Cultural Heritage Assets Research Articles

Understanding Place and People through Cultural Mapping Approach: Case study at Bachok, Kelantan

Cultural mapping is a vital approach for understanding place and community. This approach also involves systematically identifying the tangible and intangible cultural heritage assets. However, lack of awareness and engagement between local people and related parties causing this heritage to be increasingly forgotten. Younger generations are increasingly moving to urban areas in search of better opportunities, leading to a loss of traditional knowledge and skills in rural communities. Bachok district is rich in cultural heritage, historical landmarks, traditional crafts, local folklore and communal rituals. The preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage in Bachok requires concerted efforts involving the community, government, and NGOs. Initiatives to document, promote, and integrate these cultural elements into education and tourism can help sustain Kelantan’s unique cultural identity amidst modern challenges. Developing cultural mapping through qualitative approaches provides a comprehensive understanding of cultural heritage and community dynamics. This might involve ethnographic methods such as interviews and participant observation. These qualitative data provide a nuanced understanding of the intangible cultural heritage, such as beliefs, customs, and artistic expressions, enriching the cultural map with context and meaning. As the result, a cultural mapping map are produce as a guide to the public and tourist. through this cultural mapping can can improve the economy of the local community and preserve their cultural and heritage.

사용자 집중도 향상을 위한 문화유적 놀이교구 개발

Through a parish development support project called “Unusual Research Laboratory”, a teaching tool for culture and arts education related to local cultural heritage linked to the social content of elementary school was developed in the form of a board game. It aims to improve the concentration of cultural heritage assets by utilizing board game play teaching tools from a geographical and historical perspective for elementary school students living in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the experimental group and interviews of expert groups were conducted for the effectiveness of the thesis. As a result, it was verified that education on cultural heritage, which can be less concentrated, has increased the time, efficiency, and interest of concentration through the board game play teaching tool. Through this study, it is hoped that follow-up researchers and related teaching tool industries will develop and study play teaching tools from various perspectives to improve user concentration.

Seismic vulnerability assessment of historical minarets in Cairo

IntroductionMasonry minarets in Old Cairo are highly susceptible to earthquake damage, particularly those not designed or updated to withstand seismic loads. Therefore, regular monitoring is necessary to ensure their safety and detect any deterioration or reduction in seismic performance. The direct loss of a minaret can lead to the collapse or severe damage to the structure itself. The cascading impacts of partial or complete minaret failure can have significant consequences for the immediate vicinity and the broader community. By studying the effects of earthquakes on minarets and developing mitigation strategies, countries can take proactive measures to protect these structures and ensure the safety of people.ObjectiveThis study focuses on a specific type of Islamic architecture: the historic minarets in Cairo. The research aims to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of eight cultural heritage minarets in Cairo, identifying the parameters influencing their seismic behaviour and susceptibility to earthquake damage.MethodsThe research utilizes empirical seismic vulnerability methods and ambient vibration measurements on eight minarets. An empirical approach compatible with the nature and style of the minarets is employed to evaluate their vulnerability using index values and curves. The method's validity is assessed, and areas of conformity and limitations are identified. Ambient vibration tests (AVTs) are also conducted using a temporary seismic network installed at various heights inside each minaret to determine their dynamic characteristics.ResultsThe seismic vulnerability Index (I_V) is calculated for the selected minarets based on the state of each vulnerability parameter. The contribution of each parameter to the final I_V values of the minarets are presented. Vulnerability curves are developed for each minaret, interpreting the conventional vulnerability indexes in terms of mean damage grades for seismic events with varying intensity on the EMS-98 scale. These mean damage grades can also indicate the expected damage levels of structural and non-structural minaret elements for events with different seismic intensity levels. AVTs are conducted at various heights on the selected minarets, and the dynamic characteristics are extracted from the recorded data. Variations in these characteristics are considered significant for structural health monitoring analysis. The peak-picking method is employed to directly extract each minaret's natural frequencies and mode shapes, as changes in dynamic characteristics are relevant to health monitoring analyses.ConclusionsThe recent study examined the seismic vulnerability assessment of eight masonry minarets in the historic Old Cairo district. The assessment revealed vulnerability index values ranging from 10.3 to 26.1, indicating a concerning susceptibility to seismic events among these structures. Vulnerability curves were constructed for each minaret, visually representing potential damage scenarios across different levels of the EMS-98 intensity scale. These outcomes are significant as they facilitate prioritizing interventions to safeguard the most vulnerable minarets. Additionally, a novel empirical period equation was introduced to estimate the fundamental period of minarets in Old Cairo based on their heights. The equation was validated against field measurements and data from the literature. The study is limited by its focus on a specific category of minarets, specifically the historical masonry minarets in Old Cairo. Furthermore, limitations arise from the need for detailed finite element models to capture these minarets' dynamic responses accurately. Therefore, ongoing research involves the development of detailed finite element models and calibrating fundamental periods for the selected minarets. The anticipated results hold the potential to enhance our understanding of the structural dynamics of historical minarets, ultimately guiding the formulation of tailored seismic retrofitting and preservation strategies. These strategies, aimed at preserving these cherished cultural heritage assets, represent our collective commitment to ensure the endurance of these timeless landmarks for future generations.

A Web-Based Platform for 3D Visualization of Multimodal Imaging Data in Cultural Heritage Asset Documentation

Complex demands in the field of cultural heritage preservation often require a multidisciplinary approach and substantial volumes of multimodal data integration and management. The conventional approach to tackling these issues revolves around using different H-BIM (historical building information model) solutions. This paper presents a prototype for a web platform that moves closer to the idea of a digital twin for physical cultural assets. Based on a light development framework, it is designed for online open access and features a versatile custom 3D viewer for intuitive interaction with the presented data. The concept requires a workflow similar to the video-game industry’s 3D asset optimization to generate highly detailed 3D models and to facilitate the display of multilayered imaging data. The technological stack features a minimal MVC architecture framework and front-end stylesheets. It is designed to be independent of specific databases, enhancing portability for potential future open-source releases. Moreover, the platform employs WebGL libraries to create a dynamic 3D environment interaction. The capabilities of the web platform were tested in a case study regarding the documentation of an important 17th-century church in Romania. Further developments and current limitations of the platform are also discussed.

Frameworks for climate risk management (CRM) in cultural heritage: a systematic review of the state of the art

PurposeA comprehensive understanding of the determining factors and implications of the frameworks for appreciating the relationships between climate risks and cultural heritage remains deficient. To address the gap, the review analysed literature on the management of climate risk in cultural heritage. The review examines the strengths and weaknesses of climate risk management (CRM) frameworks and attendant implications for the conservation of cultural heritage.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a two-phased systematic review procedure. In the first phase, the authors reviewed related publications published between 2017 and 2021 in Scopus and Google Scholar. Key reports published by organisations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) were identified and included in Phase Two to further understand approaches to CRM in cultural heritage.FindingsResults established the changes in trend and interactions between factors influencing the adoption of CRM frameworks, including methods and tools for CRM. There is also increasing interest in adopting quantitative and qualitative methods using highly technical equipment and software to assess climate risks to cultural heritage assets. However, climate risk information is largely collected at the national and regional levels rather than at the cultural heritage asset.Practical implicationsThe review establishes increasing implementation of CRM frameworks across national boundaries at place level using high-level technical skills and knowledge, which are rare amongst local organisations and professionals involved in cultural heritage management.Originality/valueThe review established the need for multi-sectoral, bottom-up and place-based approaches to improve the identification of climate risks and decision-making processes for climate change adaptation.

