Cultural Heritage and New Technologies: From NextGen Approaches to Paradigm Shifts

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 7583

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Fachhochschule Mainz, University of Applied Sciences, Mainz, Germany
Interests: culture heritage; heritage BIM; 3D visualization; 3D documentation

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: culture heritage; 3D visualization; 3D hypothetical reconstruction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The special issue of MDPI Heritage, dedicated to the Cultural Heritage and New Technologies conferences held in Vienna in 2022 and 2023, encapsulates the forefront of innovation and paradigm shifts in the field of Cultural Heritage. This issue brings together the best papers presented at these conferences, showcasing cutting-edge research and developments in the documentation, research, management, and education of Cultural Heritage.

In 2022, the conference focused on "Cultural Heritage–NextGen. Innovative Approaches in Documentation, Research, Management, and Education". This theme emphasized the integration of next-generation technologies and methodologies to enhance the preservation and understanding of Cultural Heritage. Papers from this year highlight advancements in digital documentation, innovative research techniques, and new management strategies. Contributions explore the utilization of 3D modeling, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence to document and analyze historical sites and artifacts. These technologies are revolutionizing the way we approach Cultural Heritage, making it more accessible and engaging for both researchers and the public.

The 2023 conference, themed "Cultural Heritage as a Resource: Technologies for the Paradigm Shift in Archaeology, Conservation, and Education", underscored the role of Cultural Heritage as a vital resource for contemporary society. The focus was on technologies that facilitate a significant shift in how Cultural Heritage is conserved, studied, and taught. Papers from this year delve into sustainable conservation practices, the application of remote sensing and GIS in archaeology, and innovative educational tools. These contributions demonstrate how Cultural Heritage can be leveraged as a dynamic resource that not only preserves the past but also informs and enriches present and future generations.

This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies that are shaping the field of Cultural Heritage. By merging the themes of both conferences, it presents a holistic view of how next-generation innovations and paradigm-shifting technologies are being applied to Cultural Heritage documentation, research, management, conservation, and education. This collection of papers serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, offering insights and inspiration for the continued advancement of Cultural Heritage studies.

Prof. Dr. Piotr Kuroczyński
Prof. Fabrizio Ivan Apollonio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Publisher's Notice

As stated above, the central purpose of this Special Issue is to present research from Cultural Heritage and New Technologies by ICOMOS Austria. Given this purpose, the Guest Editors’ contribution to this Special Issue may be greater than standard Special Issues published by MDPI. Further details on MDPI's Special Issue guidelines can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/special_issues_guidelines. The Editorial Office and Editor-in-Chief of Heritage has approved this and MDPI’s standard manuscript editorial processing procedure (https://www.mdpi.com/editorial_process) will be applied to all submissions. As per our standard procedure, Guest Editors are excluded from participating in the editorial process for their submission and/or for submissions from persons with whom a potential conflict of interest may exist. More details on MDPI’s Conflict of Interest policy for reviewers and editors can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark22.

Keywords

  • cultural heritage
  • NextGen technologies
  • digital documentation
  • innovative research
  • heritage management
  • virtual reality
  • artificial intelligence
  • sustainable conservation
  • archaeology
  • educational tools

