Urban Cultural Heritage Research Articles

Database Technologies in the Preservation and Study of Urban Cultural Heritage

The article gives an overview of digital projects concerned with urban cultural heritage and based on the use of database technologies. Since the 2000s, these technologies have become an integral part of the practice of preservation and study of urban cultural heritage. The popularity of database technologies in this field can be explained primarily by their effectiveness in storing, editing, searching through, and analyzing information. Systems of database management used in digital projects ensure the documentation of various historical sources (written, visual, oral, etc.), phenomena, and processes, as well as provide additional opportunities for presentation and visualization of study results. Undoubtedly, the use of database technologies has a positive effect on the theory, methods, and instruments of the preservation and study of urban cultural heritage. At the same time, the use of database technologies and creation of digital archives (databanks) cannot be seen as a goal in itself and as the end result of digital projects devoted to urban cultural heritage. Instead, the practicability and specifics of building databases should be determined by their potential impact on the handling of certain pragmatic and conceptual tasks. It should also be borne in mind that database technologies usually do not ensure a complete transfer of information from primary sources to the electronic format. Rather, databanks being created today will become sources for the next generation. The prospects of using database technologies for the preservation and study of urban cultural heritage also remain subject to debate. After all, at the present stage it is important not only to expand the thematic focus of databases, but also to combine them with other information technologies, such as geographic information systems, 3D modeling, augmented and virtual reality, visual storytelling, and others.

Towards Formulating Urban Cultural Heritage Conservation Strategies in the Former Tin Mining Towns in Lembah Kinta, Perak

Towards Formulating Urban Cultural Heritage Conservation Strategies in the Former Tin Mining Towns in Lembah Kinta, Perak

Seismic performance-based assessment of urban cultural heritage assets through different macroelement approaches

This paper aims at providing an insightful comparison between three of the most widely used commercially available macroelement models for assessing the global seismic performance of existing masonry structures: the equivalent frame model of 3Muri®, and the two- and three-dimensional discrete macroelements available in 3D-Macro®. To this aim, a stone masonry building, representative of the Urban Cultural Heritage (UCH) typology of the Azores archipelago (in Portugal), was considered as a case study. Firstly, sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the impact of a few modelling aspects on the seismic performance of the case study building, and ultimately to define the reference model. Secondly, this reference model was analysed both linearly and nonlinearly. Finally, the seismic performance was evaluated by applying the N2 Method.With this comparative study, the authors aim at discussing, from the user viewpoint, the features that these software codes and corresponding macroelement models have in common and those where they most diverge, as well as their main advantages and drawbacks. Results demonstrate that these models should be applied to UCH assets with due diligence, bearing in mind both the particularities of the case study as well as features and limitations associated with the chosen modelling strategy and software.

Urban planning challenges in the definition of heritage values in southern Chile. A case study of Valdivia: A wooden city in southern Chile

Historical sites declared as Typical Zones (TZs) – ‘’Zonas Típicas’’- in Southern Chile are subject to urban planning and conservation conflicts that address challenges in heritage restoration and development. The relevance attributed to conservation management in contemporary Chilean cultural policies faces the contextual relationships between institutionalized heritage sites, their definitions, and their territorial context. This research contextualizes the urban planning and cultural heritage definition in Southern Chilean cities where heritage assets are mostly wood-built that are over 100 old. It presents excerpts of a case study focused on the valorization of Valdivia’s TZs due to the projected bridge construction by the Public Works Ministry. The bridge access plans to use part of that historical area. Through cross-disciplinary research analysis, the paper considers the factors taken into consideration within the law on defining TZs and heritage values, and how they affect the protection of the areas of impact regarding the new bridge. The study observed the disconnection of the local definition of heritage, where public spaces and private property are separated concepts in the planning and heritage conservation process. It is therefore important to mention that the definition of heritage in the national legal framework should be connected with the perception and definition of space. Tangible, intangible and environmental values should be identified through the process of declaring TZs and follow territorial planning. Tentatively, this can help understand the entry points that can be used to develop and conserve the cultural landscape for the benefits of Wooden Cities. Interpreting the protected site as a dynamic context, a local model for the protection of heritage values in urban areas of southern Chile, tending towards global and sustainability frameworks, could be initiated.