Monument Tracker: Deep Learning Approach for Indian Heritage

Abstract: Monuments are physical structures built to commemorate a person or event. Their importance to the region necessitates their documentation and upkeep. Due to the many variations in how various monuments are built, monument recognition is a challenging task in the field of picture classification. The various angles of the building are critical in identifying the monuments in photographs. As more international landmarks and monuments are covered, there is a greater need to connect a structure's physical presence to its digital presence. As a result, the monument's automated recognition is enabled. Monuments represent the culturally rich legacy of people of all ethnicities, castes, and faiths. It reflects tremendous achievements in art and architecture, and it also serves as the backbone of the surrounding region's socioeconomic progress through tourism. As an important historical and cultural heritage asset, the monument must be digitally recognized and archived. The monument photographs should be identified and described to aid in the preservation of people's cultures from various locations. The goal of this project is to present a method for classifying different monuments based on the characteristics of the monument photographs. Machine Learning and Deep Learning are advancing, speeding up advances in image recognition and allowing computer vision to reach new heights. The results with Baseline Model had an overall accuracy of 73.2%. After using Transfer Learning, we achieved an overall accuracy of 94.5% with VGG16 Architecture, Inception with an accuracy of 91.2% and Resnet50 with an accuracy of 85.5%.

The Infilling and Reclamation of Inland Waterways in Tokyo, 1945–1962

As part of their reconstruction of the city following Allied bombing during World War II, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government infilled medium to small inland waterways (namely, canals and moats constructed during the 17th century) and utilised the resultant terrestrial strips for new purposes. Wartime damage reconstruction was conducted as part of the official city planning of Tokyo. During the 1940s, various waterways in Tokyo were infilled primarily with debris resulting from wartime bombing and, thereby, these landfills presented a model for the disposal of debris from disasters. In Japan, 115 municipalities were designated as war-damaged cities by the government, whose reconstruction was conducted as official city planning. The article examines how common the disposal of wartime debris via the in-filling of inland waterways was. The in-filling of Tokyo’s inland waterways caused the loss of watery spaces that are nowadays regarded as cultural heritage assets with recreational potential. Studies have either criticised the infilling of waterways or else underscored opposition to the activity. How then was it possible for the authorities to decide on infilling and land reclamation as city planning? Was there any social support for this project? Relatedly, should the decision by the metropolitan government to infill inland waterways be regarded as inappropriate? This article considers these questions and evaluates the modification of such areas after WWII.

Effects of Solvents Used for Conservation/Restoration Treatments on Damaged Linden Panels of Cultural Heritage Assets

Heritage objects with wooden supports can degrade in inappropriate storage conditions or when microclimate factors contribute to the development of biological attacks. Another issue regarding the deterioration of artifacts is the lack of a full understanding of material properties and their behavior during restoration treatments. In this paper, we note the strengthening treatments of artifacts with severely damaged wood and the various treatments against bio-pests. The influence of solvent on dimensional changes was observed for water, acetone, and white spirit. Acetone was found to cause the greatest swelling and deformation of the treated panels. The present work highlights the importance of choosing not only the correct types of solvents for the solubilization of synthetic resins, as well as those used in conservation-restoration treatments, but also the effects they have on polychrome wood panels that have been degraded by xylophagous insects.

Influence of Cultural Landscapes on Visitors’ Behavior in the Context of COVID-19 Social Distancing Policies: A Case Study of Open Public Spaces Inside Gyeongbok Palace

Background and objective: Many studies have highlighted the psychological benefits of natural outdoor environments and cultural heritage sites for visitors. However, few studies have investigated the combined impact of natural outdoor settings and cultural heritage sites considering contextual factors such as gender, age, time of day, and period on visiting patterns. This study aims to identify the impact of cultural landscapes on visiting patterns, focusing on the open public spaces of Gyeongbok Palace, Seoul.Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to examine the association between cultural landscape elements and visiting patterns. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were employed to assess how the cultural landscape affected visiting patterns from 2019 to 2021, considering the impact of COVID-19 social distancing policies. An on-site visit observation and analysis of previous case studies were conducted to further investigate the impacts of cultural landscape elements on visitors' behavior patterns.Results: The findings indicated that the cultural landscape played a role in shaping visitors' behaviors and revealed significant variations in visitation patterns based on visitors' age and the day of the week. A strong positive correlation was observed between teenagers and weekday visits, especially in 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place and students were taking online classes. Furthermore, the results showed a noticeable increase in correlation scores in 2021 compared with those in 2019, supporting the notion of heritage sites serving as healing and relaxing places for people to enjoy as they age.Conclusion: The study findings provide an empirical basis for studying cultural heritage assets and other natural outdoor environments as a type of cultural landscape to enhance visitor satisfaction and provide positive benefits to visitors. It highlights the importance of preserving and promoting cultural landscapes as integrated systems of natural and cultural resources, which can be applied to heritage policies and management strategies.

Heritage impact assessment of Adi Ganga Kalighat, Kolkata, India, towards SDG 11.4 and 8.9 for urban heritage

This study addresses the complex issue of preserving the historic fabric and cultural assets while promoting sustainable development in urban areas, focusing on the Adi Ganga River in Kolkata, India. The problem arises due to the encroachment and poor maintenance of historical sites. The research questions aim to assess the protection of Adi Ganga River's historic fabric and enhance heritage preservation in line with UN SDGs 11.4 and 8.9, emphasizing cultural conservation and sustainable tourism supporting regional heritage and livelihoods. The study utilizes Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) to evaluate the protection of Adi Ganga River’s historic fabric and enhance heritage preservation in line with sustainable development goals. It provides an impact assessment matrix for mitigating the adverse impact of development projects on cultural heritage sites and reveals 25 critical development indicators. HIA is an effective tool for preserving cultural heritage assets and achieving sustainable development goals. Incorporating HIA into the Environmental Impact Assessment structure can create an organized and transparent process for assessing the ecological implications of development projects on cultural heritage sites. The findings emphasize the significance of sustainable HIA for preserving tangible/intangible heritage, promoting tourism and employment, and balancing sustainability and culture in sustainable development. This research holds significance as it emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage in fostering sustainable development and aligning with UN SDGs. Policymakers should consider incorporating sustainable HIA in decision-making to balance sustainability and culture.

Exploiting satellite SAR for archaeological prospection and heritage site protection

ABSTRACT Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing has a long history of use and reached a good level of maturity in archaeological and cultural heritage applications, yet further advances are viable through the exploitation of novel sensor data and imaging modes, big data and high-performance computing, advanced and automated analysis methods. This paper showcases the main research avenues in this field, with a focus on archaeological prospection and heritage site protection. Six demonstration use-cases with a wealth of heritage asset types (e.g. excavated and still buried archaeological features, standing monuments, natural reserves, burial mounds, paleo-channels) and respective scientific research objectives are presented: the Ostia-Portus area and the wider Province of Rome (Italy), the city of Wuhan and the Jiuzhaigou National Park (China), and the Siberian “Valley of the Kings” (Russia). Input data encompass both archive and newly tasked medium to very high-resolution imagery acquired over the last decade from satellite (e.g. Copernicus Sentinels and ESA Third Party Missions) and aerial (e.g. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAV) platforms, as well as field-based evidence and ground truth, auxiliary topographic data, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and monitoring data from geodetic campaigns and networks. The novel results achieved for the use-cases contribute to the discussion on the advantages and limitations of optical and SAR-based archaeological and heritage applications aimed to detect buried and sub-surface archaeological assets across rural and semi-vegetated landscapes, identify threats to cultural heritage assets due to ground instability and urban development in large metropolises, and monitor post-disaster impacts in natural reserves.

Climate change associated hazards on cultural heritage in Egypt

AbstractEgypt is a distinctive country in terms of its rich and unique tangible cultural heritage including monuments and archaeological sites distributed across the country. Many monuments and archaeological sites are facing a variety of climate change‐associated hazards with a wide range of cross‐sectoral impacts. This research intends to identify climate change‐associated hazards on tangible cultural heritage in Egypt, highlighting the main areas of concern. For this purpose, a Geographic Information System (GIS)‐based methodology is utilized, beginning with defining a framework for hazard identification. This is followed by developing a geospatial database of tangible cultural heritage. Meanwhile, expected changes in relevant climate parameters under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario up to 2065 were profiled. Thereafter, a geospatial database of existing tangible cultural heritage in Egypt as well as current and future climate parameters are employed to examine the exposure of archaeological heritage in Egypt to various climate change‐associated hazards up to the year 2065. It was found that the tangible cultural heritage sites in Egypt, accounting for 205 sites, are exposed to specific or combined levels of climate change‐associated hazards depending on their geographic settings. In this respect, it was found that 25% of archaeological sites in Egypt are susceptible to combined high to moderate temperature ranges and humid conditions as a result of climate change up to 2065. This highlights the need for developing archaeological site conservation strategies based not only on current conservation needs, including anthropogenic and environmental stressors, but also on climate change‐associated hazards. Such a strategy needs to prioritize different cultural heritage assets actions according to their uniqueness as well as associated direct and indirect benefits.

