Showing papers on "Cultural heritage published in 2021"
114 citations
TL;DR: The potential of NFTs to generate significant revenue for artists and museums by selling effectively a cryptographically signed copy of a digital image (similar to real-world limited editions, which are signed and numbered copies of a given artwork), has sparked the interest of the financially deprived museum and heritage sector.
Abstract: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) make it technically possible for digital assets to be owned and traded, introducing the concept of scarcity in the digital realm for the first time. Resulting from this technical development, this paper asks the question, do they provide an opportunity for fundraising for galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM), by selling ownership of digital copies of their collections? Although NFTs in their current format were first invented in 2017 as a means for game players to trade virtual goods, they reached the mainstream in 2021, when the auction house Christie’s held their first-ever sale exclusively for an NFT of a digital image, that was eventually sold for a record 69 million USD. The potential of NFTs to generate significant revenue for artists and museums by selling effectively a cryptographically signed copy of a digital image (similar to real-world limited editions, which are signed and numbered copies of a given artwork), has sparked the interest of the financially deprived museum and heritage sector with world-renowned institutions such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Hermitage Museum, having already employed NFTs in order to raise funds. Concerns surrounding the environmental impact of blockchain technology and the rise of malicious projects, exploiting previously digitised heritage content made available through OpenGLAM licensing, have attracted criticism over the speculative use of the technology. In this paper, we present the current state of affairs in relation to NFTs and the cultural heritage sector, identifying challenges, whilst highlighting opportunities that they create for revenue generation, in order to help address the ever-increasing financial challenges of galleries and museums.
55 citations
TL;DR: Although museum visitor experience and satisfaction have received growing attention in academic research, the impact of new elements of the museum service model, including AR and VR, on visitor exp... as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Although museum visitor experience and satisfaction have received growing attention in academic research, the impact of new elements of the museum service model, including AR and VR, on visitor exp...
55 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a multi-hazard susceptibility mapping and evaluation of its risk assessment in some of the famous cultural heritage sites in the eastern Himalayan region of Sikkim state, India was performed using boosted regression tree (BRT), Bayesian additive regression trees (BART), and Bayesian generalized linear model (BGLM) considering twenty-two conditioning factors and seismic activity, as this region is highly susceptible to earthquakes.
51 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper evaluated and explored the quality of individual traditional residences and the heritage value of a complex of traditional residences in Western Hunan in China, and found that well-preserved and prime-quality traditional residences are quite rare.
48 citations
TL;DR: Central Italy Earthquakes occurred in 2016 pointed out once more the vulnerability of Cultural Heritage (CH), especially for what concerns bell-towers since they tend to get dramatically damaged as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Central Italy Earthquakes occurred in 2016 pointed out once more the vulnerability of Cultural Heritage (CH), especially for what concerns bell-towers since they tend to get dramatically damaged du...
47 citations
TL;DR: Faster R-CNN is well suited for semi-automatic detection of cultural heritage objects such as charcoal kilns, grave mounds and pitfall traps in high resolution airborne lidar data, however, it is desirable to reduce the false positive rate in order to limit the amount of visual inspection needed when the method is applied to large areas for detailed archaeological mapping.
44 citations
ENEA1
TL;DR: The results show that, despite the significant improvements in air quality in Europe over the past few decades, air pollution is still considerable and continues to be an important agent of degradation of cultural heritage, particularly in anthropized areas.
41 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a sustainable conservation strategy for cultural heritage protection is not feasible without a systematic documentation, registration and management of the information, and the adoption of integrated information management is discussed.
Abstract: A sustainable conservation strategy for cultural heritage protection is not feasible without a systematic documentation, registration and management of the information. The adoption of integrated i...
40 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of cooperation with customers and suppliers on firm performance via innovation capability was examined and a balance must exist between cooperation and competition to achieve optimal innovation returns for the sustainable development of firms.
