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Techniques and Data Analysis in Cultural Heritage, 2nd Edition
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Techniques and Data Analysis in Cultural Heritage, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Information (ISSN 2078-2489). This special issue belongs to the section "Information Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 4496

Editor

Prof. Emilio Matricciani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: satellite and deep space telecommunications; information theory; mathematics of alphabetical texts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cultural heritage is an invaluable human asset, showcasing our achievements over the centuries. The identification and conservation of cultural heritage have always been a challenge, with experts attempting to exploit any possible method to fulfill these aims. With the development of humanity and the invention of new tools and technologies such as computers and digital tools, the concept of cultural heritage conservation has changed considerably, bestowing new opportunities.

In this Special Issue, we focus on original and unpublished research articles addressing techniques and data analytics that have been or could be adopted in the domain of cultural heritage.

Prof. Dr. Emilio Matricciani
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Information 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 1800 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.

Keywords

  • data mining
  • data processing
  • mathematical methods and techniques
  • remote sensing of archeological sites and artifacts

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 27373 KB  
Article
When Reality Meets Practice: Challenges and Pitfalls in 3D Digitization Using Structured Light Scanning and Photogrammetry in Cultural Heritage
by Eleftheria Iakovaki, Markos Konstantakis, Ioannis Giaourtsakis, Evangelia Rentoumi, Dimitrios Protopapas, Christos Psarras and Efterpi Koskeridou
Information 2026, 17(3), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/info17030237 - 1 Mar 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1864
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) digitization has become a central methodological pillar in cultural heritage documentation, conservation support, and dissemination. Despite the maturity of image-based photogrammetry and active sensing technologies, real-world digitization campaigns frequently diverge from idealized workflows due to constraints related to object accessibility, surface [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) digitization has become a central methodological pillar in cultural heritage documentation, conservation support, and dissemination. Despite the maturity of image-based photogrammetry and active sensing technologies, real-world digitization campaigns frequently diverge from idealized workflows due to constraints related to object accessibility, surface properties, lighting conditions, and operational feasibility. As a result, practitioners are often required to adapt acquisition and processing strategies dynamically, balancing geometric fidelity, visual quality, and practical limitations. This study presents a practice-oriented analysis of applied digitization workflows conducted in controlled indoor and museum environments, focusing on fragile and optically challenging cultural and paleontological objects. Structured light scanning, DSLR-based photogrammetry, and hybrid approaches were systematically explored. While structured light scanning offered high nominal resolution, its performance proved sensitive to material properties and surface behavior, leading to incomplete or unstable reconstructions in several cases. Photogrammetric workflows, when supported by controlled acquisition setups, yielded robust and visually coherent results for the majority of objects. For cases where conventional photogrammetry underperformed, alternative AI-assisted image-based reconstruction pipelines were evaluated as complementary solutions. Rather than emphasizing only successful outcomes, the paper documents recurring failure modes, decision-making trade-offs, and breakdown points across acquisition, alignment, meshing, and texturing stages. Empirical observations are synthesized into qualitative comparisons and decision-support tables, highlighting the conditions under which specific digitization strategies succeed or fail. The findings underscore that hybrid workflows, while theoretically advantageous, can amplify integration complexity and error propagation if not carefully constrained. By foregrounding practical constraints and adaptive methodological choices, this work contributes a transparent, experience-driven perspective on cultural heritage digitization, supporting more resilient planning and informed decision-making in future documentation and conservation projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Data Analysis in Cultural Heritage, 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 5675 KB  
Article
Reconciling Livelihood and Tourism: A Data-Driven Diagnosis of Spatial Vitality in Small-Town China’s Historic Districts
by Wenlin Ding, Wen Ouyang and Wei-Ling Hsu
Information 2025, 16(11), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16110963 - 6 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1444
Abstract
This study addresses the critical conflict between livelihood preservation and commercial tourism in the residential historic districts of small-town China—a context often overlooked in urban studies. Taking Meizhou’s “One Town, Two Lanes” as a case, we propose a novel multi-source data fusion framework [...] Read more.
This study addresses the critical conflict between livelihood preservation and commercial tourism in the residential historic districts of small-town China—a context often overlooked in urban studies. Taking Meizhou’s “One Town, Two Lanes” as a case, we propose a novel multi-source data fusion framework integrating POIs, population heatmaps, and questionnaire surveys. By applying Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Poisson regression, and spatial correlation analysis, we quantitatively diagnose spatial disorders. The results reveal a dual-suppression mechanism: residential vitality, reliant on public services, is suppressed by commercial tourism, while tourist vitality is diminished by experience–quality gaps. This conflict manifests as pronounced vitality fractures. Our methodology and findings provide a replicable framework for diagnosing and resolving spatial conflicts in similar historic districts, emphasizing the imperative of prioritizing residential continuity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Data Analysis in Cultural Heritage, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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25 pages, 4745 KB  
Review
Electromagnetic Diagnostic Techniques for the Conservation of Modern Oil Paintings: A Review
by Patrizia Piersigilli, Rocco Citroni, Fabio Mangini and Fabrizio Frezza
Information 2026, 17(6), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/info17060522 - 25 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 491
Abstract
Modern oil paintings are characterized by the extensive use of industrial pigments, synthetic binders, and chemical additives introduced during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While these innovations enabled significant artistic experimentation, they also introduced new conservation challenges due to the chemical instability [...] Read more.
Modern oil paintings are characterized by the extensive use of industrial pigments, synthetic binders, and chemical additives introduced during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While these innovations enabled significant artistic experimentation, they also introduced new conservation challenges due to the chemical instability of many modern paint formulations. As a consequence, modern oil paintings frequently exhibit degradation phenomena such as efflorescence, yellowing, blistering, peeling and cracking, and high sensitivity to water and organic solvents. A comprehensive understanding of the materials used in modern oil paintings—including pigments, binders, and additives—is therefore essential for developing effective conservation strategies. In this context, electromagnetic (EM) diagnostic techniques represent powerful tools for the noninvasive or minimally invasive investigation of artworks. These techniques allow researchers to characterize the chemical composition, morphology, and degradation processes affecting paint layers and substrates. This paper provides an overview of the EM techniques most commonly used in the conservation of modern oil paintings. Particular attention is devoted to spectroscopic and imaging methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray-based techniques, as well as to the laser technique for the delicate cleaning process. Through selected case studies reported in the literature, this review highlights the role of these techniques in pigment identification, degradation analysis, and the development of more effective conservation strategies for modern oil paintings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Data Analysis in Cultural Heritage, 2nd Edition)
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