Cultural Heritage Accessibility in the Digital Era and the Greek Legal Framework

New technologies provide great opportunities for cultural heritage to become more widely accessible and for cultural experience to be more meaningful. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the strengths and vulnerabilities of the cultural heritage sector and the need to accelerate its digital transformation to make the most of the opportunities it provides. The Commission Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation (2011/711/EU) concluded that there is an urgent need to protect and preserve European cultural heritage, and, in particular, endangered cultural heritage is still present. However, the diversity of legal approaches to cultural heritage by the Member States discourages the creation of a common European data space for cultural heritage as the European Commission recently proclaimed. In Greece, there have been significant efforts in recent decades to digitise and digitally preserve cultural heritage goods. However, the attention was not drew upon the accessibility and reuse of the digitized cultural heritage content. According to the relevant regulatory framework the existing rules on the use of digital technologies for the reproduction, use and preservation of cultural heritage content is obviously outdated. According to the paragraphs 4 and 5 of article 46 of the Greek Code for the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage in general (Law 4858/2021), a previous permission granted by the Ministry of Culture is required for the production, reproduction and dissemination to the public of impressions, copies or depictions of monuments belonging to the Public Sector, or immovable monuments that are located within archaeological sites and historical places or are isolated, or movable monuments that are kept in museums or public collections, in any way and by any means whatsoever, including Information Communication Technologies. Such permission is granted to natural or legal persons for a fee paid to the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development (HOCRED) upon the decision of the Minister of Culture, while the decision also specifies the temporal validity of the permission, the terms on which the permission is granted and the fee that must be paid. The production, reproduction and use of the aforementioned goods for other purposes, such as artistic, educational or scientific purposes, is again allowed for a fee paid to HOCRED, however, the fee can be waived upon the decision of the Minister of Culture. This Paper will examine the existing Greek legal framework and will attempt to propose an appropriate framework that will ensure open access to the digitized cultural heritage assets, enhance the recovery and transformation of the cultural heritage sector and support cultural heritage institutions in becoming more empowered and more resilient in the future.

Systematic Literature Review of the Digital Transformation of Cultural Heritage Assets during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The repercussions of COVID-19 resulted in physical movement restrictions in the beginning of 2020. Due to these restrictions, which were imposed due to health policy considerations, cultural heritage assets are now under more pressure to continue operating and preserving their legacy. The approach for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage assets must be upgraded digitally. By conducting a thorough literature analysis, this research seeks to investigate how cultural heritage assets underwent digital change during the COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 334 results were returned for the search term. Unfortunately, only a total of 19 papers that were evaluated to be pertinent to the study issue. The analysis of these 19 papers showed that cultural heritage must be transformed digitally not just for conservation and preservation but also for improving visitor experiences, increasing understanding of the past, and educating, promoting, and managing heritage sites. The use of digital technology is mostly done to boost consumer interaction, enhance business performance, and support management needs. Advanced technologies including augmented and virtual reality, 3D reconstruction, digital twins, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are used to assist these purposes. Heritage managers may now continue their operations by providing visitors with virtual tours and displays. Also, certain institutes of higher learning are utilising this occasion to do study on the digitisation of historical assets. The analysis also suggests that the present stage of research on the digital transformation of cultural heritage assets is digitalisation. This is where technology adoption is focused on automating current business operations and procedures. Therefore, there are more opportunities for exploring the digital transformation of cultural heritage assets in order to reach a greater degree of digital transformation.

DOCUMENTATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION OF BUILT CULTURAL HERITAGE IN CENTRAL ASIA: THE ERAMCA PROJECT

Abstract. The ERASMUS+ initiative funded, in 2019, a Capacity Building project named ERAMCA (Environmental Risk Assessment and Mitigation in Central Asia) to build up a study plan at the Master of Science level (120 ECTS in 2 academic years) open to Architects, Civil, Building, and Environmental Engineers to build-up a new generation of professionals able to work in a team with different specialities to document Cultural Heritage assets by considering environmental risks. These new professionals will be able to set up the helpful basic knowledge to plan future actions of preservation and enhancement by following the most recent development in the restoration field at the international level.The ERAMCA project started with a survey of the basic knowledge of architects and engineers in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on the documentation of natural and anthropic risks.By considering the common knowledge, the Partners of the ERAMCA project (3 European Universities from Italy, Germany, and Croatia and 4 Universities from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) realised a study plan by concentrating the teaching activity on the following disciplines: Geomatics, Restoration, Structure and Seismic Engineering, Hydrogeology and Geotechnics.ERAMCA project is in its last year of activity, and the final results can be presented and discussed among the Cultural Heritage Documentation community to offer possible suggestions for future actions to diffuse documentation strategies.

HBIM AS A TOOL FOR THE ANALYSIS AND CONSERVATION OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE. CASE STUDY: THE RAME TOWER'S DIGITAL TWIN

Abstract. The Rame Tower, located in the municipality of Los Alcázares (Región of Murcia, Spain), is one of the watchtowers post coasts built in the sixteenth century in an attempt to defend the Spanish coast from attacks by Barbary pirates. Although the tower is protected monument as a BIC (Cultural Heritage Asset) is currently in a state of degradation and neglect and passively suffers the flow of time and vandalism. Like most cultural heritage assets, it is characterized by deep irregularities and heterogeneity, due both to the changes in use over the centuries and to the passage of time. In this research, a 3D survey is first realized by combining different techniques and instrumentation in order to obtain a complete cloud of points, both outside and inside. The cloud of points thus obtained serves as the basis for the realization of the HBIM model of the tower. Thanks to the points cloud you can reach a level of development (LOD) such that you can talk about digital twin of the asset. The HBIM model thus obtained will then be used for the realization of a proposal for recovery and reuse and an example of management and maintenance. The aim is to demonstrate how BIM applied to assets is useful both for its recovery and for future management and maintenance. The research also identifies which problems are found in the modeling of discontinuities typical of cultural heritage in the BIM environment and which solutions can be applied.

PRESERVATION THROUGH DIGITIZATION - STANDARDIZATION IN DOCUMENTATION OF BUILD CULTURAL HERITAGE USING CAPTURING REALITY TECHNIQUES AND HERITAGE/HISTORIC BIM METHODOLOGY

Abstract. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an established approach in the construction industry that enables efficient collaboration between stakeholders and facilitates project management. However, when it comes to historical buildings, the application of BIM can be demanding due to the complex nature of these projects. Although BIM Uses in the construction sector are well-documented (Penn State University, 2013) and we are surrounded by amazing technologies, we do not yet have standardized international workflows on how to use those state-of-the-art techniques with Cultural Heritage Assets (Bruno and Roncella, 2019). Standardizing Cultural Heritage (CH) metric documentation and Heritage/Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is challenging since each CH asset needs different information throughout the whole life cycle of the monument - both their physical and non-physical attributes, such as historical and cultural characteristics. Additionally, every work carried out on CH, such as knowledge acquisition, restoration, adaptation, etc., requires specific data inputs. Although there are guidelines books that offer some general proposals, they represent the maximum effort towards standardization. As a result, the field of HBIM has emerged as a relatively new area of scientific research that focuses on the digital representation of CH assets.This research aims to develop a working method and templates for procurement workflow standardization that will facilitate the documentation of historic buildings and heritage assets in coordination with relevant historic preservation authorities for the BIM use case - asset register. The use of various measurement methods, the registration of captured point clouds, and the transfer of geometry to a BIM-compliant 3D information model and sustainable data storage are important aspects of this project.

