Ecological and Digital Transitions in Cultural Heritage Conservation: Pathways to Sustainable Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

The conservation of cultural heritage recognizes sustainability as one of the five pillars of the Framework for Action for Cultural Heritage. Its objectives include the enhancement of social capital, the promotion of economic development, and the achievement of environmental sustainability, in alignment with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cultural heritage can function both as a strategic driver for sustainable development and as a direct object of sustainability-oriented interventions.

The ecological transition in cultural heritage preservation is increasingly supported by the digital transformation of processes involved in the physical implementation of conservation strategies. Key sustainability approaches include deep renovation, the use of sustainable and circular materials, adaptive reuse interventions, and the promotion of inclusive and responsible tourism, among others.

This Special Issue aims to collect fundamental research contributions, industrial developments, and best practices related to methods and tools that support the study, documentation, and rigorous acquisition of data for the sustainable preservation of cultural assets, both movable and immovable. In this context, the conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage (CH) require the application of advanced, accurate, and efficient techniques to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of conservation actions.

Case studies may address archaeological, architectural, and artistic heritage at building, urban, or district scales. Contributions may explore strategies related to energy efficiency, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA), and circular economy approaches, supported by cutting-edge information technologies. These include, but are not limited to, 3D digital surveying, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), advanced diagnostic techniques, database management, semantic web technologies, cloud-based platforms, sensor networks, artificial intelligence, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), holography, and related tools.

Despite significant advances, the management of sustainability actions in cultural heritage remains challenged by several critical issues. Among these, the limited interoperability of datasets across different operators, disciplines, and software ecosystems within the academic and professional communities represents a particularly significant barrier.

The Special Issue seeks to compile a series of contributions that provide solutions to existing knowledge gaps in the sector.

Dr. Silvana Bruno
Dr. Juan Enrique Nieto-Julián
Dr. Juan J. Moyano
Prof. Dr. Fabio Fatiguso
Guest Editors

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