Sustainable Cultural Heritage Research Articles

Spatial Continuum in History: Pier Buildings on the Bosphorus and Golden Horn, Istanbul

Pier buildings along the coastline of Istanbul City, an ancient city surrounded by the sea on three sides, serve not only as vital transportation nodes but also as hubs for cultural and social life. As an embodiment of their respective topography and culture with distinctive characteristics in terms of location and architecture, the historical pier buildings are incorporated into the social, cultural, and historical fabric of the city. It is important to protect and preserve these buildings and develop sustainable tourism policies for sustainable cultural heritage management. Accordingly, the present study investigated 36 pier buildings in Istanbul using a comprehensive map analysis and on-site discovery. The study results suggested that these buildings preserved their authentic identities and spatial continuum, despite several renovations over time. Today, some of the pier buildings in Istanbul have additional functions, including serving as cafes, libraries, and sightseeing spots along with their transportation functions, contributing to the reinforcement of social interaction and social ties. The study results helped suggest key inferences on how these buildings should be preserved and carried into the future in the scope of urban planning.

HERITAGE TOURISM: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OVER THREE DECADES (1994-2023)

This qualitative study explores the relationship between tourism and places recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, whether tangible (WHS) or intangible (ICH). In the last two decades there has been a growth in the number of resources with UNESCO recognition. It aims to fill the research gap in the analysis of heritage tourism using bibliometric techniques. Data were collected from 886 documents in the period 1994-2023 (December) from the Web of Science database. Using the VOSviewer software, scientific maps were created showing the current and future line of research in this scientific field. The results show evidence of related research on Tourism sustainability at UNESCO sites in China and Tourism sustainability of cultural heritage for the whole period. In addition, two new research topics from 2016 are identified: Motivation and satisfaction of heritage tourists and Authenticity of intangible heritage. The results help to visualise the structure and trends of heritage tourism research, which can help researchers, policy makers and destination marketing organisations (DMOs) to gain knowledge and understanding of existing studies and current research topics.

Driving Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism in China through Heritage Building Information Modeling

In recent years, applying building information modeling (BIM) digital technologies to cultural heritage management, monitoring, restoration, with the objective of advancing the sustainable development of both cultural heritage protection and tourism in China, has become a prominent research focus. However, there are a few studies that comprehensively investigate the relationship between BIM, Chinese cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism development. In order to explore the application of BIM in the protection and inheritance of Chinese cultural heritage, as well as its potential in promoting the sustainable development of cultural heritage tourism, this paper adopts the quantitative research method of bibliometrics to explore the research hotspots, development background, and evolution trends of BIM-driven sustainable development in Chinese cultural heritage tourism. By using data obtained from the China Knowledge Network database, multi-level bibliometrics analysis has been conducted through visualized knowledge graphs. The results suggest that the popular research keywords for driving sustainable cultural heritage tourism in China through BIM since year 2000 (23 years) include heritage tourism, heritage protection, building heritage, digital technology, and tourism development. Three research hotspots have been identified, which are cultural heritage protection, cultural heritage tourism development, and cultural heritage tourism management. In terms of tourism development and management, building virtual interactive scenes of cultural heritage facilitated by BIM to enhance tourism experience of tourists, using BIM to assist in efficient management, intelligent decision-making, and personalized services of cultural heritage tourism, assist in better promoting the sustainable development of cultural heritage tourism. In terms of coordinating and managing stakeholders in cultural heritage tourism, BIM technology provides technical support to the government, industry managers, and community residents in information communication, and industry management by constructing a digital model of cultural heritage to better balance the rights and interests of stakeholders.