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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13 pages, 5424 KiB  
Article
Zonal Reconstruction of Daylighting in Historic Built Environments: A Workflow to Model and Evaluate Light in Spatial and Temporal Domains
by Lars Oliver Grobe, Andreas Noback, Stephen William Wasilewski and Claudia Mächler
Heritage 2024, 7(11), 5963-5975; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7110279 - 22 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1019
Abstract
Computer simulation allows to study daylight conditions in the past that afforded activities in antique buildings. The Python module phos4dtools implements the efficient computation of zonal daylight metrics that are considered to indicate affordances. It was employed to solve horizontal and vertical illuminance [...] Read more.
Computer simulation allows to study daylight conditions in the past that afforded activities in antique buildings. The Python module phos4dtools implements the efficient computation of zonal daylight metrics that are considered to indicate affordances. It was employed to solve horizontal and vertical illuminance for different orientations and elevations in the House of the Priestesses, a unit of the Hadrianic Garden Houses complex in Ostia. A reconstruction model of the unit was produced by collating an existing, detailed 3D documentation with other sources and our own survey data. The spatially and temporally resolved results of daylight simulation employing phos4dtools were imported into a GIS database. Assuming typical reflectance properties, illuminance thresholds were determined that are required for the perception of contrast detail and colour differences. Integration over temporal periods and spatial zones that are eligible for residential activities was implemented by queries to the database. First, preliminary results indicated different distributions of affordances by daylight, depending on the characteristics of the considered visual tasks. Horizontal illuminance decreases quickly with increasing distance to the aperture, suggesting that activities bound to a horizontal work plane were constraint to the immediate adjacency of windows and potentially open doors. Vertical illuminance, on the other hand, reaches deep into the building when the receiving surface is oriented to a window, particularly in the absence of exterior obstructions. The exemplary application of phos4dtools shows its potential in the interdisciplinary research on daylight and its implications on living practice in antique buildings. Full article
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13 pages, 5369 KiB  
Article
Tracking Evidence of Seismic Damage by Nonlinear Numerical Simulations for Dating in Archaeological Contexts
by Laura Pecchioli, Barbara Pintucchi and Michele Betti
Heritage 2024, 7(10), 5774-5786; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7100271 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 717
Abstract
The Roman town of Ostia offers a unique opportunity to study a wide range of structural damage affecting different types of ancient buildings. In the Piccolo Mercato, potential seismic effects are visible in the masonry walls and in some of the masonry pillars [...] Read more.
The Roman town of Ostia offers a unique opportunity to study a wide range of structural damage affecting different types of ancient buildings. In the Piccolo Mercato, potential seismic effects are visible in the masonry walls and in some of the masonry pillars that in ancient times supported an arcade. This paper, with the aim of providing insight into the causes of the observed damage on one of these pillars, reports and discusses some results of an interdisciplinary study. The damaged pillar under consideration, in particular, is today broken with the upper part rotated about 12 degrees counterclockwise from the lower part. Numerical simulations of this pillar have been performed using finite element models, and incremental nonlinear time-history analyses were carried out for quite a large number of seismic input ground motions. From the obtained results, it appears that a rotation, similar to that exhibited by the upper part of the pillar, can be attributed to seismic action with Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values ranging from medium to high. Full article
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16 pages, 7815 KiB  
Article
The Scientific Reference Model—A Methodological Approach in the Hypothetical 3D Reconstruction of Art and Architecture
by Piotr Kuroczyński, Igor Piotr Bajena and Irene Cazzaro
Heritage 2024, 7(10), 5446-5461; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7100257 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 654
Abstract
Scientific practice relies on the rigorous documentation of procedures, methods, and outcomes, governed by principles like method verification, objectivity, and source disclosure. In the computer-based hypothetical 3D reconstruction of destroyed or never realised art and architecture, adhering to these principles faces challenges due [...] Read more.
Scientific practice relies on the rigorous documentation of procedures, methods, and outcomes, governed by principles like method verification, objectivity, and source disclosure. In the computer-based hypothetical 3D reconstruction of destroyed or never realised art and architecture, adhering to these principles faces challenges due to evolving software, methods, and data types, leading to a lack of standardised documentation and publication practices for 3D models. Consequently, the traceability, accessibility, and sustainability of research outcomes are compromised. Decades after the advent of computer-aided 3D visualisation in cultural heritage, there is a critical need to define applicable methodology and comprehensive documentation standards. Web-based platforms necessitate technical infrastructures and clear scientific methodologies to ensure understandable model creation and sustainable accessibility to 3D research data. The Scientific Reference Model proposes an accessible academic framework for this kind of 3D reconstruction, aiming to facilitate broad adoption. Developed and tested in research projects and educational contexts, this model aims to establish clear, accessible 3D models on the web, serving as foundational references for future research and knowledge dissemination. Full article
