Search Results (276)

The humid coastal Lingnan region of South China, including the Chaoshan area of eastern Guangdong, is frequently exposed to disaster-prone weather conditions such as high humidity, typhoon-related winds, heavy rainfall, and salt-laden coastal air. These long-term environmental exposures may contribute to surface deterioration risks of architectural heritage. Located in Shantou, Yingchuan Shijia has shown five visible surface deterioration types—cracks, staining, saltpetering, plants, and spalling—under the combined influence of environmental exposure, material aging, previous disturbance, and insufficient maintenance. To address the limitations of manual inspection, this study explores a conservation-oriented intelligent workflow integrating YOLO-based detection, digital documentation, and screening-level conservation interpretation. Digital documentation used UAV imagery, mobile LiDAR scanning, measured drawings, and SketchUp-based three-dimensional modeling. The dataset was built in three stages: a 99-image preliminary dataset, where YOLOv8 showed only basic learning capability with low performance metrics, including Precision of 33.0 ± 3.0%, Recall of 28.0 ± 1.0%, mAP50 of 25.0 ± 1.0%, and mAP50-95 of 11.0 ± 1.0%; a 362-image non-augmented case-study dataset, where YOLOv8 still showed limited performance, with mAP50 of 20.0 ± 1.0% and mAP50-95 of 8.0 ± 1.0%; and a final YOLO-format case-study dataset of 2000 images after training-set-only augmentation using 11 geometric and photometric transformation methods. After augmentation, YOLOv8 mAP50 increased to 62.0 ± 2.0%. Under the same augmented-data condition, YOLOv13 showed Precision of 89.0 ± 1.0%, Recall of 77.0 ± 1.0%, mAP50 of 84.0 ± 1.0%, and mAP50-95 of 65.0 ± 1.0%, indicating relatively higher validation performance than YOLOv8. In the normalized confusion matrix, the background missed-detection values for cracks and saltpetering were 0.29 and 0.22, respectively, indicating that weak-feature and low-contrast deterioration types remained challenging. Based on YOLOv13, a mini program was developed to organize detection outputs and provide field-oriented preliminary conservation hints. Overall, this study provides a preliminary workflow linking digital collection, image-based deterioration detection, Grad-CAM visualization, and assisted field recording for the preventive conservation of Chaoshan overseas-Chinese residences in humid coastal heritage environments. Full article

Historic districts are complex built heritage environments where conservation, commercial activities, and public use continuously interact. A key challenge is maintaining cultural meaning and spatial authenticity while meeting contemporary demands for leisure and accessibility. Taking the Fuzimiao–Qinhuai Scenic Belt in Nanjing, China, as a representative case, this study develops a computational mixed-methods framework to evaluate visitor perception and diagnose experiential imbalances in the built heritage environment. A total of 2940 online reviews (2020–2025) were analysed using TF-IDF, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), StructBERT sentiment analysis, and Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA). Six experiential dimensions were identified, covering cultural inheritance, nightscape and leisure, rituals and museum visits, architectural space, value evaluation, and practical services. Results reveal a clear disparity: nightscape and value-related dimensions received the highest attention and positive sentiment, whereas rituals and museum interpretation underperformed despite their central heritage significance. Based on the IPA diagnosis, the study proposes three strategies: reallocating resources from over-supplied services to underperforming cultural cores, integrating immersive digital technologies (VR/AR) to revitalise heritage interpretation, and embedding cultural narratives into nightscape experiences. These strategies support a paradigm shift from visual attraction to cultural resonance in the conservation-oriented regeneration of historic districts. Full article

