History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage

Dear Colleagues,

In a historical moment shaped by profound transformations on an environmental and socio-cultural scale, the long-term preservation, accessibility and relevance of our shared cultural heritage needs to be re-considered by integrating scientific research with the principles of sustainable development.

The international scenario emphasizes how technological and scientific research and sustainable development can provide essential frameworks and strategies for conservation; promote economic, social and environmental benefits; and ensure the integration of cultural heritage into sustainable urban and tourism development. Scientific research endows us with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand, analyze, preserve and document cultural heritage effectively. The integration between research and sustainable development can, thus, led to the establishment of innovative framework and principles to ensure that the management and use of cultural heritage are environmentally sound, economically viable, socially equitable and contribute to the well-being of present and future generations.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue “History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage”, featuring new achievements within Recovery and Resiliency Plan Italian project CHANGES—CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTIVE INNOVATION FOR NEXT-GEN SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY. The project aims to establish an international reference center for training, research and technology transfer in the field of culture and cultural heritage. The goal is to enhance the role of cultural heritage, promoting new sustainable approaches for protection and enjoyment, creating stable partnerships between research and business and offering employment opportunities in the field.

In particular, this Special Issue is aimed at fostering the results and achievements of a group of researchers belonging to Spoke 6—History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, whose aims are the development of integrated methodologies for the historical understanding, the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and promoting a multidisciplinary approach involving humanistic, archeological, scientific and technological research.

In line with the journal’s scopes, this Special Issue aims to stimulate reflections on the role of cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable economic development through knowledge transfer and capacity building, rooted into research processes strongly oriented towards transdisciplinarity. Emphasis will be given to the discussion of integrated innovative approaches and best practices in the management, preservation and conservation of cultural heritage, ensuring its continued relevance and transmission across generations.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Understanding and Conservation: Scientific research, often termed “heritage science”, provides crucial insights into the materials, techniques and environmental factors that affect cultural heritage (tangible and intangible).
• Innovation in Conservation Materials and Techniques: Scientific research drives the development of new and improved materials and techniques for conservation, ensuring the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.
• Monitoring and Risk Assessment: Scientific research helps monitor the condition of cultural heritage sites and objects, identify potential risks (e.g., pollution, climate change, biological threats) and develop preventative measures.
• Digital Documentation and Interpretation: Scientific methods, including 3D scanning and virtual reality, enable the accurate digital documentation of cultural heritage, facilitating wider access and research and engaging public interpretation.
• Understanding Degradation Mechanisms: Scientific investigation helps identify the causes and mechanisms of deterioration in various materials, allowing for targeted conservation efforts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mariangela Vandini
Dr. Sara Fiorentino
Prof. Dr. Pietro Maria Militello
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.

• cultural heritage
• heritage management
• sustainable development
• conservation
• conservation science