using an oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bearing an aldehyde group at each chain end, as cross-linking agent, i.e. telechelic PVA. PVA hydrogels have been characterized as candidates for paper cleaning applications. The possibility of tuning the mechanical and retentive properties, simply by changing the ratio of two polymer concentrations, their stability and transparency, indeed, render them, potentially suitable in cultural heritage field. The cleaning capability of two hydrogels, with different PVA/telechelic PVA ratios, has been assessed both on ancient paper, than a modern one and the results have been compared. The efficacy of these hydrogels has been demonstrated characterizing the samples before and after the cleaning process by means of a multidisciplinary approach involving spectroscopic and chromatographic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of modern society, people's demand for the network is also rising. Because of its powerful function, wide coverage, and other advantages, people in modern society have higher and higher utilization rate of the network, and many things are realized with the help of the network. At the same time, some new business based on the network is emerging. The rapid development of network technology makes many people rush for it. This paper mainly studies how to improve the cache technology, reasonable, and effective allocation of resources, so that people can get a better experience. This paper studies the suitability evaluation of tourism development of regional cultural heritage resources by using Delphi method and AHP analytic hierarchy process and infiltrates the evaluation items into various levels, such as natural environment conditions, social and economic conditions, resource combination levels, and so on. Through the analysis and comparison of different geographic information, we can clearly understand whether the region is suitable for tourism and the spatial differences of some regions. To a certain extent, it lays the foundation for the future development of cultural heritage tourist attractions, and the spatial analysis based on GIS, which is consistent with the tourism suitability evaluation index in the field of regional cultural heritage. When comparing the data with different measurement levels, we can directly determine the characteristics of the spatial differences of different cultural heritage resources, which depends on the value of resources and location conditions of a specific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cultural promotion and dissemination are nowadays performed through the digitization of heritage sites and museums, a necessary requirement to meet the new needs of the public. Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Virtual Reality (VR) have the potential to improve the experience quality and educational effect of these sites by stimulating users' senses in a more natural and vivid way. In this respect, head-mounted display (HMD) devices allow visitors to enhance the experience of cultural sites by digitizing information and integrating additional virtual cues about cultural artifacts, resulting in a more immersive experience that engages the visitor both physically and emotionally. This study contributes to the development and incorporation of AR, MR, and VR applications in the cultural heritage domain by providing an overview of relevant studies utilizing fully immersive systems, such as headsets and CAVE systems, emphasizing the advantages that they bring when compared to handheld devices. We propose a framework study to identify the key features of headset-based Extended Reality (XR) technologies used in the cultural heritage domain that boost immersion, sense of presence, and agency. Furthermore, we highlight core characteristics that favor the adoption of these systems over more traditional solutions (e.g., handheld devices), as well as unsolved issues that must be addressed to improve the guests' experience and the appreciation of the cultural heritage. An extensive search of Google Scholar, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Wiley Online Library databases was conducted, including papers published from January 2018 to September 2022. To improve review reporting, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. Sixty-five papers met the inclusion criteria and were classified depending on the study's purpose: education, entertainment, edutainment, touristic guidance systems, accessibility, visitor profiling, and management. Immersive cultural heritage systems allow visitors to feel completely immersed and present in the virtual environment, providing a stimulating and educational cultural experience that can improve the quality and learning purposes of cultural visits. Nonetheless, the analyzed studies revealed some limitations that must be faced to give a further impulse to the adoption of these technologies in the cultural heritage domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development procedure and significance of a web mapping application designed for disseminating, exploring, and analyzing Kaupert's 19th-century Maps of Attica, Greece. The application facilitates historical and geographical study by providing access to high-resolution map images and overlaying multiple vector layers of geospatial data. The paper outlines the methods used to create the application, which includes the process of interpreting, digitizing, and organizing the original mapped data, georeferencing the historical cartographic sheets, and developing the web-based mapping application. The results of this work include a comprehensive and interactive digital reference tool for studying the ancient topography of Attica, as well as a framework for future research. Overall, this work highlights the potential of digital technologies to transform the way we approach and study historical maps and other cultural artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the decisive role played by knowledge ontologies and their linked data in knowledge organization, an effective initiative involving both is necessary for research on stele inscriptions. The absence of this will not only hinder the acquisition of stele inscription knowledge but also affect the further exploration of its value. In response to the research demand of scholars in the field of stele inscriptions, a knowledge organization initiative designed for the digital resources of ancient Chinese stele inscriptions is developed in this paper. The adoption of a bottom-up method makes it possible to abstract the knowledge ontology model from the existing mature metadata of stele inscriptions, improving the quality of the ontology itself as well as guaranteeing its compatibility with the existing