Urban Seismic Networks, Structural Health and Cultural Heritage Monitoring: The National Earthquakes Observatory (INGV, Italy) Experience

An effective reduction of seismic risk can implement through a multiscale approach to the earthquakes monitoring. Devoted monitoring network are essential to cope with the seismic emergency in urban areas, to assess the damage scenarios, which are useful for the preservation of the strategic functions and services and to improve the community resilience to earthquakes. The National Earthquake Observatory, Italian Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (ONT-INGV, Italy), has been recently involved in several projects devoted to the reduction of seismic risk by means of the implementation of urban-scale and building-scale monitoring networks. Such systems represent a necessary support for the well-established national seismic network. All these approaches (country, urban, and building scale) could be framed within of a unique system in which each part holds different tasks, with the common final objective of the earthquake risk reduction. In this papers different approaches, experiences and potential capabilities on urban seismic networks, structural health and cultural heritage monitoring implemented in Italy by the ONT-INGV will be presented, with the ultimate goal of achieving an effective integrated multi-scale system.

Urban Historical Landscape Construction Methods and Designs: The Case of the Old Town of Jingdezhen

With the rapid development of modern economy and the process of urbanization is faster, a large number of historical relics have been mercilessly destroyed in the urban reconstruction. In order to balance the contradiction between urban development and historical heritage and promote the harmonious development of new and old urban areas, it is necessary to research on the old urban areas from the perspective of historical landscape. Old urban area of Jingdezhen is taken as an example in this paper, the present situation of the reconstruction of the old city in Jingdezhen is analyzed. Then, by using the methodology of urban historical landscape, some specific methods for updating and designing the old urban area reconstruction of Jingdezhen is put forward, such as the elements of spatial form, urban texture, historical and cultural landscape elements, streets and alleys, the Changjiang River, public facilities and landscape sketches, and so on. A new design method of landscape transformation of old urban area is established. As the renewal method of respecting the urban history and cultural heritage is a very intelligent urban renewal model, it is found that the application of urban historical landscape in the old urban city is reasonable and effective, which is based on the development of the old urban area and pursues the coexistence of protection and development.

Grass-Roots Initiatives and Bottom-Up Musealisation Mechanisms in Urban Space: The Case of Heraklion Crete

Heraklion is gradually transforming into the newest tourist destination in Crete, which is one of the most popular island destinations in Greece. The regional statutory and local tourist bodies aim to develop Heraklion as a destination per se, overcoming the “gateway to the rest of the island” identity that the city currently holds. At the same time, grass-roots initiatives are active in the city context, defending public space and urban cultural heritage, in idiosyncratic, bottom-up ways. This paper investigates the role undertaken by three such initiatives, currently active in Heraklion, to better comprehend their possible impact on the urban landscape and cultural heritage, within this gradually developing tourist landscape. The structure, aims and vision of the initiatives were documented through semi-structured interviews. Their actions, despite being diverse, are compared to the wider activity of similar initiatives in Greece, especially against neoliberal politics, culminating in defending public space, activating bottom-up musealisation mechanisms and participating in urban design in their own ways.

Cultural Heritage Appraisal by Visitors to Global Cities: The Use of Social Media and Urban Analytics in Urban Buzz Research

An attractive cultural heritage is an important magnet for visitors to many cities nowadays. The present paper aims to trace the constituents of the destination attractiveness of 40 global cities from the perspective of historical-cultural amenities, based on a merger of extensive systematic databases on these cities. The concept of cultural heritage buzz is introduced to highlight: (i) the importance of a varied collection of urban cultural amenities; (ii) the influence of urban cultural magnetism on foreign visitors, residents and artists; and (iii) the appreciation for a large set of local historical-cultural amenities by travelers collected from a systematic big data set (emerging from the global TripAdvisor platform). A multivariate and econometric analysis is undertaken to validate and test the quantitative picture of the above conceptual framework, with a view to assess the significance of historical-cultural assets and socio-cultural diversity in large urban agglomerations in the world as attraction factors for visitors. The results confirm our proposition on the significance of urban cultural heritage as a gravity factor for destination choices in international tourism in relation to a high appreciation for historical-cultural amenities.

Planning the optimal debris removal in large urban centers using GIS/Study case: Souq Almosul in the Old City

After the liberation of the Old City in Mosul, the Old City has experienced large-scale deterioration due to the severe damage that happened to its urban fabric, Infrastructures and cultural heritage, and Souq Al-Mosul region appears to be one of the most affected parts in the Old City. In the current study, the destroyed areas in Souq Al-Mosul region were calculated using GIS, The results showed that the destruction was about 73.12% of Souq Al-Mosul total area, and according to land use, the commercial buildings area accounted for about 58.7% of the total destroyed area in the region. The optimal route for collecting the debris from Souq Al-Mosul region was found by utilizing ArcGIS network analyst extension, taking into account the archaeological sites in the study area, the proposed collection system assumed to have the benefits of minimizing collection time, distance travelled, man-effort, and consequently financial and environmental costs. Total distance and accumulated time was illustrated in a table providing detailed information on the proposed route.

The Historic City, Its Transmission and Perception via Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality and the Use of the Past as a Resource for the Present: A New Era for Urban Cultural Heritage and Tourism?

The objective of this study is to analyze the impact that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are having on our conception, appreciation, and use of urban heritage spaces. Although most evaluations that appear in the specialized literature are clearly positive in this respect, there is a critical line of thought that considers these new technologies as connected to prior theoretical assumptions about heritage, in terms of what we value, how we value it, and for what reasons. To contrast the two perspectives, we have selected and examined scientific literature evaluating the application of AR and VR in urban heritage spaces, in order to analyze whether, in addition to positive effects, certain negatives linked to the ‘virtualization’ of space are also at work. A qualitative methodology has been developed supported by the ATLAS.ti tool (Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany), which allows definition of the different thematic lines treated in the literature as well as the connections between them. Our main conclusion is that concerns around the critical aspects are very limited, with only a few perceiving the possible dangers of trivialization of heritage, the creation of virtual tourist worlds separate from the material space of socio-economic relations, negative effects on the way in which knowledge is constructed, or the difficulties for some user groups in accessing these technologies.

Revitalizing cultural heritage: conservation of Merewether tower and its impact on urban morphology

19th century Karachi was home to the British occupiers and is therefore, rich in Victorian era architecture. Although most of these buildings are in a bad shape, the Pakistani government is working hard to preserve them. Although the pace of conservation is slow, the mere fact that the work is on going alone is relieving. One such building in consideration in Karachi is the Merewether Tower; a significant cultural heritage structure indeed. Even though this iconic structure is one of the few that are in a rather good condition, some sources claim that from the inside, it is slowly getting degraded. Once the gateway to the city, it has been forgotten by many although its name is renowned. The objective of this research is to study and analyze the existing conditions of the tower as well as its surroundings, and assess how it can be revitalized in order to improve the morphology of the region. This paper also analyzes how conservation of a cultural heritage structure can enhance the urban character of a given place, and how it can link up with the communities that in turn, interact with it. The research methodologies adopted are qualitative; case studies, literature review, field research and interviews from stakeholders. This research attempts to develop a methodology for revitalization and enhancement of urban cultural heritage. The research concludes that development and revitalization of Merewether Tower is essential not only in a beautification and heritage perspective, but also for the commercial development in the locality. A set of immediate improvements are expected to appear in the shortrun after redevelopment, following the intended long-run benefits. Therefore, it is not merely a suggestion but a must for the city. The government needs to be sincere, and the communities and stakeholder need to cooperate for revitalization of this heritage landmark.

Valuing Urban Cultural Heritage in African Countries: A Contingent Valuation Study of Historic Buildings in Port Louis, Mauritius

Valuing Urban Cultural Heritage in African Countries: A Contingent Valuation Study of Historic Buildings in Port Louis, Mauritius

Assessing the importance of the Jewish urban cultural heritage in Oradea, Bihor County, Romania

Assessing the importance of the Jewish urban cultural heritage in Oradea, Bihor County, Romania

Is the use of traditional seismic strengthening strategies economically attractive in the renovation of urban cultural heritage assets in Portugal?