Abstract: PurposeDespite their economic and cultural significance, the growth of handicraft micro firms is vulnerable, given their small size and resource limitations. By examining the impact of cooperation on firm performance via innovation capability, this study shows how micro firms can address constraints and achieve sustainable development by acquiring and utilizing external resources, complemented by innovation capability, through internal development.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 164 handicraft micro firms in Pakistan via a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was employed to estimate interrelations of various constructs simultaneously and control measurement errors.FindingsThe impact of cooperation with customers and suppliers on firm performance via innovation capability was positive and significant. Contrarily, competitor cooperation did not significantly affect innovation capability. Furthermore, there was a positive and significant interaction effect of customer and competitor cooperation on innovation capability. Thus, micro firms must reinforce their customer and supplier relationships through innovation capability and internal transformation for sustainable development. Moreover, a balance must exist between cooperation and competition to achieve optimal innovation returns for the sustainable development of firms.Originality/valueThis study emphasized that micro firms must strengthen their customer and supplier relationships via innovation capability and internal development to achieve higher performance. Moreover, the study introduced a new dimension for measuring firm performance.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the adopted ways of the interactive documentary users to engage with the storytelling, the depth to which they were involved along with the most popular sections/traffic sources and the differences between the first launch period and latest years were investigated.
Abstract: This paper casts light on cultural heritage storytelling in the context of interactive documentary, a hybrid media genre that employs a full range of multimedia tools to document reality, provide sustainability of the production and successful engagement of the audience. The main research hypotheses are enclosed in the statements: (a) the interactive documentary is considered a valuable tool for the sustainability of cultural heritage and (b) digital approaches to documentary storytelling can provide a sustainable form of viewing during the years. Using the Greek interactive documentary (i-doc) NEW LIFE (2013) as a case study, the users’ engagement is evaluated by analyzing items from a seven-year database of web metrics. Specifically, we explore the adopted ways of the interactive documentary users to engage with the storytelling, the depth to which they were involved along with the most popular sections/traffic sources and finally, the differences between the first launch period and latest years were investigated. We concluded that interactivity affordances of this genre enhance the social dimension of cultural, while the key factors for sustainability are mainly (a) constant promotion with transmedia approach; (b) data-driven evaluation and reform; and (c) a good story that gathers relevant niches, with specific interest to the story.
TL;DR: The development of metabolomic- and metatranscriptomic-based analyses associated with metagenomic studies may significantly increase the understanding of the microbial processes occurring on different materials and under various environmental conditions.
Abstract: Cultural heritage objects constitute a very diverse environment, inhabited by various bacteria and fungi. The impact of these microorganisms on the degradation of artworks is undeniable, but at the same time, some of them may be applied for the efficient biotreatment of cultural heritage assets. Interventions with microorganisms have been proven to be useful in restoration of artworks, when classical chemical and mechanical methods fail or produce poor or short-term effects. The path to understanding the impact of microbes on historical objects relies mostly on multidisciplinary approaches, combining novel meta-omic technologies with classical cultivation experiments, and physico-chemical characterization of artworks. In particular, the development of metabolomic- and metatranscriptomic-based analyses associated with metagenomic studies may significantly increase our understanding of the microbial processes occurring on different materials and under various environmental conditions. Moreover, the progress in environmental microbiology and biotechnology may enable more effective application of microorganisms in the biotreatment of historical objects, creating an alternative to highly invasive chemical and mechanical methods.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the value derived by the local community from cultural heritage and natural heritage in Jugra, Kuala Langat, as it has the potential to be a recognized heritage tourism site.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the value derived by the local community from cultural heritage and natural heritage in Jugra, Kuala Langat, as it has the potential to be a recognized heritage tourism site. The quantitative approach was used by conducting a survey study. A total of 392 respondents among the local community were selected through a purposive sampling technique. The collected data were processed with SPSS software and analyzed using cross tabulation analysis. Then, several hypotheses were tested using AMOS software. The result showed that Jugra’s unique heritage elements positively influenced the respondent’s willingness to accept and fund its tourism development. Socioeconomic factors also influenced the respondents’ disposition to preserve heritage. The findings revealed that there was priceless value when respondents agreed with the development, although they had never visited the heritage sites. Their physical, economic, and social valuation made them proud of the heritage, as it is a reflection of their identity. This study also aims to emphasize the role of local community as one of the stakeholders, as they should also be able to benefit from tourism development. All these would help boost the tourism industry, particularly through the archaeo-tourism and eco-tourism perspectives.
