Enhancement Of Cultural Heritage Research Articles

Innovative Technologies for Cultural Heritage. Tattoo Sensors and AI: The New Life of Cultural Assets.

Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage is something more than a simple process of maintaining the existing. It is an integral part of the improvement of the cultural asset. The social context around the restoration shapes the specific actions. Today, preservation, restoration, enhancement of cultural heritage are increasingly a multidisciplinary science, meeting point of researchers coming from heterogeneous study areas. Data scientists and Information technology (IT) specialists are increasingly important. In this context, networks of a new generation of smart sensors integrated with data mining and artificial intelligence play a crucial role and aim to become the new skin of cultural assets.

The Survival of Cultural Firms: A Study of Multiple Accounting Parameters in Spain

Cultural firms are an important development factor in economic and social terms. Their objectives are often aimed at maintaining and disseminating the traditions and values of societies. The prosperity of these firms in a nation ensures that its tangible and intangible cultural heritage is made known to other nations and generations. Despite their importance, little is known about their survival and the factors associated with it. This paper analyses data from 6951 Spanish firms, of which 2105 are cultural firms. We have studied the survival of non-cultural firms in comparison with cultural firms and also the impact that profitability, solvency and indebtedness may have on their survival. We have used the Kaplan–Meier method in order to assess their survival and the Harrington–Fleming test and the Cox regression model to check the statistical significance of variables. These variables are key factors influencing the survival of cultural enterprises. Particularly, low solvency in firms increases by twenty the risk of disappearance. This paper contributes to literature highlighting some of the key factors for the survival of cultural enterprises. It provides administrations with a roadmap in order to implement measures for the promotion of the cultural industry, favouring the process of enhancement of cultural heritage.

“Bronzi Di Riace” Geomatics Techniques in Augmented Reality for Cultural Heritage Dissemination

In the ‘Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Magna Grecia' in Reggio Calabria (south Italy) are located two full-size bronzes cast around the 5th century BC: The Riace Bronzes; thanks to their outstanding manufacture, they truly represent significant sculptural masterpieces of Greek art in the world. This paper describes the methodology used by the Geomatics Laboratory of the DICEAM of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria to achieve a 3D model of the two sculptures. The 3D modelling is based on the use of imaging techniques, such as digital photogrammetry and computer vision. The achieved results demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique used in the cultural heritage field for the creation of a digital production and replication through 3d printing. Moreover considering that in the renewed interest in the context of international museological studies, Augmented Reality innovation represents a new method for amplifying visitor numbers into museums despite concerns over returns on investment, the procedure to develop a touristic app is described. In fact the enhancement of cultural heritage through the use of 3D acquisition and modeling tools represents one of the fields of study that will see rapid development in the near future. Thus, in order to further valorize and disseminate archaeological heritage, we are developing an app for tourism purposes. The created app allows the user, in real time, to obtain additional information on the object of investigation, even allowing them to view the 3D model in AR. Moreover, the app combines AR and VR technologies with the opportunities offered by 3D printing,

CHAT-Bot: A cultural heritage aware teller-bot for supporting touristic experiences

Cultural heritage is an important resource that allows us to know and promote a territory. In this respect, it is important to experiment with the enhancement of cultural heritage by adopting approaches that meet the dynamic needs of various types of users. The aim of this paper is to introduce a recommender system capable of developing adaptive tourist routes. In fact, the proposed system suggests points of interest and related services according to both the profile of the tourist and contextual aspects. In particular, the interaction of the user with the system occurs through a chatbot that allows to build a real dialog. In order to show the potential of the proposed approach, a prototype was developed to support the user in building a customized tourist route related to some of the most important cultural sites in Campania (a region in Southern Italy): Herculaneum, Paestum and Pompeii.

Cultural heritage enhancement for tourism : the case of the tanneries at the Medina of Marrakesh

Este trabajo presenta uno de los resultados obtenidos en una investigacion de especialidad en turismo. Se plantea una propuesta para la valoracion del patrimonio cultural de las tenerias de Dar Debbagh en Marrakech, con el fin de crear un centro de interpretacion dedicado a los curtidores y al trabajo del cuero. Teniendo como base los principios de la interpretacion patrimonial, analizamos los aspectos que pueden hacer de estas famosas tenerias un recurso patrimonial y una oferta turistica cultural de calidad.

Climate and Cultural Heritage: The Case Study of “Real Sito di Carditello”

A monitoring campaign performed on the Real Site of Carditello (found in the commune of San Tammaro, province of Caserta, Italy) was aimed to evaluate the parameters related to air quality and then to control and prevent the degradation risk. The analyses were carried out in the context of the project “Innovative methods and technologies for the conservation, valorisation and use of cultural heritage: environmental and archaeological analyses”, within the CULTURA CREA-MIBAC program, which aims to provide innovative methods for conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage through environmental and archaeometric analyses. Preliminarily, using field equipment, non-destructive investigations were carried out to identify constituent, restoration, and/or degradation materials belonging to the wall paintings on the main floor and to assess their conservation state under the current environmental conditions. Environmental monitoring was performed both outdoor (to assess the effects of atmospheric pollution and changes in the climate of the structure) and indoor the rooms of the site (to evaluate the conditions of conservation and fruition). The collected data are reported in a web platform, where one can check the real time monitoring data. The platform integrates both environmental data and information regarding the "health status" of site in order to provide a detailed analysis useful for its protection.

Students Meet Cultural Heritage: An Experience within the Framework of the Italian School-Work Alternation (SWA)—From Outcomes to Outlooks

Cultural heritage is the creative expression of a people’s presence in the past. It represents a driving force to create, develop, and consolidate the sense of identity, belonging, and citizenship, as well as a means to appreciate the diversity of people and develop a policy for peace and mutual understanding. Furthermore, heritage is a source of economic development and a key factor for sustainable development. The dissemination of such values among people and the transmission of heritage to the future generations entail putting into the field proper actions, from the knowledge to the protection and conservation, and from the enhancement to the fruition and management. Such requirements increasingly involve the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that can be considered the paradigm shift to create novel job opportunities in the field of cultural heritage. This paper aims to discuss an experience led by the Institute of Archaeological and Monumental Heritage of the (Italian) National Research Council (IBAM-CNR), with students of a secondary school of the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). The experience developed within the framework of the School-Work Alternation (SWA) (recently renamed “Pathways for Transversal Competences and Orientation” by Italian law), a training modality envisaged in the Italian school system to bring the school closer to the world of work by proper partnership between formal education contexts and external organizations. The SWA Project revolves around the acquisition of some technical and methodological tools for the approach to knowledge, conservation, and enhancement of cultural heritage, having particular regard for diagnostic tools and ICTs. This article deals with the outcomes of the activities developed during the Project, discussing both the technical-professional and transversal skills acquired or expected to be acquired by the students. In addition, starting from the results of the activities, the authors speculate about possible outlooks of SWA in the heritage field considering: (i) the role of such a training path in raising young people’s awareness to preserve cultural heritage by becoming active and proactive citizens; (ii) the relationship of SWA with regional and European-supported development policy strategies; (iii) the potential benefits that SWA can provide for cultural heritage from the synergy between different institutional actors.

Heritage Urbanism

Heritage urbanism considers the revitalization and enhancement of cultural heritage in spatial, urban, and landscape contexts, and it explores models for its inclusion in contemporary life. The main research question is whether it is possible, based on a number of case studies, to recognize models of the future use of heritage and interpret them as general models that may be applied to numerous specific cases. In doing so, the experience of the past becomes relevant and applicable to contemporary heritage revitalization and enhancement projects. The goal of the paper is to present Heritage Urbanism approach as an integral view of heritage in line with the ideas of sustainable development. Heritage is not viewed as isolated objects but rather as part of the immediate and wider environment. The context/environment affects heritage and its revival, while finding new uses and repurposing heritage has a stimulating effect on the environment and its development. The effects of this interaction can make heritage recognisable and can stimulate its sustainability. The survival and future of heritage are linked to urban and spatial planning, which takes into account the integrity of space and the cultural heritage in it. Urban and spatial planning methods are used. When these methods are enriched by the heritage urbanism approach, the result is the creation of specific methods that supplement well-known methods. In this context, cultural heritage can be used for place branding, infrastructure development, as a crucial element of urban design, or in other ways that aim to achieve an integral view of cultural heritage. The integral view requires the concerted action of different fields, such as regional development, the economy, tourism, transportation, and infrastructure. A fragmented and selective approach does not yield results.