This paper aims not only at raising awareness for the preservation of traditional construction techniques and materials when intervening in urban cultural heritage (UCH), but also at demystifying whether or not the integration of traditional seismic strengthening strategies in the renovation process of such assets is economically viable. In Portugal, countless UCH assets have been massively demolished and replaced by modern construction solutions over the last decades. As this phenomenon is contributing both to the mischaracterisation of the existing building stock within the majority of historical centres, and to the gradual loss of knowledge on these construction techniques, it is fundamental to tackle this issue from its very foundations, i.e., by raising the awareness and consciousness of all the involved stakeholders to the need of preserving such techniques and materials as part of the patrimonial value of UCH assets. Hence, in order to investigate the above-mentioned issues, the database created in the framework of the 1998 Azores earthquake by the Regional Secretariat for Housing and Equipment (SRHE) of Faial Island, was herein revisited. By critically handling and analysing this database, it was possible not only to investigate the economic prospects of UCHs assets’ renovation in Portugal, but also to derive new repair cost functions suitable to the Azorean traditional stone masonry building stock, that might be used to support post-disaster emergency plans and the design of risk mitigation strategies.

Investigation Techniques for the Seismic Response Assessment of Buildings Located in Historical Centers

ABSTRACTIt is an acknowledged fact that historical centers, given its significance from the cultural and architectural viewpoint, bring further challenges in terms of maintenance planning, survey, and safety assessment. The preparation of an adequate investigation plan and the extent of data to be collected is highly reliant on many aspects, such as the category of the architectonic asset, the importance of the heritage site, or the resources available, for example. In what regards the seismic response assessment of urban cultural heritage assets located in historical centers, the amount and detail of data also depend on this article, scale of assessment, and current state of conservation and occupation. Within this framework, this article provides an overview of the state of the art of investigation techniques currently used in survey operations, which are currently available for improving the knowledge level of urban cultural heritage assets within historical centers, as a supporting tool for the seismic response assessment of such singular assets. Finally, acknowledging the lack of accuracy when evaluating the seismic response of an asset enclosed in aggregate as an isolated structure, this article also focuses on the identification of the main particularities inherent to buildings enclosed in aggregate.

Digital storytelling and audience engagement in cultural heritage management: A collaborative model based on the Digital City of Thessaloniki

Abstract Cities are complex, networked and continuously changing social ecosystems, shaped and transformed through the interaction of different interests and ambitions. They are linked to places, where various aspects of past events are projected and expressed by means of personal memories and narrations (urban memory), representing a promise for future: a vision of freedom, creativity, opportunity and prosperity. At the same time, technology is currently promoting unprecedented changes in urban areas, which are often marked as smart city developments. This paper studies the history of cultural and creative industries, bringing forward the dedicated digital storytelling strategies that promote active audience engagement in urban cultural heritage. A collaborative model is proposed and analyzed (in multiple perspectives), aiming at providing an integrated manner for heritage documentation, management and dissemination. The development deals with the Digital City of Thessaloniki, Greece, a big city, not a boundless one, rich in culture, but with rather poor heritage management mechanisms. The research focuses on theoretical and practical aspects for the citizens’ collection and interpretation of “digital heritage” documents (artifacts, places, etc.), resulting in a model that fuels audience engagement and collaboration of cultural organizations. Model-design is validated through state-of-the-art review and formative evaluation processes (both qualitative and quantitative), with an associated SWOT analysis that points out strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Although the proposed methodology has been adapted to the needs of a particular (digital) city, the current paper goes beyond a case study, as it brings forward novel technological and methodological guidelines, which could be successfully deployed in districts with similar cultural, geographical, and technical features.