TL;DR: In this paper, an overview of the current trends in antimicrobial products used to protect heritage items from microbial colonization and prevent their deterioration is presented, highlighting the promising potential of various different nanomaterials, as well as points of concern and clear red flags from some emerging research.
29 Jul 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a systematic review of the state of the art in the field of climate change and cultural heritage, focusing on 165 publications (2016-2020) about cultural heritage and climate change.
Abstract: Research focusing on climate change and cultural heritage informs heritage management and policy. Fatoric and Seekamp assessed this field up to 2015, highlighting the need for periodic reassessment of the field given the observed growth and research that documents how cultural heritage contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Five years on, this systematic review reflects on the state of the art by evaluating 165 publications (2016–2020) about cultural heritage and climate change. We find the field continues to grow, and remains rich in disciplinary and methodological diversity, but predominantly represents research in and about Europe. The number of publications about integrating cultural heritage into adaptation and mitigation are increasing but remain relatively few compared to those about physical impacts on individual buildings or sites. The impact of climate change on intangible heritage has rarely been the sole focus of recent research. Although researchers are increasingly situating their research in a wider context of opportunities and barriers, vague timescales, and unspecific references to changes in the natural environment are additional limitations. This review also identified a lack of international collaboration, highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation and knowledge exchange on climate change and cultural heritage.
TL;DR: In this paper, the main goal of the study was to identify, characterize and discuss the main types of business models that can be found in touristic heritage sites that have been transformed into such from former industrial facilities or were newly created to pass on the heritage values.
TL;DR: In this paper, a complex story on the historic evolution of preventive conservation of architectural heritage in Italy is described, including the teaching in Milan School, debate and re-definition of architectural conservation and the advance definitions of conservation, prevention, maintenance and restoration in the 2004 National Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape.
Abstract: This paper tells us a complex story on the historic evolution of preventive conservation of architectural heritage in Italy. Firstly, it introduces Cesare Brandi's Theory of Restoration, pointing out the peculiar sense of the word Restoration in Brandi's system other than the common sense in the international discourse, the limits of Brandi's theory to architectural conservation and his prophecy on preventive restoration. Then it talks about the different framework and practices of preventive conservation in the field of built heritage compared to the museum sector, the milestone of Giovanni Urbani's pilot project on programmed conservation and the leading role of the Risk Map of Cultural Heritage. Finally, based on the discussions of the durable change in the architectural conservation field after the Venice Charter, including the teaching in Milan School, the debate and re-definition of architectural conservation and the advance definitions of conservation, prevention, maintenance and restoration in the 2004 National Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape, it gives us an agenda for future trends of planned conservation with aims to conserve the material authenticity and promote the co-evolutional strategy.
TL;DR: The importance of documenting and preserving cultural heritage is becoming more and more clear as discussed by the authors, and the importance of cultural heritages are the most important source of communication between the past and the future.
Abstract: Cultural heritages are the most important source of communication between the past and the future. The importance of documenting and preserving cultural heritage is becoming more and more clear. Tr...
TL;DR: In this article, the main highlights in the formulation and application of materials and methodologies for the cleaning, protection, and consolidation of works of art are reported, from murals to canvas paintings, metal objects, and paper artworks, comprising both classic and modern/contemporary art.