Acoustic survey provides a measurement-based approach for investigating heritage spaces in which architectural morphology, environmental conditions, and sound-related practices are physically interrelated. This study applies a portable and non-invasive survey protocol to the medieval cave sanctuary of San Michele di Mezzo, located in Fisciano, Southern Italy. The site consists of stratified natural and built spaces, including a lower cave, an upper cave, and a later upper church, and represents a relevant case study for assessing the acoustic behaviour of small, irregular, and fragile cultural heritage environments. The experimental procedure combined calibrated microphone recordings, time-domain signal inspection, third-octave-band analysis, and impulse-response-derived room-acoustic indicators, including reverberation, clarity, and definition parameters. Under the adopted source–receiver configurations, the results show acoustic differentiation among the lower cave, upper cave, and later church. The caves exhibit shorter decay times than the church over most frequency bands, while clarity and definition indicators reveal a frequency-dependent behaviour that does not support a general claim of the acoustic superiority of one space over another. Comparative data from other cave and cave-like environments further contextualize the measured response of San Michele di Mezzo. The findings do not imply intentional acoustic design; rather, in the measured configuration, they show that, under the chosen conditions, the long-lasting devotional centrality of the lower cave is compatible with an acoustic response that does not contradict spoken or sung devotional use. More broadly, the study contributes to applied acoustics by demonstrating that low-invasive field surveys can provide reproducible acoustic indicators for heritage interpretation, conservation-oriented documentation, and the investigation of intangible sound-related dimensions of cultural heritage. Full article

Community- and values-based approaches to the conservation of architectural heritage are increasingly emphasised. Yet empirical evidence on how local communities assess the potential of interventions for built heritage remains limited. Hence, when examining heritage interventions based on prevailing theories, visual scenario testing is considered a significant communication tool. Therefore, this study investigates local community preferences for different intervention levels in Koya City’s urban heritage using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted visualisations that span a continuum of interventions. The visualisations serve as the basis for the survey, which was used to explore local preferences for the various heritage intervention scenarios. The correspondence between the AI-assisted visuals and the theoretical interventions was assessed by experts before the survey. The findings suggest that low- to moderate-intensity conservation strategies that preserve architectural character are consistently preferred by the survey community. In contrast, interventions that involved considerable physical change were markedly less favoured. Results from the expert validation test indicate that low- to moderate-intervention levels were reliably visualised using AI-assisted visualisations, while the higher-intervention levels were considered less representative. The supplementary calibration further highlights the importance of visual granularity in participatory heritage evaluation. However, the study remains exploratory and limited by the use of AI-assisted visualisations, a single case-study context, and the difficulty of translating nuanced conservation doctrines into visually discrete categories. This study makes a dual contribution by providing empirical evidence of local preferences across a continuum of conservation interventions, and by proposing an AI-assisted visual methodology to bridge expert conservation theory with public understanding. Full article

In provinces where the dynamics of industrialization and urbanization are intensifying, migration flows from rural settlements to urban centers are transforming the socio-cultural structure and physical fabric of rural spaces, leading to the gradual weakening of the unique rural identity and, consequently, a decline in its sustainability. This study examines the population loss occurring in rural areas as a result of industrialization and urbanization processes, along with the accompanying issue of cultural heritage preservation, using the village of Akkoy in Bilecik as a case study. Akkoy is considered worthy of preservation due to its geographical location and its architectural fabric, which has survived largely intact to the present day. Within the scope of the research, the architectural typology of 134 traditional dwellings in Akkoy was analyzed in detail based on parameters such as plot relationships, number of floors, construction systems, material usage, and facade characteristics. The findings show that the structures in the village are examples of sustainable architecture, built using local materials (adobe, stone, wood) and adapted to the sloping terrain. However, it was determined that due to intense migration, a large portion of the structures are abandoned and at risk of losing their original identities. The study emphasizes that a comprehensive conservation and management plan covering not only the buildings but also socio-economic activities (silkworm farming, agriculture, etc.) must be implemented urgently to preserve Akkoy’s rural heritage. Full article