Cultural Heritage in Urban-Rural Interaction: A Case Study of a Rural Community

This paper explores the specific mechanisms and effects of cultural heritage in the process of urban-rural interaction through a case study of a rural community. The study finds that urban-rural interaction not only promotes economic development and social progress in rural communities but also plays a significant role in preserving and innovating cultural heritage. Key practices identified include organizing traditional cultural activities, introducing educational resources, and developing cultural industries such as cultural tourism and traditional handicrafts. The active participation of community residents, supported by local governments and social organizations, is crucial. Governments provide policy and funding support, while social organizations offer resources through project cooperation. However, challenges such as cultural homogenization and unequal resource distribution need to be addressed. The paper recommends strengthening community cultural education, diversifying forms of urban-rural interaction, and fostering multiparty cooperation. These strategies can enhance the sustainability of cultural heritage and provide valuable insights for other rural communities seeking to leverage urban-rural interaction for cultural preservation and development.

Enhancing Cultural Heritage Tourism through Market Innovation and Technology Integration

Integrating the preservation of cultural heritage with the development of tourism is essential for fostering sustainable economic growth and honoring historical and cultural values. This abstract outlines the pivotal findings from an action research project in an urban setting within the Yangtze River Delta region, emphasizing the role of market innovation and the strategic use of emerging technologies to align cultural heritage conservation with tourism economic growth. The project was approached through a multifaceted methodology, including a literature review, field research, and qualitative data analysis. The research adopted a proactive methodology, harnessing Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to significantly boost visitor engagement and educational enrichment. Integral to the project's strategy was the active inclusion of the community and an educational framework that underscored the collaborative development of knowledge, valuing local perspectives. The implementation of these technologies facilitated immersive experiences, leading to a substantial increase in tourist satisfaction and an enhanced awareness of cultural heritage among residents, suggesting a symbiotic dynamic between preservation efforts and development. Despite the study's regional focus, which presents limitations in the generalizability of the findings, the results underscore the necessity for expanded research. There is a clear need to examine the intricate interplay between technological optimization and conservation strategies within a variety of cultural and geographical contexts. The insights garnered from this study contribute meaningfully to the field of sustainable cultural heritage tourism, suggesting avenues for future exploration and practical application.

A Forward-Looking Vision to Employ Artificial Intelligence to Preserve Cultural Heritage

The study aimed to build a forward-looking vision for employing artificial intelligence in preserving cultural heritage, preserving cultural heritage, principles, values, customs and traditions, in light of globalization, technological progress and the dissolution of cultural identity and cultural heritage, through analyzing and reviewing previous research, studies and educational literature during the years (2022/2023). To ensure an integrated forward-looking therapeutic vision according to clear steps to achieve the targeted use of artificial intelligence applications and the sustainability of cultural heritage for future generations. The current study differs from previous studies in the study methodology, as it adopts the analytical approach, and based on previous studies and the theoretical framework, the two researchers built the proposed forward-looking vision for employing artificial intelligence in preserving cultural heritage. This vision included 11 fields that were as follows: digitization, preservation, restoration and preservation, language. Translation, documentation of cultural heritage, archaeological discoveries, virtual and augmented reality, preservation of oral traditions, crowdsourcing data, ethical considerations, global cooperation, education and awareness. In light of the results, the study recommends strengthening cooperation between institutions concerned with preserving cultural heritage and bodies specialized in the field artificial intelligence. This aims to exchange experiences and knowledge and coordinate efforts to apply artificial intelligence in this field. It also recommends developing standards and ethics for the use of artificial intelligence in the field of cultural heritage preservation. This is to ensure the responsible and ethical use of this technology.

Sustainable cultural heritage management: a case study in Sarawak, Malaysia

Sustainable cultural heritage management: a case study in Sarawak, Malaysia

Sustainable Development of Digital Cultural Heritage: A Hybrid Analysis of Crowdsourcing Projects Using fsQCA and System Dynamics