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13 pages, 2795 KiB  
Article
Terminological Study for Scientific Hypothetical 3D Reconstruction
by Federico Fallavollita, Riccardo Foschi, Fabrizio Ivan Apollonio and Irene Cazzaro
Heritage 2024, 7(9), 4755-4767; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7090225 - 30 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 577
Abstract
This paper presents preliminary findings from the ongoing Erasmus+ European project CoVHer, which focuses on the hypothetical virtual reconstructions of lost or unbuilt architecture. This contribution provides a critical assessment of the terminology specific to this field. A significant challenge lies in the [...] Read more.
This paper presents preliminary findings from the ongoing Erasmus+ European project CoVHer, which focuses on the hypothetical virtual reconstructions of lost or unbuilt architecture. This contribution provides a critical assessment of the terminology specific to this field. A significant challenge lies in the absence of standardised terminology for many foundational aspects, which can lead to misconceptions and misunderstandings. The research begins with a comprehensive review of the relevant literature in the field, aiming to identify which terms are most widely accepted and appropriate to use and which are ambiguous or should be avoided. For concepts that lack a clear definition, new terminology is proposed. This paper analyses six key terms: reconstruction, uncertainty, raw model, informative model, digital representation methods, and 3D modelling techniques. Full article
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14 pages, 11864 KiB  
Article
Prehistoric Recycling Explained in a Playful Way: The Pfahlbauten Wimmelbild—An Interactive Digital Mediation Tool Designed by Young People
by Helena Seidl da Fonseca, Fiona Leipold and Karina Grömer
Heritage 2024, 7(9), 4617-4630; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7090217 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1277
Abstract
With the “Talents Internship program” established by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG, Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft), 14- to 17-year-old students from various school types visited the Natural History Museum and the Kuratorium Pfahlbauten in summer 2022 to gain practical experience in research. The internship [...] Read more.
With the “Talents Internship program” established by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG, Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft), 14- to 17-year-old students from various school types visited the Natural History Museum and the Kuratorium Pfahlbauten in summer 2022 to gain practical experience in research. The internship focused on a sustainability approach, discussing recycling methods, the sustainable use of resources and the circular economy in prehistory. The UNESCO World Heritage “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” was used as a research area for the project. The project also aimed to make the content developed by the students available to the public as a digital media tool. The pupils brought an illustration of a prehistoric lake shore settlement to life and created an interactive image available at the website of Kuratorium Pfahlbauten. Various scenes of the illustration have been augmented with animations created by the students of HTL Spengergasse in Vienna. Students from federal secondary schools from Vienna (Stubenbastei) and Upper Austria (Traun) researched the information about the objects and wrote texts that, as a description of the animated videos, introduce the users to the prehistoric artifact and explain the recycling process behind it. The students worked independently using the scientific literature, 140-year-old inventory books and 6000-year-old objects from the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna. The activities and the supporting program within the internship were recorded by the students in blog posts, available at the Pfahlbauten-Blog. The co-creative approach of the FFG Talent Internship made it possible to introduce a group of school students to the process of scientific work and the communication of results. It was honored with the Creative App Award at CHNT 2023. Full article
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24 pages, 45845 KiB  
Article
Priene, a Monumental Disaster in the Aegean: Digital Approaches to the Doric Stoa’s and the Theater’s Lost Evidence
by Elisabetta Caterina Giovannini, Giorgio Verdiani and Vieri Cardinali
Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4538-4561; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080214 - 21 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 991
Abstract
This paper uses digital approaches to investigate Priene’s (Turkey) archaeological area. The city was built ex novo, after a catastrophic earthquake around 350 BC, on a new site facing the Mediterranean Sea. The city suffered a slow decline following centuries of development and [...] Read more.