Historic stone-built heritage is continually exposed to environmental stressors that promote material degradation and surface alteration, often in spatially heterogeneous ways. Rapid, non-destructive diagnostic tools capable of capturing both spectral and spatial information are therefore essential to support preventive conservation strategies. In this study, short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging (SWIR-HSI), combined with chemometric analysis, three-dimensional (3D) visualisation, and complementary spectroscopic techniques, is investigated as an integrated framework for assessing the conservation state of historical stonework. A field campaign was conducted at the 15th- to 17th-century San Emeterio and San Celedonio Church (Larrabetzu, Spain), a sandstone structure exposed to environmental pollution and adverse conditions. SWIR hyperspectral images (1000–2500 nm) were acquired in situ and analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and K-Means clustering to explore spectral variability and segment the façade into spectrally homogeneous regions. The resulting chemometric outputs were projected onto a photogrammetry-based 3D RGB model, enabling volumetric visualisation of material heterogeneity and surface alteration patterns. To support the interpretation of hyperspectral features, selected regions were further analysed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy. The proposed 3D-SWIR approach enhances the interpretability of hyperspectral data by embedding it within its architectural context and linking spectral variability to underlying physicochemical processes. This integrated methodology demonstrates strong potential as a non-destructive diagnostic and decision-support tool for assessing, monitoring, and conserving cultural heritage stone structures. Full article

The article illustrates the digital documentation workflow adopted to effectively use digital survey outcomes in supporting the knowledge and conservation of built heritage. This study was developed as part of the Project of Significant National Interest (PRIN), titled “KNOW.it Transition in Digital Age: KNOWing our background to refine our future”. The research focuses on the cities of Jaú and São Carlos, applying a rigorous methodology that combines archival research, photogrammetry, laser scanning, and 3D modelling. This approach is used to identify, analyse, and digitally reconstruct Italian-influenced eclectic architecture from the late 19th to early 20th century. The initiative supports both scholarly research and public dissemination through a digital platform that will host interactive maps, historical documents, 2D drawings and 3D models. By linking academic research with diasporic memory, KNOW.it highlights how digital tools can preserve and reactivate cultural legacies, fostering transnational heritage dialogue. The project’s use of social media further engages local communities in a participatory process, enriching its digital archive with crowdsourced memories and documents. The project opens up new possibilities for international cooperation, digital heritage practices, and the study of architectural migrations, showing how critically informed digital tools can recontextualise and enhance dispersed historical knowledge. Full article

Historic districts are important built environments in which architectural form and cultural meaning shape residents’ place-based identity and engagement with conservation under urban renewal. However, empirical evidence on which features of the historic environment most strongly support local identity and conservation participation in migrant-intensive, fast-growing cities remains limited. This study investigates the relationships among architectural heritage, religious elements, cultural activities, local identity, sense of belonging, and conservation participation in five historic districts in Shenzhen, China. Using a residents’ questionnaire survey, we applied hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analysis to examine these relationships. The results indicate that architectural heritage is the strongest predictor of local identity, whereas religious atmosphere and cultural activities show comparatively weak effects. Local identity is positively associated with conservation participation, with only limited mediation through sense of belonging. The findings indicate that in migrant-intensive urban settings, architectural distinctiveness plays a stronger role in shaping local identity than religious or other cultural practices. Overall, the study argues that architectural heritage should be seen not only as a physical fabric to be preserved, but also as a resource that can strengthen local identity, participation, and socially sustainable urban renewal. Full article