Cultural heritage crowdsourcing has emerged as a promising approach to address the challenges of digitizing and preserving cultural heritage, contributing to the sustainable development goals of cultural preservation and digital inclusivity. However, the long-term sustainability of these projects faces numerous obstacles. This study explores the key configurational determinants and dynamic evolutionary mechanisms driving the sustainable development of cultural heritage crowdsourcing projects, aiming to enhance their longevity and impact. An innovative integration of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and system dynamics (SD) is employed, drawing upon a “resource coordination–stakeholder interaction–value co-creation” analytical framework. Through a multi-case comparison of 18 cultural heritage crowdsourcing projects, we identify necessary conditions for project sustainability, including platform support, data resources, knowledge capital, and digitalization performance. The study reveals multiple sufficient pathways to sustainability through configurational combinations of participant motivation, innovation drive, social capital, and social impact. Our system dynamics analysis demonstrates that crowdsourcing project sustainability exhibits significant nonlinear dynamic characteristics, influenced by the interaction and emergent effects of the resource–participation–performance chain. This research offers both theoretical insights and practical guidance for optimizing crowdsourcing mechanisms and sustainable project operations, contributing to the broader goals of sustainable cultural heritage preservation and digital humanities development. The findings provide a roadmap for policymakers and project managers to design and implement more sustainable and impactful cultural heritage crowdsourcing initiatives, aligning with global sustainability objectives in the digital age.

Preventive conservation – a means of sustainability of cultural heritage: The case of the M’Zab Valley

Abstract The management of heritage sites is fundamental to their conservation and sustainability, and more broadly, it contributes to the preservation of the environment. This article highlights the conservation plan developed for one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Algerian context: the M’Zab Valley in Ghardaïa. It has managed to preserve its specific character over the centuries thanks to the management operations that have been necessary for its continuity. The main question of this study is what are the management actions adopted in the M’Zab Valley with regard to the Ksourian architectural heritage to ensure its sustainability? Given the exploratory nature of this research, we chose a qualitative and inductive method. The study is based on a combination of several investigative tools: interviews, observations and photographs. The aim of the article is to highlight the efforts made by the Algerian public authorities and the local community to implement cultural heritage management measures in a particular context. The results of the analysis reveal, first, that the implementation of the permanent plan for the safeguarding and enhancement of the protected sector of the M’Zab Valley has proven itself in the preservation of monuments, sites and historic buildings, but also all the contexts associated with the daily life of people. Second, the rehabilitation operations of the historic ksour shall ensure the authenticity of the buildings and their integrity with the environment will be kept while adapting them to the current needs of users. Third, the combination of efforts between public institutions, the Office for the Protection and Promotion of the Valley of M’Zab, the local community and associations avoided the weakening of traditions and ancestral values through awareness missions, heritage education programmes, the application of heritage laws and regulations, and scientific and historical documentation of local heritage. Finally, the involvement of the local community in all operations on their local heritage ensures the transfer of local knowledge.

Adaptation of Dream of the Red Chamber in the Age Ofmass Media: A Study on the Transformation of Animationand the Sustainable Development of Cultural Inheritance

Context: In recent years, animation has become an important vehicle for adapting literary works with its unique artistic charm and wide audience base. Given the classic status and influence of Dream of the Red Chamber, it is both necessary and feasible to adapt it into an animated film. Such an adaptation will transcend the limitations of traditional media, showcase the artistic charm of the work, attract young audiences, expand communication channels, and contribute to the sustainable development of cultural heritage by linking traditions with contemporary cultural values. Objective: The main aim of this study is to delve into the phenomenon of animated adaptations of The Dream of the Red Chamber, highlighting its importance in disseminating the classic work, and investigating its potential contribution to realizing sustainable cultural heritage development as a bridge between traditions and innovations. Method: This study adopts the literature review method and case study method to review the history and current situation of the film and television adaptation of Dream of the Red Chamber, and analyses the characteristics and difficulties in the process of adaptation, as well as the communication effect of the animation adaptation on the original text. Results: The study reveals how animation has injected new vitality into this classic literary work and effectively attracted young audience groups. It also highlights how the new media platform can broaden the communication channels of the anime adaptation, thus promoting the cross-cultural communication of Dream of the Red Chamber. Contribution: This study not only highlights the important role of animation adaptation in the inheritance of Chinese culture but also provides theoretical support for the integration and development of the animation industry and classic literature.