This paper uses digital approaches to investigate Priene’s (Turkey) archaeological area. The city was built ex novo, after a catastrophic earthquake around 350 BC, on a new site facing the Mediterranean Sea. The city suffered a slow decline following centuries of development and was abandoned after the 12th century. The remains of Priene were discovered in the 17th century, and different excavations and studies have been conducted in the last few centuries. The city’s remains have been studied from various archaeological and historical points of view. It is documented that the city suffered different earthquakes during its existence, as demonstrated by the partial restorations and damage patterns visible within the remains. This contribution offers a methodological and interdisciplinary approach for studying and enhancing archaeological heritage. This paper presents the preliminary results of the first comprehensive digital acquisition of the Aegean city of Priene. The digitization approaches here described focused on digital acquisition and 3D modeling restitution in the form of virtual reconstructions of two monumental buildings: the Doric Stoa near the Temple of Athena Polias and the Theater. The procedure was complementary to the analysis and comprehension of previous numerous studies carried out by British and German institutions, where digital acquisition and restitution techniques have led to the validation of previously obtained results. For the first time, digital models have been used as tools for accessing heterogeneous knowledge, and they have been incorporated into the discourse of archeological studies. Indeed, the interdisciplinary team went beyond archaeological data to attempt to digitally reconstruct monumental complexes and conduct preliminary structural evaluations scientifically. Full article
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15 pages, 8962 KiB  
Article
Quantifying Uncertainty in Hypothetical 3D Reconstruction—A User-Independent Methodology for the Calculation of Average Uncertainty
by Riccardo Foschi, Federico Fallavollita and Fabrizio Ivan Apollonio
Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4440-4454; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080209 - 17 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 791
Abstract
A shared commitment to standardising the process of hypothetically reconstructing lost buildings from the past has characterised academic research in recent years and can manifest at various stages of the reconstructive process and with different perspectives. This research specifically aims to establish a [...] Read more.
A shared commitment to standardising the process of hypothetically reconstructing lost buildings from the past has characterised academic research in recent years and can manifest at various stages of the reconstructive process and with different perspectives. This research specifically aims to establish a user-independent and traceable procedure that can be applied at the end of the reconstructive process to quantify the average level of uncertainty of 3D digital architectural models. The procedure consists of applying a set of mathematical formulas based on numerical values retrievable from a given scale of uncertainty and developed to simplify reuse and improve transparency in reconstructive 3D models. This effort to assess uncertainty in the most user-independent way possible will contribute to producing 3D models that are more comparable to each other and more transparent for academic researchers, professionals, and laypersons who wish to reuse them. Being able to calculate a univocal numerical value that gives information on the global average uncertainty of a certain reconstructive model is an additional synthetic way, together with the more visual false-colour scale of uncertainty, to help disseminate the work in a clear and transmissible way. However, since the hypothetical reconstructive process is a process based on personal interpretation, which inevitably requires a certain level of subjectivity, it is crucial to define a methodology to assess and communicate this subjectivity in a user-independent and reproducible way. Full article
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15 pages, 2195 KiB  
Essay
The Three-Dimensional Model as a ‘Scientific Fact’: The Scientific Methodology in Hypothetical Reconstruction
by Fabrizio I. Apollonio
Heritage 2024, 7(10), 5413-5427; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7100255 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 731
Abstract
For more than thirty years, 3D digital modelling has been used more and more widely as a research tool in various disciplinary fields. Despite this, the 3D models produced by different research, investigation, and speculation activities are still only used as a basis [...] Read more.
For more than thirty years, 3D digital modelling has been used more and more widely as a research tool in various disciplinary fields. Despite this, the 3D models produced by different research, investigation, and speculation activities are still only used as a basis and as sources for the production of images and scientific contributions (papers in journals, contributions in conference proceedings, etc.) in dissemination and cultural activities, but without having yet assumed full autonomy as a ‘scientific fact’, as a product of research, or as a means of scientific debate and progress. This paper outlines the context in the field of architecture and archeology in which the use of 3D models has become increasingly widespread, reaching a level of full maturity, and how the field of hypothetical reconstruction can be characterized as an autonomous/scientific discipline through the definition and adoption of a scientific, transparent, verifiable, reusable, and refutable method. In this context, the definition of the 3D model as a product of scientific speculation and research is proposed. Full article
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