Heritage buildings constitute a significant element of the United Kingdom’s (UK) built environment, with 460,000 listed buildings across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These assets present substantial challenges for national decarbonisation due to statutory constraints on fabric alteration and the need to consider whole-life carbon impacts. This study evaluates the impact of conservation-compatible retrofit strategies on the operational energy and carbon performance of Fitzroy House, a Grade II listed late-modern office building in Nottingham. Dynamic building simulation (IES Virtual Environment) was used to assess baseline performance and to develop two retrofit scenarios incorporating improvements to glazing, airtightness, roof insulation, and the introduction of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). Climate resilience was evaluated using future weather files for the 2080s. Results are derived from comparative scenario-based modelling rather than calibrated predictions of absolute performance. Within this framework, the proposed measures can reduce annual heating demand by up to 68%, cooling demand by 60%, and operational carbon emissions by approximately 41% (district heating) to 64% (natural gas), relative to the as-built baseline under the most advanced retrofit scenario. Performance remains broadly robust under future climate scenarios, although cooling loads increase modestly. The findings demonstrate that, while meaningful reductions in operational carbon are achievable, retrofit outcomes are fundamentally shaped by conservation constraints, which act as an interpretive framework defining the limits and possibilities of intervention. However, results should be interpreted as indicative of relative performance improvements rather than fully generalizable or predictive outcomes, and embodied carbon impacts are not included within the scope of this study. The research provides an evidence-based pathway for improving similar late-modern listed office buildings while highlighting the limits imposed by conservation requirements and existing building fabric. Full article

This work presents the results of an archaeometric research study of the geomaterials used in the construction of the Late Antique wall of Emerita Augusta (currently Mérida, Spain). Dated to the 5th century C.E., this structure belongs to one of the best-preserved historical ensembles in Europe. In-depth knowledge of the geomaterials used in this ancient wall is essential for ensuring reliable restoration strategies and the successful long-term conservation of this monument. To this end, a rigorous sampling procedure was conducted in areas containing original archaeological remains. Samples were characterized using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), thermogravimetry and differential thermal analyses (TGA-DTA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This integrated multi-analytical approach is highly effective for the study of built heritage. The mineralogical, textural, and geochemical properties of the granites allowed for the identification of the granite types used in the wall, while the results obtained for the mortars indicated that lime, fully carbonated and transformed into calcite, was used as the binding agent. Furthermore, the binder/aggregate ratios were found to be consistent with traditional Roman mortar formulations. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the material provenance and construction techniques used in this landmark of late antiquity. Full article

Jordan is witnessing a growing market trend of retrofitting existing buildings. The annual construction work on existing buildings in Amman, based on building consents, increased by approximately 46% between 2007 and 2017, while the annual newly built areas decreased by around 33%. This paper aims to establish a solid understanding of the current shift towards existing building adaptation in Jordan by exploring the drivers for this trend and the Government’s role in regulating and, possibly, encouraging it. Ten local experts with extensive experience in retrofitting projects in Jordan and around the region were interviewed. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of experts’ answers was performed using the software NVivo. Findings highlight nine main drivers for retrofitting existing buildings in Jordan, namely: (1) land value and location; (2) reducing capital costs compared to new builds; (3) architectural heritage conservation; (4) social and cultural considerations; (5) adapting to population increase; (6) reusing, adapting, and retrofitting to extend the life of buildings; (7) increasing tourism capacity; (8) improving building performance and resource efficiency; and (9) municipal incentives. Not all these drivers have the same value as they depend on the client and the project context. The experts’ ranking of drivers in terms of priority showed higher consideration for land value and location benefits, social–cultural aspects, and population increase, while municipal incentives emerged as low priority. Further research is needed to design context-specific effective retrofit policies, contributing to the literature in this emerging field in Jordan and beyond. Full article

