Special Issue "YOCOCU2020 Hands on Heritage: Experiencing, Conservation, Mastering Management"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021).

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andrea Macchia
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
YOCOCU, Via Tasso 108, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: conservation of cultural heritage; deterioration phenomena and new methods for the conservation of inorganic materials; new nano systems for the cultural heritage conservation.
Prof. Dr. Nicola Masini
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Science of Cultural Heritage, National Research Council, C.da Santa Loja, 85050 Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy
Interests: integrated multiscale remote sensing methods in archaeology; non-invasive sensing technologies and sciences for architectural and archaeological heritage conservation and management; sciences for conservation and architectural restoration; integrated approaches to cultural heritage management and valorization
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Fernanda Prestileo
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CNR-ISAC (National Research Council, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate), Area della Ricerca di Tor Vergata, Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: conservation of cultural heritage; non-destructive techniques for diagnostics on cultural heritage; microclimatic monitoring; preventive conservation
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Heritage encourages the submission of contributions presented at the 7th YOCOCU (Youth in Conservation and Cultural Heritage) Conference in Tbilisi, on 19th–23rd May 2020: "Hands on Heritage: Experiencing, Conservation, Mastering Management". This edition is devoted to experiences in learning and working on real-life scenarios in the realm of the conservation and management of cultural heritage. YOCOCU meetings are aimed at transmitting and disseminating knowledge and experiences in this broad and complex realm. In Tbilisi Georgian, Caucasian and International professionals, researchers and students will be able to realize and to attend sessions set as "short-workshops", where all attendees will update their knowledge in the conservation of cultural heritage or the management of site museums, world heritage sites, archaeological research in monumental heritage.

Therefore, research articles addressing the following (not exhaustive) list of topics are welcomed:

  • Archaeological heritage between conservation and management
  • New strategies in conservation and valorization of archaeological sites and buildings
  • Archaeological research and cultural landscape
  • Architectural restoration and conservation: approaches and case studies
  • Public archaeology
  • Remote sensing for archaeology and cultural heritage management
  • Natural risk assessment for the protection of cultural heritage and landscape
  • Remote and in-situ sensing technologies for the conservation and interpretation of monuments
Dr. Andrea Macchia
Dr. Nicola Masini
Dr. Fernanda Prestileo
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 papers will be 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 quarterly 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 1200 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.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Article
“Underground Built Heritage”: A Theoretical Approach for the Definition of an International Class
Heritage 2021, 4(3), 1092-1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4030061 - 30 Jun 2021
Viewed by 354
Abstract
Although nowadays sustainable reuse of underground cultural heritage has become a global trend, as yet Underground Built Heritage (UBH) is not regarded as a distinctive class eligible for protection. After a critical overview of previous attempts at defining underground heritage by associations such [...] Read more.
Although nowadays sustainable reuse of underground cultural heritage has become a global trend, as yet Underground Built Heritage (UBH) is not regarded as a distinctive class eligible for protection. After a critical overview of previous attempts at defining underground heritage by associations such as UIS, SSI and UNESCO, this article updates the definition of the new-born class of UBH on the basis of three main criteria: position (by introducing the concept of Geographical Zero Level), manmade character, and cultural relevance, both material and immaterial. Building on the outputs of several projects devoted to this topic and the results of academic expertise in this field, the author proposes a new dedicated methodological approach consisting of a chart for the classification of artefacts as historical UBH and a strategy for their reuse based on a four-level scale: Re-inventing, Re-introducing, Re-interpreting and Re-building. Full article
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Article
Characterization of Adobe Blocks: Point-Load Assessment as a Complementary Study of Damaged Buildings and Samples
Heritage 2021, 4(2), 864-888; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4020047 - 20 May 2021
Viewed by 619
Abstract
Adobe masonry is one of the oldest construction systems still in use today, Mexico has an enormous cultural heritage with traditional adobe houses being very representative of the rural communities and their culture. The 2017 Puebla Earthquake on September 19th struck the country [...] Read more.
Adobe masonry is one of the oldest construction systems still in use today, Mexico has an enormous cultural heritage with traditional adobe houses being very representative of the rural communities and their culture. The 2017 Puebla Earthquake on September 19th struck the country causing the loss, destruction, and damage of historic buildings in several Mexican states, with the traditional earthen dwellings being the most vulnerable structures to these events. The fast abandonment of the local materials and techniques entails further research regarding the characterization of these construction systems, therefore, reconstruction efforts first require the recovery of the construction technique. After the seismic events, adobe samples of the remaining adobe structures of Jojutla de Juarez were collected. This population was one of the most affected in all the country, and, because of the major losses suffered, the study was conducted to determine the material properties of the dwellings’ adobe shards and natural quarry clays of the region. The characterization included destructive and non-destructive tests, mineralogical and granulometry analyses, and composition of the adobe samples of the buildings, as well as the aggregates. As a novelty, the compressive strength of the pieces was tested by two methods: the traditional compression strength test and the point-load test, in order to obtain the indicative values and the correlation equations between both tests. From the formal analysis and the laboratory, it was observed that the adobes from Jojutla presented different compositions which combined with the building malpractices and alterations to the traditional systems caused unpredictable behavior during the earthquake. The conduction of point-load tests in situ, as a part of a complete characterization methodology, could be an alternative to study the mechanical properties of patrimonial or damaged building samples before its disappearance. Full article
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Article
Temporal Lensing: An Interactive and Scalable Technique for Web3D/WebXR Applications in Cultural Heritage
Heritage 2021, 4(2), 710-724; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4020040 - 30 Apr 2021
Viewed by 811
Abstract
Today, Web3D technologies and the rise of new standards, combined with faster browsers and better hardware integration, allow the creation of engaging and interactive web applications that target the field of cultural heritage. Functional, accessible, and expressive approaches to discovering the past starting [...] Read more.
Today, Web3D technologies and the rise of new standards, combined with faster browsers and better hardware integration, allow the creation of engaging and interactive web applications that target the field of cultural heritage. Functional, accessible, and expressive approaches to discovering the past starting from the present (or vice-versa) are generally a strong requirement. Cultural heritage artifacts, decorated walls, etc. can be considered as palimpsests with a stratification of different actions over time (modifications, restorations, or even reconstruction of the original artifact). The details of such an articulated cultural record can be difficult to distinguish and communicate visually, while entire archaeological sites often exhibit profound changes in terms of shape and function due to human activities over time. The web offers an incredible opportunity to present and communicate enriched 3D content using common web browsers, although it raises additional challenges. We present an interactive 4D technique called “Temporal Lensing”, which is suitable for online multi-temporal virtual environments and offers an expressive, accessible, and effective way to locally peek into the past (or into the future) by targeting interactive Web3D applications, including those leveraging recent standards, such as WebXR (immersive VR on the web). This technique extends previous approaches and presents different contributions, including (1) a volumetric, temporal, and interactive lens approach; (2) complete decoupling of the involved 3D representations from the runtime perspective; (3) a wide range applications in terms of size (from small artifacts to entire archaeological sites); (4) cross-device scalability of the interaction model (mobile devices, multi-touch screens, kiosks, and immersive VR); and (5) simplicity of use. We implemented and developed the described technique on top of an open-source framework for interactive 3D presentation of CH content on the web. We show and discuss applications and results related to three case studies, as well as integrations of the temporal lensing with different input interfaces for dynamically interacting with its parameters. We also assessed the technique within a public event where a remote web application was deployed on tablets and smartphones, without any installation required by visitors. We discuss the implications of temporal lensing, its scalability from small to large virtual contexts, and its versatility for a wide range of interactive 3D applications. Full article
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Article
Accessibility, Natural User Interfaces and Interactions in Museums: The IntARSI Project
Heritage 2021, 4(2), 567-584; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4020034 - 04 Apr 2021
Viewed by 771
Abstract
In a museum context, people have specific needs in terms of physical, cognitive, and social accessibility that cannot be ignored. Therefore, we need to find a way to make art and culture accessible to them through the aid of Universal Design principles, advanced [...] Read more.
In a museum context, people have specific needs in terms of physical, cognitive, and social accessibility that cannot be ignored. Therefore, we need to find a way to make art and culture accessible to them through the aid of Universal Design principles, advanced technologies, and suitable interfaces and contents. Integration of such factors is a priority of the Museums General Direction of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, within the wider strategy of museum exploitation. In accordance with this issue, the IntARSI project, publicly funded, consists of a pre-evaluation and a report of technical specifications for a new concept of museology applied to the new Museum of Civilization in Rome (MuCIV). It relates to planning of multimedia, virtual, and mixed reality applications based on the concept of “augmented” and multisensory experience, innovative tangible user interfaces, and storytelling techniques. An inclusive approach is applied, taking into account the needs and attitudes of a wide audience with different ages, cultural interests, skills, and expectations, as well as cognitive and physical abilities. Full article
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Article
The Vocational School of Sintra and Its Contribution to Heritage Education
Heritage 2021, 4(1), 466-478; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4010028 - 05 Mar 2021
Viewed by 587
Abstract
This paper aims to share the experience acquired with students of the 3rd year (namely the 12th grade of the Portuguese educational system) at the Vocational School for the Recovery of Heritage of Sintra in the Course of Studies for Conservation and Restoration [...] Read more.
This paper aims to share the experience acquired with students of the 3rd year (namely the 12th grade of the Portuguese educational system) at the Vocational School for the Recovery of Heritage of Sintra in the Course of Studies for Conservation and Restoration Assistants in the field of Plaster Restoration, in the classes of Work-Related Training and Analytical Methods of Examination and Laboratory Analysis, by carrying out theoretical-practical work and training in a work context specifically focused on Portuguese heritage, demonstrating how practical classes motivate students and prepare them for future professional work. This vocational course helps students to reflect and question themselves on the role of “looking” at heritage. Thus, its cross information, both interdisciplinary and from the historical-artistic context of the monument, will provide a better perspective over its materiality and its use. In situ learning awakens students to the reality of work. The notion that they are helping to maintain the memory of ancestors credits them and gives them confidence in their work. After presenting their Final Year Projects, they look at heritage with a more awakened vision. With this, they have the perception that they have contributed to the reconstruction of memory, their cultural heritage. Full article
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