The Evolution of Digital Cultural Heritage Research: Identifying Key Trends, Hotspots, and Challenges through Bibliometric Analysis

Heritage preservation fundamentally represents an act of communication, with digitization and virtual access driving cultural heritage research development and dissemination. These tools stimulate the creation of cultural heritage content and inspire public engagement in learning about and preserving heritage. Despite substantial academic focus on digital cultural heritage (DCH) research, systematic assessment methods remain lacking. This paper researches the application of digital technologies in cultural heritage studies using CiteSpace 6.2 R4 to analyze the evolution of DCH, identifying research hotspots and predicting future trends. The key findings include the following: (1) Current DCH research focuses on countries with significant national power, but future studies should emphasize regions rich in cultural heritage and promote transnational and interdisciplinary research. (2) DCH research concentrates on three areas: the use of VR, AR, and other interactive digital technologies to enhance cultural heritage experiences; the development of cultural relic databases and digital archives; and the implementation of interactive exhibitions and multimedia guides. (3) Identified research hotspots include user immersion experiences, language and identity, and virtual reality technologies. Digital technologies enhance cultural heritage communication by driving innovations in preservation, information management, and digitization. (4) Future research should focus on practical DCH development, emphasizing innovative virtual technologies, database integration, and standardized assessment methods. These efforts aim to provide valuable insights for the sustainable global preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage. The use of digital technologies in cultural heritage is becoming increasingly important, but there is still a need to strike a balance between technological development and heritage preservation to ensure the sustainability of cultural heritage.

Transformation of local cultural values in the modernization of architectural and interior design of traditional market buildings in Bali

Traditional markets in Bali reflect the richness of local culture closely related to people's daily lives. Along with the times and demands for progress, these markets are transforming through the modernization of architectural and interior design. This modernization impacts local cultural heritage, changing how people interact with markets and the traditional values that Balinese people have long upheld. Therefore, research on the transformation of local cultural values in the modernization of architectural and interior design in traditional Balinese markets becomes relevant to understanding the implications and evaluating the preservation and adjustment efforts needed to maintain a unique cultural identity. The main focus is on changes in building design that influence the user experience of the building and the sustainability of cultural heritage as well as providing insight into emerging challenges and opportunities as well as an understanding of efforts to preserve local cultural values. This study will use a qualitative methodology to investigate changes in aesthetic and cultural dimensions. The results of this study demonstrate that cultural values change due to modern buildings being constructed in Bali's traditional marketplaces. The building's modernization has an impact on everyday activities, including the waning of the bargaining culture, the consumer behavior when visiting the upper floors, the traders' behavior regarding the interior conditions of the market, the culture that elevates buyers to the status of kings, and the transactional atmosphere typical of traditional markets. The contribution involves active participation from local communities with solutions in the form of efforts to maintain cultural heritage that can be aligned with implementing innovations that have a positive impact. By involving traders and market owners, solutions can be found to modernize facilities while maintaining local cultural values.

In the potter’s hand: tourism and the everyday practices of authentic intangible cultural heritage in a pottery village

ABSTRACT Whilst widely recognised as important, the concept of authenticity remains highly contested, particularly in relation to sustainable intangible cultural heritage (ICH) tourism. Using the empirical case of the pottery village of Margarites, Crete, the conceptual goal of this paper is to explore from the host community perspective the question of what authentic ICH is, as well as what this means in everyday practices of ceramic crafting in the context of increasing tourism demand for authentic pottery products and experiences. Empirically, we explore how tourism impacts the perceptions and practices of Margarites community members regarding the authenticity of their ceramic crafting ICH. On the basis of interviews and observations, our findings provide three main contributions to the literature. Firstly, based on our findings, we conceptualise authenticity in relation to ICH as constituted by the 3Ps: people-related, place-related and product-related approaches that are the outcome of social relations. Secondly, we provide a host community perspective on the perceptions of authenticity as influenced by tourism in relation to ICH of ceramic crafting. Finally, our empirical case of a Cretan pottery village affirms existing insights about understanding the sustainability challenges of authentic ICH tourism.

