sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Digital Technology and Conservation Science for Sustainable Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Interdisciplinary Studies, Challenges, and Perspectives

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1114

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CERTO—Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics—INOE 2000, 077125 Măgurele, Ilfov, Romania
Interests: spectral imaging; methodologies and integrative methods for characterization and safeguarding cultural heritage; theory of restoration; historical monuments; technical studies; modern and contemporary art conservation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CERTO—Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics—INOE 2000, 077125 Măgurele, Ilfov, Romania
Interests: multimodal approaches to the analysis of cultural heritage; digital twins; laser spectroscopy; sustainability of laser cleaning technologies; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability, as a social concept and goal of “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, also accurately defines the essence of cultural heritage conservation.  The evolution of society has raised the awareness to preserve intangible heritage as an ineluctable part of our identity. These efforts for preservation were crystalized into the Faro Convention, which promotes a wider understanding of heritage as an irreversible and unique cultural resource, as well as its relationship to communities and society. The sustainable preservation and management of cultural heritage is increasingly supported by innovative technological advancements that aim to balance heritage conservation with environmental responsibility. Key approaches such as digitization, digital restoration, and reconstructions are integral to sustaining cultural assets by providing virtual representations that can be used for ongoing conservation efforts without physical intervention. The concept of digital twins, where real-time virtual replicas of cultural heritage sites and artefacts are created, offers significant contributions to sustainability. These digital models allow for continuous monitoring, data analysis, and decision-making, enabling the proactive preservation of cultural heritage while reducing the environmental impact of traditional conservation methods Moreover, the integration of digital management strategies for museums, archives, and historical sites facilitates more efficient resource-conscious operations. Innovative theories and methodologies are being developed to ensure sustainable cultural heritage conservation practices, advocating for eco-friendly low-impact approaches that minimise damage to the physical environment and the heritage artefact itself. Multi-modal conservation approaches, which incorporate various technological tools and methods, enhance the effectiveness of conservation strategies and encourage the use of resources more efficiently. In the context of built heritage, reconversion practices—where historical buildings are repurposed for modern use—promote sustainable reuse, reducing the need for new construction, while preserving the cultural and historical value of these sites.

This Special Issue aims to attract high-quality manuscripts that explore how these technologies and methodologies contribute to the sustainability of cultural heritage, highlighting their role in minimising the environmental impact of preservation efforts while ensuring the continued accessibility, engagement, and protection of our cultural legacy for future generations. Dialogue between the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences is encouraged, playing a catalytic role in the research and innovation in the heritage conservation field, a common effort which contributes in reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for future generations. The keywords below are not meant to be limiting, and we will consider sustainable cultural heritage conservation in its widest sense.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lucian-Cristian Ratoiu
Dr. Monica Dinu
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • digitization, digital restoration, reconstructions, and digital twins
  • digital management and innovative strategies
  • innovative theories and methodologies
  • multi-modal approaches
  • heritage reconversion
  • accessibility
  • preventive conservation
  • risk assessment studies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

37 pages, 1654 KiB  
Article
Iconological Reconstruction and Complementarity in Chinese and Korean Museums in the Digital Age: A Comparative Study of the National Museum of Korea and the Palace Museum
by Hui Liu and Maowei Chen
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 6042; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17136042 - 1 Jul 2025
Viewed by 391
Abstract
In the context of rapid global digitalization and evolving media ecologies, sustainable cultural communication has become central to both museum transformation and the theoretical renewal of iconology. Images, as vital carriers of cultural memory and identity, are shifting from static, linear presentations to [...] Read more.
In the context of rapid global digitalization and evolving media ecologies, sustainable cultural communication has become central to both museum transformation and the theoretical renewal of iconology. Images, as vital carriers of cultural memory and identity, are shifting from static, linear presentations to generative, interactive, and participatory modes enabled by digital platforms. This shift calls for a new paradigm in image communication—one that integrates meaning construction with technological and user-centered logics. This study adopts a “technology–culture–user” framework, drawing on constructivism, cultural memory theory, and symbolic interactionism to construct a digital-era iconological system. Through comparative analysis of the Chinese Palace Museum and the National Museum of Korea, the research reveals complementary approaches: the former emphasizes structured, authoritative knowledge dissemination, while the latter prioritizes immersive, user-driven interaction. These differences provide a basis for cross-cultural cooperation. Accordingly, the paper proposes five collaborative strategies: integrating advanced technologies, building shared image resource systems, enhancing user engagement mechanisms, expanding East Asian visual symbol networks, and adapting institutional frameworks to diverse cultural contexts. These strategies aim to support both theoretical innovation in iconology and sustainable regional cultural communication in the digital age. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 8193 KiB  
Article
An Ensemble Deep Learning Framework for Smart Tourism Landmark Recognition Using Pixel-Enhanced YOLO11 Models
by Ulugbek Hudayberdiev and Junyeong Lee
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125420 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 440
Abstract
Tourist destination classification is pivotal for enhancing the travel experience, supporting cultural heritage preservation, and enabling smart tourism services. With recent advancements in artificial intelligence, deep learning-based systems have significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of landmark recognition. To address the limitations of [...] Read more.
Tourist destination classification is pivotal for enhancing the travel experience, supporting cultural heritage preservation, and enabling smart tourism services. With recent advancements in artificial intelligence, deep learning-based systems have significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of landmark recognition. To address the limitations of existing datasets, we developed the Samarkand dataset, containing diverse images of historical landmarks captured under varying environmental conditions. Additionally, we created enhanced image variants by squaring pixel values greater than 225 to emphasize high-intensity architectural features, improving the model’s ability to recognize subtle visual patterns. Using these datasets, we trained two parallel YOLO11 models on original and enhanced images, respectively. Each model was independently trained and validated, preserving only the best-performing epoch for final inference. We then ensembled the models by averaging the model outputs from the best checkpoints to leverage their complementary strengths. Our proposed approach outperforms conventional single-model baselines, achieving an accuracy of 99.07%, precision of 99.15%, recall of 99.21%, and F1-score of 99.14%, particularly excelling in challenging scenarios involving poor lighting or occlusions. The model’s robustness and high performance underscore its practical value for smart tourism systems. Future work will explore broader geographic datasets and real-time deployment on mobile platforms. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop