Heritage Professionals Research Articles

Are Nature-based Solutions for Built Heritage Conservation Resilient to Climate Change? The Response of Grass-based Soft Caps in Britain and Ireland to Future Climate Scenarios

ABSTRACT Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer an exciting opportunity to work with nature to conserve heritage sites and objects. Soft capping is a novel form of NbS used commonly in Britain and Ireland to help conserve ruined and free-standing walls; soil and vegetation is placed on the wall head to help reduce deterioration by buffering thermal fluctuations and regulating moisture. While this conservation practice has proved cheaper and more effective at reducing deterioration than traditional hard capping, soft caps need to be resilient to future environmental changes. Previous research has shown that the sedum species commonly used in soft caps are vulnerable to climate change. Thus, following feedback from an interactive webinar with practicing heritage professionals, here we assess the climate resilience of four grass species commonly found in western Europe as possible soft-capping species: Festuca rubra (red fescue), Poa pratensis (smooth meadow-grass), Catapodium rigidum (fern-grass) and Poa annua (annual meadow-grass). We use species distribution modelling (Maxent) to assess the likelihood of species survival by mid and end century based on presence probabilities derived using three climate models (HadGEM3-GC31-LL, IPSL-CM6A-LR, and MIROC6). Results show that all four species are resilient under mid-century projections, and P. annua proved resilient under all scenarios. Therefore, using turf-based soft caps incorporating one or more of these grass species could enhance the future resilience of this conservation technique. Given the growing interest in the use of nature-based approaches to heritage conservation, our study represents an important attempt to account for and adapt to a changing climate.

STRATEGIES FOR NET ZERO CARBON IN SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION PRACTICES FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS IN MALAYSIA

Heritage buildings have always been essential in improving the quality of the city’s life, especially for the communities living in historical settings. They play a vital part in representing historical, architectural, cultural, political, spiritual, and symbolic values that are passed down to generations. Historical buildings are often considered dilapidated, and due to society's neglect of these, the historical buildings positioned within the oldest parts of the city have deteriorated. Heritage buildings in Malaysia are defined as historical buildings that are protected under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645) to preserve tangible cultural heritage. This study intends to identify the Strategies contributing to Net Zero Carbon in Sustainable Conservation Practices for Historical Buildings in Malaysia. The research primarily focused on Conservation Architects and Heritage Professionals, with data being collected through semi-structured interviews and subsequently subjected to Thematic Analysis Matrix. The objective was to propose a set of recommendations for sustainable practices in the conservation of heritage buildings in Malaysia, aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions. This endeavour was aimed at advancing the discourse on Net Zero Carbon in Historical Buildings and fostering public awareness regarding the significance of these architectural treasures.

Historical Depictions, Archaeological Practices, and the Construct of Cultural Heritage in Commercial Video Games: The Role of These Games in Raising Awareness

Abstract Concerns regarding the historical accuracy, archaeological practices, and representation of cultural heritage (CH) in commercial video games (VGs) have fueled unending debates about their educational value. However, beyond offering interactive and engaging narratives, it is argued that these games play a vital role in CH. This work delves into the complexities inherent in representing history, archaeology, and CH within commercial VGs. It examines the portrayal of CH as a construct within these games, underscores the importance of collaborative efforts – between game developers, heritage professionals, and members of the communities represented – in their development, and highlights instances where commercial VGs can foster CH awareness. While many commercial VGs touch upon history and archaeology or embody diverse cultures as the platform for their narratives, the focus is placed on Shadow of the Tomb Raider to illustrate the many points found in this work because the game is said to ethically come close to representing the effects of archaeology on local populations and descendants of ancient people. The aim is to catalyze discussions among educators, researchers, game developers, heritage experts, and other stakeholders about the role of commercial VGs in enhancing learning and promoting consciousness about matters vital to cultural identities.

What Needs to be Learned by U.S. Cultural Heritage Professionals? Results from the Digital Preservation Outreach & Education Network

Abstract With the current proliferation of training opportunities available in digital preservation, this study asks: what are the most in demand digital preservation instruction topics? To answer this question, we did a qualitative content analysis of 168 Professional Development Support applications received by the Digital Preservation Outreach and Education Network (DPOE-N) between September 2020 and December 2023. The study finds that the management of digital records and metadata/cataloging standards were the most requested training topics, and that general and broadly applicable skills tend to be the most sought after. This indicates that there is a continuing need to provide education focusing on the core elements of digital preservation and knowledge, and that we have not moved on yet to a place where cultural heritage professionals are solely seeking skills in more advanced or specialized digital preservation topics.

High-resolution compound-specific mapping in works of art via data fusion of MA-XRPD with hyperspectral data (part 1: Method evaluation)

BackgroundHyperspectral imaging techniques have emerged as powerful tools for non-invasive investigation of artworks. This paper employs either reflectance imaging spectroscopy (RIS) or macroscopic X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) imaging in combination with macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction (MA-XRPD) for state-of-the-art chemical imaging of painted cultural heritage artefacts. While RIS can provide molecular information and MA-XRF can offer elemental distribution maps of paintings of high lateral resolution, the unique advantage of MA-XRPD lies in its ability to visualize the distributions of specific pigments and estimate in a quantitative manner the relative concentrations of the crystalline phases at the surface of artworks. However, MA-XRPD is more time-consuming and offers a lower lateral resolution than RIS and MA-XRF. ResultsThis study introduces a machine learning (ML) approach to obtain the distribution of specific compounds on the surface of artworks with a resolution that is comparable to that of RIS and MA-XRF data but with the compound specificity of MA-XRPD. The general aim is to expedite non-destructive artwork imaging analysis by fusing data from different imaging modalities via machine learning models. The effect of preprocessing techniques to enhance the predictive accuracy of the models is explored. The paper demonstrates the method's efficacy on a 16th-century illuminated manuscript, showcasing the feasibility of predicting compound-specific distribution maps. Three evaluation methods—visual examination of the predicted distribution, root mean square errors (RMSE), and feature permutation importance (FPI)—are employed to assess model performance. Fusing MA-XRF with MA-XRPD led to the best RMSE scores overall. However, fusing the RIS and MA-XRPD data blocks also yield very satisfactory and easily interpretable high-resolution compound maps. SignificanceWhile MA-XRPD allows for highly specific imaging of artworks, its time-consuming nature and limited resolution presents a bottleneck during non-invasive imaging of painted works of art. By integrating data from more time-efficient hyperspectral techniques such as MA-XRF and RIS, and employing machine learning, we expedite the process without compromising accuracy. The fusion process can also denoise the distribution maps, improving their readability for heritage professionals and art historical scholars.

Mining heritage gone wrong: A study of disappointed tourists at China’s national mine parks

ABSTRACT Mine parks are a late twentieth-century addition to the global heritage repertoire. To date, most studies of visitor experiences at mining heritage sites focus on tourists who appreciate their outings. Yet mine parks do not satisfy all those who visit. What goes wrong for those who visit these destinations and feel disappointed, and how do they express their displeasure? We answer this question by scrutinising the online negative reviews of tourists from seven Chinese national mine parks. Our analysis indicates ‘disgruntled tourists’ want the sites of former resource extraction to include a sight and meet their expectations for hospitable, accessible, and knowledgeable service. When mine parks fail to deliver, they become disappointed, dissatisfied, and angry. They overwhelmingly articulate their unhappiness using a language of ‘lack’ or deficiency and talking about ‘value for money’. The reviews further suggest that disappointed visitors write online reviews to vent negative emotions, warn other tourists, and punish site staff. Drawing on the broader literature on mining tourism, heritage tourism, and visitor experiences, we indicate strategies that mining heritage professionals could use to remedy disgruntled tourists’ sense of deficiency, while also contributing to scholarly discussions about what makes tourism meaningful.

The Problem of Compromise in Conservation and Exhibit Decision Making

A key challenge in managing collections is optimizing the value to society they offer, both now and in the future. This challenge can be framed as an issue requiring compromise, or, it can be considered as an opportunity to optimize. The goal is to help heritage professionals engage in constructive decision-making. By focusing on high-level institutional gains and benefits, while avoiding picking battles over less significant issues, a compromise and win-lose mindset can be avoided. The multiple objectives involved in creating a safe and effective exhibit can lead to conflict and unhelpful digging in of positions among team members. Understanding factors that contribute to conflict and identifying some means of avoiding or minimizing those factors can lead to teamwork at a higher level. Collection management challenges are explored, in a practical way, to reveal how simple changes in thinking habits and perspective can improve decisions and outcomes. A range of heuristics that shape our instinctive decision-making are explained and illustrated to create the opportunity for insight into how these unconsciously create an unnecessarily conflict-based response. Strategies for shifting perspective are discussed and offered as a route to identifying mutually beneficial outcomes.