Research on Bionic Design of Packaging Forms for Snacks in Fishing Villages

This article aims to explore the bionic design of the packaging form of snacks in fishing village. Taking Quanzhou xunpu village as an example, through the in-depth understanding of the culture and natural environment of the fishing village, as well as the application of the principle of bionics, a snack package with bionic morphology is designed in line with the local characteristics of XunPu Village and the marine culture. The research combines the analysis of the morphological characteristics of marine organisms such as oysters, shells and fishes, and combines these characteristics with the traditional cultural background of the characteristic snacks of the fishing village to design a new type of packaging scheme that meets the requirements of aesthetics, functionality and sustainability. Through fieldwork research and internet data collection, and research and analysis were carried out. The final design solution is not only artistic and culturally expressive, but also considers the impact of packaging on the environment and enhances the market competitiveness of the product and consumer experience. Future research can further explore the application of bionic design in packaging and its potential in promoting sustainable development and cultural heritage.

Recommendation System for Sustainable Day and Night-Time Cultural Tourism Using the Mean Signed Error-Centric Recurrent Neural Network for Riyadh Historical Sites

To accommodate user-specific requirements and preferences, a travel Recommendation System (RS) gives a customized place of interest. The prevalent research did not provide solutions to some essential situations for cultural tourism, including relevant time, environmental conditions, and stay places. Thus, the existing RS models led to unreliable cultural tourism recommendations by neglecting essential factors like personalized itineraries, environmental conditions of the cultural sites, sentiment analysis of the hotel reviews, and sustainable cultural heritage planning. To overcome the above factors, a day- and night-time cultural tourism RS utilizing the Mean Signed Error-centric Recurrent Neural Network (MSE-RNN) is proposed in this paper. The proposed work develops an efficient RS by considering historical data, Geographic Information System (GIS) map location, hotel (stay place) reviews, and environmental data to access day and night cultural tourism. First, from the Geographic Information System (GIS) map and hotel data, the historical and hotel geolocations are extracted. Currently, these locations are fed to Similarity-centric Hamilton Distance-K-Means (SHD-KM) for grouping the nearest locations. Next, hotels are ranked utilizing the Tent Mapping-centric Black Widow Optimization (TM-BWO) approach centered on the locations. In addition, using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), the essential keywords from the historical geo-locations are embedded. In the meantime, the sites’ reviews and timings are extracted from Google. The extracted reviews go through pre-processing, and the keywords from the pre-processed data are extracted. For the extracted keywords, polarity is calculated centered on the Valence-Aware Dictionary for Sentiment Reasoning (VADER). Concurrently, utilizing the Reference-centric Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R-PCC), the timings of the sites are segregated. Lastly, for providing a recommendation of tourist sites, the embedded words, ranked hotels, and segregated timings, along with the pre-processed environment and season data, are fed to the MSE-RNN classifier. At last, the experimental evaluation verified that other recommendation systems were surpassed by the proposed approach.

The EU and Romania. A partnership to promote culture & sustainable development

In the dynamic landscape of sustainable development, culture and cultural heritage are emerging concepts, taking more and more space in the academic literature. In the process of maintaining the balance between past, present and future, it is unrefutably important to understand the connection between cultural protection and promotion and actions towards sustainable development and environmental protection. This article aims to explore the complexities culture orientated actions, while having in consideration the sensitive issues of the permeability of cultural heritage over time. We discuss the relationship between cultural heritage and sustainable development, the actions that the EU takes to ensure cultural sustainability and the partnership between Romania and the EU could improve to maximize the impact on culture and sustainable development. Keywords: European Union, Romania, culture, sustainable development

Preserving Sculptural Heritage in the Era of Digital Transformation: Methods and Challenges of 3D Art Assessment

Sustainable digital cultural heritage is now an essential aspect of our lives. The rapid development of 3D technology in the historic preservation industry provides the means of documenting, recovering, and presenting cultural heritage items. However, the digital transformation of 3D sculpture heritage is often led by technology without effective evaluation indicators as a guide. This study compares effective assessment methods for digital forms with traditional art. Our approach uses semantic differential scales and machine learning regression models to assess the importance of fifteen artistic attributes. The semantic differential scale is improved based on 15 artistic attributes and proves to be effective in evaluating the value of digital artwork. This research finds that digital artwork is significantly more popular among young people compared with elderly people, especially for attributes like colour variation, saturation, and texture. The research also finds that complexity and social attributes are more important in predicting the value of the digital 3D model. Digital transformation is a viable method for preserving the artistic value of sculpture and improving cultural sustainability.