THE FIRST ATTEMPT FOR STANDARDISATION IN 3D DIGITISATION. THE EU STUDY ON QUALITY IN 3D DIGITISATION OF TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Abstract. This paper focuses on the exceptional results of the EU Study (Commission et al., 2022) to map the parameters, formats, standards, benchmarks and methodologies relating to the 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage (CH). The overall objective of our paper is to further the quality of the 3D digitisation process by enabling cultural heritage professionals, institutions, content developers, stakeholders and academics to define and produce high-quality digitisation standards and sustainable conservation models for the preservation, documentation, understanding, and accessibility of tangible cultural heritage assets. The aim is to achieve high quality results during the 2D and 3D recording process of CH tangible assets. This work identifies for the first time in this domain, key parameters of the digitisation process, estimated the relative complexity and how it is linked to technology, its impact on quality and its various factors. It also presents standards and formats used for 3D digitisation, including data types, data formats and metadata schemas for 3D structures within a holistic documentation approach. Finally, this work presents and describes all the features and parameters of the complexity and quality that influence the methodology and infrastructure to be used for high quality results regarding digital cultural heritage. These complexity and quality factors are illustrated in the form of radial charts with the corresponding relevant information at the end of the paper.

5DMETEORA FRAMEWORK: MANAGEMENT AND WEB PUBLISHING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE DATA

Abstract. Cultural Heritage (CH) management software represents virtual information in various ways aiming either at usability and long-term preservation or interactivity and immersiveness. A single web-based framework that couples the organization of geospatial, multimedia and relational data with 4D visualization, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) is presented in this paper (https://meteora.topo.auth.gr/5dmeteora.php). It comprises the 5dMeteora platform and the Content Management System (CMS) for uploading, processing, publishing and updating its content. The 5dMeteora platform integrates a responsive 3D viewer of high-resolution models in the basis of 3DHOP (3D Heritage Online Platform) and Nexus.js multi-resolution library. It offers data retrieval and interpretation mechanisms through navigation tools, clickable geometries in the 3D scene, named hotspots, and semantic organization of metadata. Its content and interactive services are differentiated, based on the scientific specialty or the field of interest of the users. To achieve the sense of spatial presence, VR and AR viewports are designed to give a clearer understanding of spatial bounds and context of 3D CH assets. The proposed CMS allows dynamic content management, automation of 3DHOP’s operations regarding 3D data uploading and hotspots defining, real-time preview of the 3D scene as well as extensibility at all levels (e.g., new data types). It is built upon a MySQL Database Management System and developed with PHP scripting, backend JavaScript and Ajax controllers as well as front-end web languages. The database maintains and manages the entities of every type of data supported by the platform, while encryption methods guarantee data confidentiality and integrity. The presented work is the first valid attempt of open-source software that automates the dissemination of 3D and 2D content for customized eXtented Reality (XR) experiences and reaches multiple levels of interactivity for different users (experts, non-experts). It can meet the needs of domain experts that own or manage multimodal heritage data.

Performance-based seismic assessment of a historical masonry arch bridge: Effect of pulse-like excitations

Seismic analysis of historical masonry bridges is important for authorities in all countries hosting such cultural heritage assets. The masonry arch bridge investigated in this study was built during the Roman period and is on the island of Rhodes, in Greece. Fifteen seismic records were considered and categorized as far-field, pulse-like near-field, and non-pulse-like near-field. The earthquake excitations were scaled to a target spectrum, and nonlinear time-history analyses were performed in the transverse direction. The performance levels were introduced based on the pushover curve, and the post-earthquake damage state of the bridge was examined. According to the results, pulse-like near-field events are more damaging than non-pulse-like near-field ground motions. Additionally the bridge is more vulnerable to far-field excitations than near-field events. Furthermore, the structure will suffer extensive post-earthquake damage and must be retrofitted.