Will Artificial Intelligence Affect How Cultural Heritage Will Be Managed in the Future? Responses Generated by Four genAI Models

Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) language models have become firmly embedded in public consciousness. Their abilities to extract and summarise information from a wide range of sources in their training data have attracted the attention of many scholars. This paper examines how four genAI large language models (ChatGPT, GPT4, DeepAI, and Google Bard) responded to prompts, asking (i) whether artificial intelligence would affect how cultural heritage will be managed in the future (with examples requested) and (ii) what dangers might emerge when relying heavily on genAI to guide cultural heritage professionals in their actions. The genAI systems provided a range of examples, commonly drawing on and extending the status quo. Without a doubt, AI tools will revolutionise the execution of repetitive and mundane tasks, such as the classification of some classes of artifacts, or allow for the predictive modelling of the decay of objects. Important examples were used to assess the purported power of genAI tools to extract, aggregate, and synthesize large volumes of data from multiple sources, as well as their ability to recognise patterns and connections that people may miss. An inherent risk in the ‘results’ presented by genAI systems is that the presented connections are ‘artifacts’ of the system rather than being genuine. Since present genAI tools are unable to purposively generate creative or innovative thoughts, it is left to the reader to determine whether any text that is provided by genAI that is out of the ordinary is meaningful or nonsensical. Additional risks identified by the genAI systems were that some cultural heritage professionals might use AI systems without the required level of AI literacy and that overreliance on genAI systems might lead to a deskilling of general heritage practitioners.

Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage: Life Cycle Assessment Examining Crates for Heritage Objects

ABSTRACT The Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage (STiCH) https://stich.culturalheritage.org project informs cultural heritage professionals about sustainable choices through life cycle assessment (LCA). This paper focuses on one study https://stich.culturalheritage.org/crates/ that examines the environmental impacts of transporting cultural heritage. The study models four crate types crates single trip, round trip, and reusable. For each crate, three major material categories (exterior, interior, and wrapping) were analyzed, giving each configuration an environmental profile. The study compares these crate options over their life cycles, including impacts from material production, transportation, and disposal. The results show that reusable crate have lower impacts than wooden crates across a broad range of environmental considerations. Transportation dominates reusable crates and is relatively less important for single-trip crates. For single-trip and round-trip crates, foams can be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Actions that would reduce impacts include reusing the crate itself or its disassembled components. Lowering the weight of the crate, possibly by using lighter materials for the crate shell, would reduce impacts from transport. These findings can encourage further research and exploration of sustainable materials that perform similarly to the items they replace.

Enriching Museum Collection with Virtual Design Objects and Community Narratives: Pop-up-VR Museum

In the Pop-up-VR Museum, a selection of design objects from the Design Museum collection can be explored as virtual reality experience together with stories and comments collected in workshops organized with senior communities and museum visitors amongst others. The collaboration between the museum and the Aalto University Department of Art and Media in the EU Horizon 2020 project SPICE (2020–2023), seeks to increase social cohesion and inclusion through cultural heritage. Using semantic tools designed and developed in the project, it studies ways to promote novel forms of “citizen curation” activities. The article discusses the co-design process between media designers, heritage professionals, and different user communities, with varying understandings and needs regarding museum data and Finnish design heritage. In the museum, community-based data raises practical as well as ethical issues. Also the new digital artifacts challenge existing systems: what and how should be preserved in the museum collection from the dialogue with the user that takes place in the Pop-up VR Museum and does this new data demand re-assessing earlier information and, how does should the process of creating new digital artifacts be documented and described.

Multiculturalism and Digital Heritage: The VR Transformation of Ethnic Folk Games in Malaysia and China

Intangible cultural heritage (which includes traditional folk games) is being lost at an alarming rate, primarily due to globalization and modernization. The object of this study is how to enhanced use Virtual Reality (VR) technology in protection and publicity for traditional folk games, such as a pyramid game shown on Dunhuang frescos. This research is to explores how VR can be used to build a compelling and authentic experience which helps preserve these traditions. Grounded in a qualitative exploratory research design, this study applies semi-structured interviews with VR specialists and cultural heritage professionals (2), case-studies of China and Malaysia (3) conducting focus groups to gather the data. A thematic analysis was conducted on the data to obtain key themes.