Análise dos crimes ambientais registrados nas regiões do Baixo Amazonas e Tapajós, Pará, no período de 2012 a 2015

Previstos na Lei Federal nº 9.605/1998, a Lei de Crimes Ambientais-LCA, ou em outra norma esparsa, os crimes ambientais são atos ilícitos que provocam resultado danoso ao meio ambiente. O objetivo deste estudo foi diagnosticar e analisar as infrações ambientais cometidas em 19 municípios das regiões do Baixo Amazonas e Tapajós, no Estado do Pará, registradas no período de 2012 a 2015, pela Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade (SEMAS). Foram realizadas pesquisas bibliográfica e documental nos autos de infração de 598 processos formalizados pelo órgão de fiscalização ambiental estadual, cujos dados foram agrupados nas cinco categorias de crimes ambientais previstas na LCA e em uma categoria para os crimes previstos em outras leis. Dos processos analisados, 69% versavam sobre infrações contra a flora, com maior ocorrência nos municípios de Santarém, Monte Alegre e Novo Progresso. O desmatamento/destruição da vegetação foi a tipologia infracional mais cometida contra a flora, especialmente em Santarém, Monte Alegre e Prainha. Dos demais processos, 11% versavam sobre crimes de poluição, 10% sobre crimes contra a administração ambiental, 6% sobre crimes previstos em outras leis e 4% sobre crimes contra a fauna, não sendo verificados crimes contra o ordenamento urbano e o patrimônio cultural. Santarém foi o município que liderou o quantitativo de crimes em 4 categorias. Conclui-se que o desmatamento, incitado pela potencialização dos interesses privados da exploração dos recursos, indica para onde devem ser convergidos os esforços do Poder Público para a sensibilização e disciplina da sociedade.

3D WebGIS: From Visualization to Analysis. An Efficient Browser-Based 3D Line-of-Sight Analysis

3D WebGIS systems have been mentioned in the literature almost since the beginning of the graphical web era in the late 1990s. The potential use of 3D WebGIS is linked to a wide range of scientific and application domains, such as planning, controlling, tracking or simulation in crisis management, military mission planning, urban information systems, energy facilities or cultural heritage management, just to name a few. Nevertheless, many applications or research prototypes entitled as 3D WebGIS or similar are mainly about 3D visualization of GIS data or the visualization of analysis results, rather than about performing the 3D analysis itself online. This research paper aims to step forward into the direction of web-based 3D geospatial analysis. It describes how to overcome speed and memory restrictions in web-based data management by adapting optimization strategies, developed earlier for web-based 3D visualization. These are applied in a holistic way in the context of a fully 3D line-of-sight computation over several layers with split (tiled) and unsplit (static) data sources. Different optimization approaches are combined and evaluated to enable an efficient client side analysis and a real 3D WebGIS functionality using new web technologies such as HTML5 and WebGL.

Institutional limitations in the management of UNESCO cultural heritage in Serbia: The case of Gamzigrad-Romuliana archaeological site

Previous studies have shown that there is a lack of interdisciplinary understanding of how urban dynamics and cultural heritage interact with each other. In the light of this problem, the paper first examines new institutional theory as a theoretical framework for connecting UNESCO cultural heritage policies and land-use policies. Secondly, it specifically explores the institutional limitations related to the management of UNESCO cultural heritage in Serbia through the case study of the Gamzigrad-Romuliana archeological site. Since new institutional theory considers institutions as formal and informal organizations, in addition to considering the rules and procedures that build patterns of behavior, this paper analyzes: the stakeholders involved in the management of Gamzigrad-Romuliana and related decision making; the policies and plans at different levels of spatial organization (from international to local) that are important for Gamzigrad-Romuliana; and the methodological and procedural framework used to formulate these policies. The strengths and weaknesses of the institutional framework in Serbia are defined, and recommendations for its improvement are made.

Mésentente temporelle. La fabrique du patrimoine culturel urbain de Rio de Janeiro à l’épreuve des temps du territoire carioca

Cet article propose de relire la procédure d’inscription de Rio de Janeiro (« Rio de Janeiro, paysages cariocas entre la montagne et la mer »), sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco, comme un moment singulier où les relations entre le passé, l’actuel et l’avenir sont questionnées au regard de leurs imbrications avec les temporalités des transformations territoriales que traverse cette ville dans le cadre de l’accueil de « méga-événements ». Quatre moments de la procédure sont analysés comme des lieux de négociation entre les différents régimes d’historicités créés et mobilisés par les acteurs et leurs articulations avec les temps de la transformation urbaine et ceux du développement durable. L’objectif est de décrypter ces articulations entre les horizons temporels des acteurs pour identifier les différents présents à l’œuvre dans le « faire ville »