digital resources of stele inscriptions. On this basis, this paper deals with the process and key steps involved in the knowledge organization of stele inscriptions and the construction of linked data. The knowledge organization initiative discussed in this paper will serve as dedicated support for digital academic research in the field of stele inscriptions and will provide a valuable reference for the design of a knowledge organization initiative in the field of cultural heritage in China and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks contemporary cultural heritage conservation principles by reviewing its history, starting from the 18th century, in practices, international documents, and the literature on this topic. It intends to lay a foundation to avoid damaging cultural heritages by misconducting conservation. This study first found that the conservation objects of cultural heritage include particularly important ones and general ones that are closely related to daily life, and they involve tangible and intangible aspects. Second, cultural heritage conservation involves document-based restoration when necessary as well as identifying the value of them to play their role nowadays. Third, integrating cultural heritage conservation within the context of sustainable development goals is essential for successfully balancing the relationship between the built and natural environments. Fourth, mobilising the public to participate in cultural heritage conservation enables the implementation of conservation to meet the expectations of the public, and may have a positive influence on people's consciousness. Fifth, as a treasure, cultural heritage conservation is a global responsibility that involves conjoint cooperation. Sixth, more cultural heritage conservation interdisciplinary methods have been developed and could be applied, but this should be limited in order to not destruct their authenticity and integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of data acquisition in archaeological practice has consistently held great importance. Over the past few decades, the growing prevalence of digitization in acquiring data has significantly transformed the landscape of archaeological fieldwork, influencing both methodology and interpretation. The integration of digital photogrammetry and laser scanning technologies in archaeology has transformed data acquisition, enabling efficient and precise documentation. However, this digital shift raises concerns about information overload, the potential loss of on-site insights, and the need for suitable data management methods. Over the past 15 years, digital tools like photogrammetry, laser scanning, and unmanned aerial vehicles have advanced cultural heritage documentation. These methods offer detailed 3D models of archaeological sites, artifacts, and monuments, with evolving accessibility and user friendliness. This paper delves into methods for documenting cultural heritage, examining the implications of various approaches on the archaeologist's workflow and on the field as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores cultural heritage pedagogical practices in architectural curricula. A comprehensive mixed-method research approach was implemented on a national scale to examine the curricula of architecture departments in all Jordanian universities. This investigation encompassed qualitative and quantitative analyses, including the development of Standard and Compulsory Affinity Index ratios to assess the level of heritage integration in these curricula. To further enhance findings from both analyses, purposive criterion sampling was used for semi-structured interviews with 20 architectural professors, alongside a participatory workshop involving 25 academics, heritage professionals, and organisations. The research contributes to the limited existing literature on cultural heritage education in architectural curricula. It also introduces a model for assessing cultural heritage education at the BSc level, uncovering disparities in its presence within architectural curricula. The role of the Accreditation & Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions in promoting heritage education is found to be limited, and inconsistencies in terminology and approaches across institutions are observed. While the primary focus is on the Jordanian context, this research offers practical recommendations that can be applied more broadly to architectural education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage tourism is a multidimensional tourist activity because, apart from the advantages associated with practicing tourist activity, it is particularly associated with cognitive motives when it comes to practicing it, and even with discovering cultural identity. Such an activity has a specific value in relation to the adopted perspective. Researchers often attempt to determine the value that a tourism-related product has for the customer (tourist). Sometimes, it is defined as the value captured by the entity providing the tourism product. However, it is extremely rare for research to assess the social value of tourism. The aim of this work is to identify issues that can be used in measuring the social value resulting from cultural heritage made available in the form of a tourist product. The authors review the literature on cultural heritage and cultural identity, and then use a particular methodology to develop a tool for assessing social value. To develop their own research tool, the authors use the results of research conducted in 2021/2022 among managers of 70 cultural heritage tourism facilities in Europe. As a result, a tool was created that includes six statements that can contribute to the assessment of the social value resulting from the provision of material cultural heritage in the form of a tourist product. The reliability of the tool was estimated at 0.69 and its standardized rating at 0.71. The social value of cultural heritage, in the opinion of experts, achieved an average rating of 4.06 (on a scale from 1 to 5), with the 6-item version of the tool attaining an average rating of 4.10. Taking into account the usefulness of the proposed solutions, remember that the paper reflects only the European vision, which is one of many possible views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism development allows the enhancement of the heritage of local cultural resources, expressing the territorial potential. The Systematic Literature Review shown in this paper highlight the relationship between "cultural heritage" and "tourism". The current state of the art and the specific relationships between the contents of the selected publications demonstrate that tourism is an indispensable tool in local communication and cultural