Exploring the Dual Potential of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content in the Esthetic Reproduction and Sustainable Innovative Design of Ming-Style Furniture

The present research aims to explore the dual potential of artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) technology in the esthetic reproduction of Ming-style furniture and its innovative design while promoting sustainable practices and cultural heritage preservation. For this purpose, a combination of methodologies integrating the principles of grounded theory, empirical research, sustainable design, and design practice and evaluation techniques is employed. The results are as follows: First, the three-level coding method in grounded theory is used to construct a multi-dimensional esthetic feature library of Ming-style furniture, including 6 esthetic feature dimensions and 102 groups of esthetic elements. Second, a set of databases specifically for Ming-style furniture is developed based on the Midjourney platform. The AIGC exclusive toolkit for furniture (MFMP) contains a language package of 61 keywords and a basic formula for Ming-style furniture design. The MFMP toolkit accurately reproduces Ming-style furniture esthetics through empirical validation. Finally, combined with sustainable design principles, a new path is explored in order to utilize the MFMP toolkit for the sustainable and innovative design of new Chinese-style furniture. The research results demonstrate that AIGC enhances traditional and modern furniture design, offering tools for industry growth in a sustainable way and preserving cultural heritage.

Geotourism Contribution to Sustainable Develeopment in Ranah Minang Silokek Geopark Sijunjung District

This paper aims to shed light on the significant contribution of tourism development in the geopark area, particularly through the concept of geotourism. The Ranah Minang Silokek geopark area in Sijunjung Regency is a treasure trove of attractions and developed destinations in geodiversity, biodiversity, and cultural diversity. While tourism, in general, can foster a sustainable life, cultural tourism, and cultural heritage can have a significant positive and negative impact on people's lives. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the extent of the contribution of sustainable tourism development through geotourism in Silokek Geopark. This research, conducted through qualitative methods and a narrative approach, aims to develop the objects in Silokek as geotourism based on sustainable tourism development. Data collection was carried out through interviews with management and the observation of geological objects and FGDs with stakeholders. Data analysis was done through a Stepwise Forward approach. The findings reveal that the development of geotourism can have a profound positive impact, not only supporting economic growth for the local community and government but also serving as a foundation for efforts to preserve and protect landscapes and geology, the main essence of the Silokek geopark. This research aims to shift the perspective that geotourism is the antithesis of mass tourism, and instead, highlight its contribution to the principles of geoparks (Unesco Global Geoparks Network).

Role of Community Empowerment in the Sustainable Cultural Heritage Management: A Review

The study's objective is to examine the role of cultural heritage in socially sustainable development and, through the descriptive analysis, provide a comprehensive understating concerning cultural heritage management, social empowerment, and sustainable development. The study highlights the importance of long-term planning, community engagement, and strengthening partnerships in developing sustainable cultural heritage management. Quality integration with economic, social-cultural, and environmental values is essential for further sustainable cultural heritage conservation. The descriptive analysis utilized in the study provides the theoretical understanding of community empowerment in the cultural heritage and its positive effects, such as social cohesion, well-being, and conflict elimination. These contributions represent the prerequisite of socially sustainable development. The documentary evidence analysis demonstrates the essence of community engagement in cultural heritage planning. Municipality document analysis reveals constraints of cultural heritage practice, particularly community participation organization in cultural heritage management. Distinct authors highlight the core contributors to successful community involvement in sustainable cultural tourism development: Knowing sustainable development principles, cultural heritage potential, and possible positive and negative implications of tourism. Practical cooperation between governmental, non-governmental, and educational organizations generates the prerequisite for effective cultural heritage management. The national strategy document for cultural heritage highlights the importance of social inclusivity in heritage planning and management. However, community participation in the process needs improvement, particularly in the context of Akhmeta municipality.