Abstract: Cultural Heritage is a crucial socioeconomic resource; yet, recurring degradation processes endanger its preservation. Serendipitous approaches in restoration practice need to be replaced by systematically addressing conservation issues through the development of advanced materials for the preservation of the artifacts. In the last few decades, materials and colloid science have provided valid solutions to counteract degradation, and we report here the main highlights in the formulation and application of materials and methodologies for the cleaning, protection and consolidation of works of art. Several types of artifacts are addressed, from murals to canvas paintings, metal objects, and paper artworks, comprising both classic and modern/contemporary art. Systems, such as nanoparticles, gels, nanostructured cleaning fluids, composites, and other functional materials, are reviewed. Future perspectives are also commented, outlining open issues and trends in this challenging and exciting field.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the impact of tourism on one of the most emblematic Portuguese monuments, the Monastery of Jeronimos, a UNESCO World Heritage building located in Lisbon.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed the consequence of urban development pressure on cultural World Heritage properties and explored the role of Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), as an assessment instrument, in recognising and analysing the potential threats in advance and in solving the potential conflicts to safeguard the heritage values.
TL;DR: By pairing geotagged internet photographs with machine learning and computer vision algorithms, this work builds upon the current theoretical discourse of anthropology associated with visuality and heritage tourism to identify travel patterns across a known archaeological heritage circuit, and quantify visual culture and experiences in Cuzco, Peru.
TL;DR: The findings show that plant invasion is an emerging challenge for the conservation of heritage sites and needs to be prioritized for management to prevent future expansion.
Abstract: Cultural heritage sites such as historical or sacred areas provide suitable habitats for plants and play an important role in nature conservation, particularly in human-modified contexts such as urban environments. However, such sites also provide opportunities for the spread of invasive species, whose impact on monuments has been raising growing concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of distribution and spread of invasive plants in heritage areas, taking the city of Rome as an example. We focused on woody species as they pose the greatest threat to the conservation of monuments, owing to the detrimental effects of their root system. We analysed changes in the diversity and traits of native and non-native flora growing on the walls of 26 ancient sites that have been surveyed repeatedly since the 1940s. We found that the diversity of the native flora has steadily decreased, while there has been an increase in non-native, larger and more damaging species. The introduced species that have expanded most are ornamental wind- or bird-dispersed trees, which represent a major management problem as their propagules can reach the upper sections of the monuments, where they become more difficult to control. The most widespread and damaging of such species is Ailanthus altissima, which has recently been included among the invasive species of European Union concern (EU Regulation 2019/1262). Our findings show that plant invasion is an emerging challenge for the conservation of heritage sites and needs to be prioritized for management to prevent future expansion.
TL;DR: In this paper, the observational damage from post-earthquake investigations carried out on churches of the Marche Region struck by the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence is analyzed, showing that such seismic activit...
Abstract: This paper analyses the observational damage from post-earthquake investigations carried out on churches of the Marche Region struck by the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence. Such seismic activit...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors empirically investigate the impact of the endowment of tangible cultural heritage on tourism attractiveness of European regions and find that tourists are willing to travel longer distance if a destination is endowed with UNESCO cultural World Heritage Sites.
Abstract: Cultural heritage is a potentially important determinant of international tourism flows. Apart from being an enrichment for both individuals and communities and an opportunity for different cultures to meet, tourism also represents a significant industry for European economies. We empirically investigate the impact of the endowment of tangible cultural heritage on tourism attractiveness of European regions. We measure material forms of cultural heritage both as regional density of locally defined monuments, cultural landscapes and museums, and as number of cultural sites listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites international programme. Using a Bayesian multilevel gravity model, we find that UNESCO cultural World Heritage Sites are associated with an increase of 6,000 (one site) to 60,000 (eight sites) international tourists from each European country to an average European region. On the other hand, regionally or nationally defined tangible forms of heritage play a more limited role as pull-factors for international tourism. Moreover, we show that the presence of UNESCO sites reduces the distance decay effect. International tourists are willing to travel longer distance if a destination is endowed with UNESCO cultural World Heritage Sites.
01 Jan 2021
TL;DR: A comprehensive overview of the role and potential of microorganisms in the degradation and preservation of cultural materials (e.g. stone, metals, graphic documents, textiles, paintings, glass, etc.) is presented in this paper.
Abstract: This open access book offers a comprehensive overview of the role and potential of microorganisms in the degradation and preservation of cultural materials (e.g. stone, metals, graphic documents, textiles, paintings, glass, etc.). Microorganisms are a major cause of deterioration in cultural artefacts, both in the case of outdoor monuments and archaeological finds. This book covers the microorganisms involved in biodeterioration and control methods used to reduce their impact on cultural artefacts. Additionally, the reader will learn more about how microorganisms can be used for the preservation and protection of cultural artefacts through bio-based and eco-friendly materials. New avenues for developing methods and materials for the conservation of cultural artefacts are discussed, together with concrete advances in terms of sustainability, effectiveness and toxicity, making the book essential reading for anyone interested in microbiology and the preservation of cultural heritage.
TL;DR: The WarSampo knowledge graph (KG), a shared semantic infrastructure, and a Linked Open Data service for publishing data about WW2, with a focus on Finnish military history are presented.
Abstract: The Second World War (WW2) is arguably the most devastating catastrophe of human history, a topic of great interest to not only researchers but the general public. However, data about the Second World War is heterogeneous and distributed in various organizations and countries making it hard to utilize. In order to create aggregated global views of the war, a shared ontology and data infrastructure is needed to harmonize information in various data silos. This makes it possible to share data between publishers and application developers, to support data analysis in Digital Humanities research, and to develop datadriven intelligent applications. As a first step towards these goals, this article presents the WarSampo knowledge graph (KG), a shared semantic infrastructure, and a Linked Open Data (LOD) service for publishing data about WW2, with a focus on Finnish military history. The shared semantic infrastructure is based on the idea of representing war as a spatio-temporal sequence of events that soldiers, military units, and other actors participate in. The used metadata schema is an extension of CIDOC CRM, supplemented by various military historical domain ontologies. With an infrastructure containing shared ontologies, maintaining the interlinked data brings upon new challenges, as one change in an ontology can propagate across several datasets that use it. To support sustainability, a repeatable automatic data transformation and linking pipeline has been created for rebuilding the whole WarSampo KG from the individual source datasets. The WarSampo KG is hosted on a data service based on W3C Semantic Web standards and best practices, including content negotiation, SPARQL API, download, automatic documentation, and other services supporting the reuse of the data. The WarSampo KG, a part of the international LOD Cloud and totalling ca. 14 million triples, is in use in nine end-user application views of the WarSampo portal, which has had over 400 000 end users since its opening in 2015.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a digital technologies are more and more needed to give access to Cultural Heritage (CH) and to allow for their curation and re-use.
Abstract: Digital technologies are more and more needed to give access to Cultural Heritage (CH) and to allow for their curation and re-use. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the knowledge on the ...
TL;DR: The results of the study show that hybrid approaches are a promising line of research in the field of evaluation and urban design, applied to cultural heritage.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to illustrate, through a case study, a multilevel decision-making process able to support the decision maker in optimizing investment choices for the efficient allocation of public resources, with specific reference to recovery and adaptation to the reuse of unused historical public heritage. During the evaluation process, two methods in particular were combined according to a multiphase design: (i) a multi-criteria analysis to identify the Highest and Best Use among alternative reuse scenarios and (ii) a Discounted Cash Flow Analysis to support verification of the financial feasibility of the investment, in the hypothesis of an enhancement concession in a public–private partnership. Each method was applied in parallel to the evolution of the different design scenarios. The results of the study show that hybrid approaches are a promising line of research in the field of evaluation and urban design, applied to cultural heritage.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of the literature concerning technology used for creating and delivering accessible museum and cultural heritage sites experiences and highlight the importance of the delivery suited for everyone from different areas of expertise.
Abstract: This paper reviews the literature concerning technology used for creating and delivering accessible museum and cultural heritage sites experiences. It highlights the importance of the delivery suited for everyone from different areas of expertise, namely interaction design, pedagogical and participatory design, and it presents how recent and future artificial intelligence (AI) developments can be used for this aim, i.e.,improving and widening online and in situ accessibility. From the literature review analysis, we articulate a conceptual framework that incorporates key elements that constitute museum and cultural heritage online experiences and how these elements are related to each other. Concrete opportunities for future directions empirical research for accessibility of cultural heritage contents are suggested and further discussed.