3D survey techniques for the conservation and the enhancement of a Venetian historical architecture

In recent years, thanks to a rapid and continuous technological development, the metric survey has had a significant increase in the digitization and enhancement of Cultural Heritage; in this research work, we will describe the methodology used to survey the ceiling of the Sala Capitolare of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Tintoretto, the painter of the pictorial cycle on site, the Scuola Grande decided to increase the information regarding this historical architecture, carrying out an in-depth analysis of the ceiling structure. The complexity of this Venetian building, its considerable dimension, the richness of decorations and the particular lighting conditions have required the integration of different methodologies: the laser scanning survey and the photogrammetric acquisition, together with the topographic network, allowed to obtain an adequate metric result for the study of the structure in its entirety. Furthermore, we also decided to test the image acquisition with a spherical camera for the documentation and the enhancement of the analysed historical architecture. The geometrical complexity of the Scuola caused various problems during the survey campaign, resulting in some unconventional choices in the work phases: the research presented here analyses the difficulties encountered and it illustrates the solutions chosen in order to solve them and to study the ceiling of the Sala Capitolare.

The Role of Cultural Heritage in Promoting Socio-Economic Development: An Analysis on Emerging Countries

The enhancement of cultural heritage through new forms of dialogue with the territorial communities and the so-called “heritage communities” of which such heritage is an expression, is becoming an increasingly important vehicle for the economic and social development, especially in emerging countries. The places that express the history, culture and values ​​of the human collectives can become, in this way, laboratories in which the knowledge and the traditions are reinterpreted in a continuous dialogue. Of such valorization and of such dialogue, the emerging countries can benefit in view of a profitable local development that can also propose diversified and seasonally adjusted tourism routes, able to bring constant tourist flows, with positive economic and social consequences. In light of these considerations, the paper aims to explore the different paths through which, in emerging countries, it is possible to create new models of development also through innovative ways of dialogue with the so-called “patrimonial communities”. Central will be a reflection on how the most recent international patterns to promote social and economic development can be “translated” and adapted to specific developing geographic and sectoral contexts.

РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЙ ОПЫТ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ ТУРИСТСКО-РЕКРЕАЦИОННОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ В СЕЛЬСКОЙ МЕСТНОСТИ

Purpose. Analysis of problems associated with the use of rural settlements in the tourist and recreational activities of the region. The range of issues on the integration of rural areas into the regional tourism industry is outlined. Method. Spatial planning programmes often do not take into account the specifics of individual settlements, preserving the regional characteristics of a particular village and its surroundings using methods of both reconstruction and new construction, taking into account the local style, conditions and lifestyle of the population. Results. Rural settlement network is formed and developed not by itself, but in close relationship and interdependence with the functions of their territory. Taking into account regional features and relations of the functioning of the natural and increases the reliability of planning and forecasting development of rural communities, strengthens the validity of the perspective ways of their improvement in the context of the regional strategy for the implementation of tourism and recreational activities. Scientific novelty. Formation in the Tambov region of a competitive tourist and recreational industry as one of the leading, priority sectors of the economy, ensuring the demand of consumers (both Russian and foreign) to meet their own needs in the field of tourism and recreational services. Practical significance. Attracting investors and the General public through the enhancement of cultural heritage, which will make a significant contribution to the economic development and strengthening of the regional identity of the Tambov region. Great importance should be attached to marketing and advertising activities, promotion of the Tambov region as a tourist and recreational region on the all-Russian and world market of this type of service.