promotion policies and strategies. The qualitative results allow the identification of cultural tourism geographies that coincide with four thematic clusters not evident in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining and quarrying were important economic activities in Europe in past centuries, but during the 20th century, raw materials became vital to societal development. Mining has been subject to fluctuations related to wars, economic crises, and advances in environmental rights. A series of events led some European countries, such as Spain, to assume a leading position in the market for certain raw materials, such as tungsten. However, most of Europe's mines have been abandoned. This paper considers several postindustrial heritage sites that can used to illustrate how metal and stone were extracted in past centuries. Such sites have become a tourist attraction in the context of heritage in some countries. This area in western Spain, which contains ancestral quarries that helped build the architectural heritage of UNESCO World Heritage Cities and artisanal mines that contributed to building the economy of an extremely poor population, has a story to tell. All these mines and quarries can be used to explain the cultural heritage of the area as part of a postindustrial heritage landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage structures reflect the lifestyles and creative aspects of our ancestors. Indeed, they contain the cultural roots of today's societies and connect the past to the present. There is no doubt that architectural and structural evaluation plays important role in the conservation of these structures for the future. This paper focuses on an architectural evaluation and current usage of the specific timber vernacular structure, the Turkish Storage Building 'Serender', which has not yet been protected in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The architectural assessment includes morphological analysis, material, and construction techniques of the timber storage buildings. We believe that this assessment will contribute to the preservation of the authenticity and integrity of these structures, and also will contribute to sustaining the skills of craftworker and their traditional and cultural knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D digitization methods have become essential tools in cultural heritage practice. Methods like laser scanning and photogrammetry are being widely applied for the conservation of priceless objects and for enabling audience engagement with history. Such data have value as a new wave of multisensory museum practice ripples through the sector and could provide a perfect use for the enormous corpus of 3D data in cultural heritage. This paper documents such an application, where laser scanning has been used in conjunction with 3D printing to re-present the Chichester Roman tablet, an object of key importance in early Romano-British history, to new audiences. It details the process used to digitize the tablet and recreate different versions of its missing text and its state of preservation. It describes how such data can play a role beyond just documentation. Discussed is how such approaches enrich families' engagement in cultural heritage and how such material can used as didactic material in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Interpenetrating network (IPN) based levan-polyacrylamide hydrogels were applied in the field of conservation of cultural heritage for the first time. • Hydrogels produced with microbially, and enzymatically produced levan polymers performed equally well suggesting negligible effect of the levan synthesis route. • Swelling of the hydrogels was increased almost 3-fold with the addition of levan into the polymer network. • Levan-Polyacrylamide hydrogels demonstrate higher swelling capacity as the medium gets more alkaline. • Solvent loaded hydrogels were applied onto two bindings of 19th century printed book with the aim of removing adhesive tapes that would cause further damage in the future. In this study, an IPN based enzymatic levan-polyacrylamide hydrogel (EL-PA) was developed and characterized for its structural, morphological, rheological properties and swelling kinetics to underline hydrogel properties and its potential use in paper conservation. The addition of levan also led to changes in the viscoelastic behavior of the hydrogels, with the complex viscosity of EL-PA samples showing pronounced dependence on shear rate. The swelling and the overall surface area of the hydrogels were increased with the addition of levan into the polymer network. Source associated structural differences were found to be negligible such that both microbially produced linear and enzymatically produced branched forms of levan performed equally well. Solvent loaded hydrogels were then applied on an artifact, a 19th century book of Namık Kemal, and investigated using FTIR, SEM, XRD and colorimetric analysis. Old adhesive layers were successfully removed, and hydrogels showed good compatibility and ease of application. This study has shown that levan has improved hydrogel properties and levan based systems bear high potential in conservation science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This review gives panorama of heritage digitization in China and categorizes digital twin techniques into six levels to address three specific tasks. • Terrestrial LiDAR and VR are the most prevalent digital twin technologies for decades, while sensor-based monitoring is recently prompted by policy incentives and legislations. • Most digital twin projects are dominated by public sectors, i.e., cultural management authorities, universities, and research institutes. • Efficient data utilization and the seamless integration of diverse data sources within cross-disciplinary collaborations are still challenging. Recent decades have witnessed digital twin as a toolkit to collect, process, and utilize graphical, spatial and other attribute data of cultural heritage. It has been widely applied on cultural world heritage sites in China, which have significant differences in ages, types, materials, and history of maintenance and conservation. Although specific cases are reported previously, a comprehensive overview is still lacking. This paper explores the association between digital twin and heritage conservation, classifying digital twin techniques into six levels to tackle three tasks: data acquisition, visualization and application. It systematically reviews Chinese heritage digitization practices, considering variations in complexity and purposes, and demonstrates typological and chronological characteristics as well as the composition of stakeholders. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]