Hierarchical Modelling of Smart Digital Cultural Heritage Spaces: An XML-Based Approach

Extensible Markup Language or XML was created with the aim of making information self-describing. In contrast to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), XML is not seen as a markup language but rather as a toolkit for creating mark-up languages. Immersive technologies provide Cultural Heritage spaces with the opportunity to implement a smart digital immersive user journey, but an inclusive design should be prioritised as it is a fundamental right for all individuals to participate in cultural life as stated by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). A well-formed XML schema can allow museum curators to implement a smart digital immersive system and strategically position technological devices to optimise interactivity in the user journey. An objective of this paper is to review the theoretical background of XML and determine its suitability to model smart digital Cultural Heritage spaces. Design Science Research (DSR) will also be analysed and applied to the design of an initial XML schema to provide a hierarchical structure for a smart digital immersive user journey. The schema will be applied to an artificial Cultural Heritage setting which is manually designed in this paper to illustrate an example of a smart digital immersive environment and does not represent a real location. The results indicate that XML can support Cultural Heritage professionals to digitise their user experience in a way that is human-centred and harnesses the beneficial aspects of digital technologies.

Medieval pastoralism: lessons for our landscape

The Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences at UCL highlighted heritage and conservation, the environment and biodiversity as key challenges to be addressed as part of its Strategic Vision for 2019–29. Staff at Archaeology South-East (ASE) are actively pursuing research into livestock and landscapes and how knowledge of past farming regimes has wider public benefit in terms of informing modern choices regarding food production, sustainability and nature recovery. The author of the present article has also engaged with conservation bodies on aspects of historic grazing and current rewilding projects. This article is intended as an introduction to the essential elements of this work, highlighting how archaeologists and heritage professionals can contribute to debates surrounding the future of our countryside. It draws on a previous blog post as well as themes pursued for associated publication outputs.

Digital Cultural Heritage, Cybersecurity, and the Human Factor

Abstract Digital heritage, with its intellectual and cultural identity value, constitutes a significant asset. This also makes it an important asset in the cyber market. Cultural heritage institutions, recognising the vital role of digital assets, confront various information security risks and must adopt cyber threat related strategies to counter potential cyber-attacks. This paper first investigates the susceptibility of digital heritage objects to cyber threats by examining their distinctive characteristics. The study subsequently poses research enquiries concerning the cybersecurity proficiency and general awareness of cultural heritage professionals. A conducted survey in Croatia among these professionals analyses their information and computer practices related to the storage and preservation of digital cultural heritage. Findings reveal that while overall cybersecurity awareness is commendable, there exists a deficiency in cybersecurity and data protection training among cultural heritage professionals, even at the basic level. Additionally, the study highlights insufficient technical support and equipment for cybersecurity within cultural heritage institutions.

The Power Of Place: Penrhyn Castle as a Means of Exploring Welsh Histories of Colonialism and Transatlantic Slavery

This article offers Penrhyn Castle as a case study through which to consider; the demand to interrogate Wales's colonial past, both from policy makers and the public, and the ways in which this has changed over the past thirty years; practical responses to this demand and the impact or otherwise of this work; and the opportunities and challenges which this paper argues can only be answered by partnership working across disciplines by academics and heritage professionals together.

POMMERN DOCK – BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

In 2017 - 2018, a bespoke dock was built for the sole purpose of preserving the historic vessel Pommern of Mariehamn. As the dock was built in the water rather than dug into land, the construction posed several challenges that rarely feature in dock constructions. However, it was these challenges that made the project exciting, attracting international interest among engineers as well as heritage professionals. That Pommern now has its own custom-built dock provides new possibilities to pursue strategic preservation work. Furthermore, the ship and the dock together have the potential of becoming a hub and workshop for international co-operation regarding different methods for preserving historic ships.

Integration of cultural heritage in architecture: a national study of Jordanian higher education

ABSTRACT 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.

Advancing Cultural Heritage Structures Conservation: Integrating BIM and Cloud-Based Solutions for Enhanced Management and Visualization

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.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ТА ВИКЛИКИ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ МІЛІТАРНОЇ СПАДЩИНИ В УКРАЇНІ В ТУРИСТИЧНОМУ СЕКТОРІ

The paper delves into the multifaceted aspects of incorporating military heritage into Ukraine’s thriving tourism sector. It opens with an exploration of the intrinsic value of military cultural heritage as a means of preserving historical memory and inculcating respect for the sacrifices made by soldiers throughout Ukraine’s turbulent history, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia. The article examines Ukraine’s rich military history, spanning eras such as the Cossack period, World Wars, and contemporary conflicts, highlighting the need for nuanced interpretation and attention to less-represented historical events. Purpose of the paper. The paper is devoted to a detailed analysis of the prospects and challenges of using Ukraine’s military heritage in the tourism sector. It examines the historical context, the current state of military heritage sites, and the possibilities of using them to develop the tourism industry. It also examines aspects of the preservation and popularization of military sites. Design/methodology/approach. This article is based on a comprehensive literature review of recent research and publications on team management and cultural heritage studies methodology.Research sources used include scientific journals, books, and online resources. Findings. A critical assessment of the present state of military heritage sites in Ukraine is provided, distinguishing between well-maintained attractions and those adversely impacted by recent hostilities. Notably, the paper underscores the importance of community engagement in preserving and interpreting these sites, reflecting a “living heritage” approach. It acknowledges the challenges of emotionally charged proximity to recent events and the need for balanced, sensitive handling. The article also explores the promising prospects of leveraging military heritage for tourism development in Ukraine, including the potential for infrastructure development, thematic museums, guided tours, and even extreme tourism opportunities. Cultural exchange and international appeal are identified as additional benefits, contributing to the country’s income and global recognition. However, it does not shy away from acknowledging the significant challenges that must be addressed. These encompass community involvement, professionalism, security, financing, and cooperation with both authorities and the public. The financial aspect is particularly emphasized, with the restoration and maintenance of military sites demanding substantial resources. The paper advocates for cooperation between government agencies, public initiatives, and the private sector, emphasizing the importance of investor engagement to ensure the preservation and development of military heritage. Public participation is also championed, encouraging volunteer activities and educational events. In conclusion, the article underscores the paramount importance of responsibly managing Ukraine’s military heritage to convey an accurate historical narrative and nurture respect, understanding, and acceptance of the past among present and future generations. It underscores that the utilization of military heritage in tourism holds great potential. Still, its realization necessitates a concerted, multi-faceted effort that takes into account the interests and sensitivities of all stakeholders. This article serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, heritage professionals, and indi- viduals invested in Ukraine’s cultural and historical prosperity. Originality/value. The original focus on the interaction of military heritage and tourism, the emphasis on community engagement, and the work’s applicability to current events in Ukraine are what distinguish this work as innovative. It is a significant resource for scholars, politicians, heritage workers, and anyone interested in the complex dynamics of heritage preservation, tourism, and historical memory in a contemporary setting because it not only highlights issues but also offers actionable ideas. Practical implications. The paper provides a number of useful takeaways that can help various stakeholders, such as policymakers, heritage specialists, and local communities, in utilizing military legacy for tourism growth and historical memory preservation. By putting these practical suggestions into practice, Ukraine can preserve and promote its historical memory while also utilizing the potential of its military history for tourism growth. These activities can promote the nation’s cultural and economic development while encouraging a deeper understanding of its past among both home and foreign audiences.

Fixing stone in time: Making and measuring consolidants for heritage futures

Stone consolidants have been used in conservation practices for decades, with an increasingly interdisciplinary scientific attention to their composition and performance. This article is an ethnographic account of the process of testing a new consolidant's efficacy, drawn from fieldwork and interviews with scientists and heritage professionals involved in a European project in 2013. I illustrate, in line with prior scholarship on laboratory time, how time is a central tool of laboratory control, which must be managed to produce evidence of consolidant efficacy. Yet the ‘fast time’ of controlled experimental conditions is also suspect for those working in the field of heritage. By tracing the temporal tensions between scientific evidence making, laboratory practice and heritage practitioners’ values, I illustrate that the project of materially fixing stone in time means intervening on heritage futures.