NEW RESULTS ON ANCIENT SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN QADISIYAH REGION (IRAQ). THE 2016-2017 IRAQI-ITALIAN QADIS SURVEY PROJECT

إن مشروع مسح قادس (QADIS) وهي مبادرة مقدمة من جامعة بولونا ألما ماتر ستيديروم مع الهيئة العامة للآثار والتراث . الموجودات المقدمة هنا قد تم تحليلها على إطار مشروع منظمة (EDUU) ((تعزيز التراث الثقافي والتعليمي من أجل التماسك الاجتماعي في العراق)). أن الموسوم الأول والثاني والثالث حدثت في شهر تشرين الأول من عام 2016 وشهر كانون الثاني من عام 2017 على التوالي ، وقد تم كتابة التقرير لجميع نشاطات المسح العامة لأول موسمين ، وقد تم تقديم معلومات مفصلة لحوالي أربعين موقعاً حددت مؤخراً ، بالاضافة إلى ما تم تثبيته من قبل مسوحات أدم عام 1981 ، ان منطقة المسح (شكل رقم 1) تتلو الحدود الادارية لمنطقة القادسية إلى الجنوب والشرق (بالضافة إلى جزء من حوض هور الدلمج) وقد توقفت حول مدينة عفج إلى جهة الشمال الغربي .

Non-metric digital reconstruction of Roman mosaics excavated in the city of Ravenna (Italy)

<p>During the excavations carried out in summer 2011 in Piazza Anita Garibaldi in Ravenna, during construction of the new underground waste containers, five rooms decorated with mosaic floors were found, probably dating back to the early Roman Empire (1<sup>st</sup>-2<sup>nd</sup>century AD). The mosaics were removed for restoration and musealisation, however –given the size of the large lacunae-it would not be possible to reintegrate them in a traditional restoration without creating arbitrary reconstructions. Therefore, we opted for a digital reconstruction of the lacunae, attempting virtual restoration hypotheses for the recovered mosaics. Subsequently, it was possible to grasp the trend of the figuration and how it could have appeared in the past. The characteristics of many mosaics, such as the symmetry and the repetition of geometric patterns, make them suitable for both a simulated integration and are construction by the analogies of the pattern. As a matter of fact, we used simple and easily accessible software to perform this work. The purpose of this digital workflow was to give an example of virtual processing useful for conservators and restorers, as well as for scholars (archaeologists, art historians, etc.) that can be carried out without specific information technology expertise and computer skills. After the images were acquired digitally, we were able to proceed with the reconstruction of the floor, by taking into account the geometric motifs that make up the mosaic assembly and that made the recomposition the most reliable. The virtual restoration also provides the opportunity of simulating the type of integration and the colour so that scholars, restorers and conservators may evaluate the final appearance of the work and the different aesthetic choices. The virtual restoration is finally considered an essential tool for the enhancement of cultural heritage.</p><p><strong>Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li><p>An example of virtual restoration is presented relevant to Roman mosaics recently found in Ravenna (Italy).</p></li><li><p>A simulated integration by the analogies of the geometric patterns present in the mosaics allows a reliable reconstruction.</p></li><li><p>Virtual restoration results in a useful tool for enhancement, knowledge and improvement of understanding of mosaics by the general public.</p></li></ul>

The Tulul Al-Baqarat and Eduu Projects : Archaeological Research , Education and Cultural Heritage Enhancement

يعنى هذا البحث بالأنشطة البحثية التي تتم في إطار مشروع ممول من الاتحاد الأوروبي المسمى " "EDUUتعزيز التراث الثقافي والتربوي من أجل التماسك الاجتماعي في العراق ، علماً إن هذا المشروعEDUU هو مشروع دولي يموله الاتحاد الأوروبي. يتكون EDUU من الشراكة بين الاتحاد الأوروبي والعراق في مجال التعليم وتعزيز التراث الثقافي ، من أجل ربط الجامعات والمدارس الثانوية والمتاحف مع نظائرها. يعمل هذا المشروع على هدف تعزيز التعددية في المجتمع المدني العراقي ، وزيادة الوعي حول ماضي العراق المتنوع والمتعدد الثقافات من خلال تطوير مبادرات لتعزيز التراث الثقافي ما قبل الاسلام .

Orientation of archive images on 3D digital models of painted vaults: an interesting tool for restorers

Over the last years, the area of conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage has benefited from new surveying methodologies. In particular, laser scanners and the latest evolutions in digital photogrammetry and processing software based on structure from motion and multi-view stereo algorithms allowed to achieve 3D models of the status quo whose features include precision suitable for restoration scales and high-quality textures. Besides methodological and technical issues, another key requirement for any intervention on this kind of buildings is their full, in-depth knowledge, which includes building design, modifications’ timeline, current conditions, present-day and historical causes of degradation etc. In this view, surveys are a valuable asset for the investigation of historical sources. The present work investigates historical photographic sources, focusing on the possibility of orientation by means of photogrammetry techniques, which provides an additional texture layer as a support tool for historical analysis. The paper displays a case study featuring the availability of a reference survey, which allows validation of the results, and two other cases highlighting the importance of this kind of documents to restoring teams.

Virtual anastylosis applied to the architectural decoration of mixtilinear buildings in Villa Adriana: the case study of the scattered friezes of the Teatro Marittimo

The peculiar figurative friezes of the buildings with mixtilinear entablature have always fascinated collectors of antiquities since the Renaissance, determining their scattering in private collections and museums throughout Europe. Thanks to the application of digital surveying and reverse modelling techniques, increasingly adopted during the last years for the documentation and enhancement of Cultural Heritage, it has been possible to outline a specific methodology for the restoration works that concern the virtual anastylosis of the architectural order and the correct repositioning of the friezes, also not physically present on site. The master model, which shows the conditions of the Teatro Marittimo before the last restoration works (2017), is the result of several survey campaigns, carried out over the course of the last years, in collaboration with the Direction of the Villa. This model has become the basis for the hypothetical order reconstruction and the repositioning of the friezes, by considering their geometrical, morphological, stylistic, constructive, and figurative features. The ongoing research is in constant update, and it aims at providing methodological directions for virtual anastylosis and scientific tools, also preparatory to a real restoration work, starting from such a unique and delicate site as Villa Adriana.

Lavoro istituzionale e trasformazione della gestione di un sito UNESCO: il patrimonio culturale tra processi di pianificazione e di cambiamento organizzativo

Purpose of the paper : This work discusses the introduction of planning and management tools in the case of cultural heritage. The discussion follows an organizational and institutional change perspective. Methodology : A longitudinal case study has been carried out according to an ethnographic approach, based on three years of field work. Findings : Planning and management tools have been repeatedly invoked for the historical and archaeological site of Aquileia, where they have been partially introduced and without fail left in disuse within a process of continuous organizational reconfiguration. Such process has been characterized by a general lack of management in the institutional context. Within the institutional work perspective this phenomenon is related to the interaction between practices which “activate and support” boundaries and boundaries which “limit” the set of practices, offering in return interesting dynamics on institutionalization processes of the logics of conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage Research limits : The article focused on institutional change in relation to variations in the content of organizational practices. It does not deal with the legitimation of new organizational forms and the emergence of institutions as network for the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage nor with the critical analysis of the social construction and use of planning and management tools Practical implications : Gaining a better understanding of the characteristics and the role of accounting tools allows us to provide better guidance for their introduction within cultural heritage management. It also enables us to improve their use in organizational contexts which need to manage their own institutional and organizational change. Originality of the paper : The phenomenon under investigation has been examined under a critical management lens. This is particularly interesting in light of the unsuccessful outcomes which have emerged in relation to the specific aspects taken into consideration by this study

Il valore culturale del patrimonio naturale nella promozione dello sviluppo sostenibile

Purpose of the paper : This paper aims to contribute to the definition of possible models for the enhancement of cultural heritage from the perspective of economic, social and environmental sustainability. Methodology : Viewing the environment as a naturalistic component of cultural heritage, this work is developed by benefitting from the interpretative tools of the general schemes of the Viable System Approach and makes reference to the case of the Biosphere Reserves of the UNESCO ‘Man and the Biosphere’ (MaB) Program. Findings : Our contribution puts forward a model for enhancing cultural heritage from the perspective of sustainability. The analysis of the ‘MaB’ model brings to light the value of a site as a result of the dynamic evolution of the relationship between man and nature, thus aiming to overcome a traditional objective view of value. In our research, value is understood in terms of the ability to implement models of sustainable development which integrate economic, social and environmental perspectives in a single sustainability framework. Research limits : The paper proposes the conceptual elaboration of a case study whose potential can be explored through further empirical research. Practical implications : The proposed interpretation of the theme ‘Heritage, management and business’ suggests interesting developments by highlighting the key role of the firm and the contribution of management. Originality of the paper : The interpretive approach developed in the paper brings traditionally misaligned economic, social and environmental perspectives under a unified framework focused on sustainability.

New modalities for enhancing cultural heritage experience. The enabling role of digital technologies

Purpose of the paper : Starting from an overview of current trends, the aim of the present study is to identify models of cultural heritage enhancement in terms of consumer enjoyment from a new temporal and cognitive perspective. Methodology : The paper starts with a theoretical-conceptual analysis inherent to the main evolutionary stages of cultural heritage enhancement. It follows with the reporting of findings based on the Scenario Based Design (SBD) method relative to industrial research and experimental development in the context of the FIBAC project. Findings : The research evidences the empirical nature of the theoretical analysis carried out, identifying key elements relative to the visitor’s experiential dimension and highlighting innovative modalities of cultural experience. Research limits : The focus of the research addresses empirical evidence resulting from a specific scenario, however to enable the generalization of the findings in terms of validity and reliability, a more widespread analysis would be necessary. Practical implications : The logic underlying the experimental element of the project envisages the full involvement and participation of the visitors and represents a stimulus for exalting the managerial potential of cultural institutions (in particular museums) from the perspective of service management. Originality of the paper : This lies in the resorting to SBD methodology, relative to the development of customized technologies in the specific context of the cultural heritage experience, above all from an interdisciplinary point of view. Furthermore, given the state of the art, the study represents the first concrete experience carried out within the museum context.

FROM VIRTUAL TO MATERIAL RESTORATION. A PROPOSAL FOR THE REASSEMBLY OF THE ALTAR OF THE HOLY HEART OF MARY IN THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA IN GERACE (REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY)

Abstract. The present study explores the relationship between the new frontiers of architectural survey and architectural restoration. The result is a project for the reassembly of the Altar of the Holy Heart of Mary in the Cathedral of Gerace, in the province of Reggio Calabria. It was dismantled in the last century with the purpose to restore the “solemn and sober aspect” of the church during the medieval age. The idea was born in the sphere of a multidisciplinary didactic experience, which involved history, conservation, digital modelling, design and enhancement of cultural heritage. The process, from analyses to project, followed four steps: realization of a systematic photogrammetrical survey of each architectural element of the 18th century altars of the cathedral, which were dismantled in the last century, with high precision photomodelling techniques; early identification of the single objects, positioning structured QR-CODE with metadata and short description directly in the shooting phase; pre-cataloguing phase, implemented by the compilation of single cards regarding each piece, using a redrafted version of the ICCD OA card (artwork 3.00 version); a proposal for the reassembly of the altar of the Holy Heart of Mary. The reassembly is conceived as an alternative to the reconstruction of the altar “as it was”, using a steel structure that is partially visible, which was studied to support and “exhibit” the marble pieces. The availability of numerical models for each piece facilitated, on one side, weight distribution analysis and, consequently, correct dimensioning of the support structure and, on the other side, interactive simulation processes for design optimisation and aesthetic evaluation.