The city of Veracruz preserves buildings mainly constructed during the 16th and 17th centuries, where carved madreporic coral was used as ashlar and as a component in mortars. These historic structures, now part of Mexico’s built heritage, show various degrees of deterioration caused by erosion and prolonged exposure to environmental elements. Restoration using original materials is currently nearly impossible due to ecological restrictions protecting coral reefs. In this context, and under the principles of the tailor-made technique, the present research revisits physico-mechanical and chemical studies conducted on the corals used in the construction of one of the most representative buildings in the city. The results were compared with those obtained from the formulation of experimental mortars using readily available materials—such as air lime, siliceous aggregates, and calcium carbonate—with the aim of reproducing the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties observed in the original corals. Laboratory tests allowed evaluation of their compatibility and performance, seeking to develop alternative materials that enable conservation interventions without compromising the integrity of the base material or the historic structures. The design of mortars is intended to be used in the restoration processes of buildings that are part of the built historical heritage. This is the starting point for understanding the characteristics of the mortar and its compatibility with the substrate, which could be used for repairing stone blocks and for preparing new mortars for masonry and plastering, since research on restoration mortars has largely overlooked this type of building with coral masonry due to its rarity. Therefore, this research is of particular interest. The mixtures formulated with calcareous sand were the most compatible with the reference coral material, while those made with silica sand exhibited properties superior to the corals, and marine sands showed very poor behavior, potentially compromising the integrity of the buildings. In physical–mechanical tests, formulations that include calcareous sand and silica sand (2 mm) demonstrated behavior closest to that of coral, consistent with chemical analysis results, where mortars formulated with calcareous sand registered the highest contents of CaO and portlandite. Mercury intrusion porosimetry indicated that the mortar formulated with silica sand (2 mm) has a porosity only 4.07% lower than that of the coral, while mortars formulated with calcareous sand and lime paste are between 11.17% and 16.87% lower. Therefore, one of the mixtures that stands out as the best option due to its similarity in physical–mechanical and chemical results is the composite that is not found at the extremes of the results obtained in the various tests carried out. The use of calcareous sand, as previously mentioned, enhances its behavior and affinity with the coral masonry, as demonstrated in the tests. Full article

This study presents a comparative evaluation of three modern surveying techniques—UAV photogrammetry, static tripod-based LiDAR scanning, and handheld mobile LiDAR—applied in the context of historic monument restoration. The focus is on analysing workflow efficiency, data accuracy, and adaptability to complex architectural features, including interior wall paintings, which are integral to the monument’s heritage value. Particular attention is given to how each technique captures surface texture, color fidelity, and material deterioration. The study also examines performance around intricate architectural elements such as vaulted ceilings, apses, cornices, columns, and carved stone portals, where occlusions, tight clearances, and fine ornamentation challenge coverage and resolution. By evaluating the strengths and limitations of each approach, the research highlights methodological considerations relevant for conservation professionals. The results indicate that the Static TLS is the most demanding workflow, requiring complex total station integration for control and station points. It produced the highest data density, with acquisition rates of one million points per second, making it the most hardware-intensive and difficult to manipulate. UAV photogrammetry provided a balanced middle-ground; it required minimal physical effort during acquisition and produced datasets that were significantly easier to manage. Handheld SLAM LiDAR emerged as the most productive solution for rapid coverage. While the handheld scanner’s image quality was lower than the photogrammetry, it still provided enough detail for the structural assessment and documentation needed. Although the point cloud lacked the extreme geometric detail provided by the TLS, the FARO Connect software made georeferencing and data manipulation significantly more efficient. Full article

Global urban development has fully entered the stage of stock renewal, and the synergy between public health and historic heritage conservation has become a core issue of urban sustainable development in the post-pandemic era. As special spatial units carrying urban cultural memories, historic districts generally face problems such as chaotic traffic functions, a lack of slow traffic spaces, and insufficient public health support. Existing studies lack a public health-oriented special evaluation system and a sustainable renewal path adapted to their characteristics. This paper systematically sorts out eight core impact paths of street built environment elements on public health and constructs a healthy street evaluation system for historic districts, including six dimensions (transportation facilities, green squares, ancillary facilities, street-front commerce, urban furniture, and street network) and 30 core elements combined with the spatial and cultural characteristics of historic districts. Taking five typical streets in the Liuhe Area of Hankou Historic District as an empirical case, a comprehensive evaluation is carried out using a combination of quantitative surveys, questionnaire surveys, and spatial analyses. The results show that the overall health performance of street space in the study area is low, with extremely unbalanced development across dimensions. The core shortcomings are concentrated in incomplete slow traffic systems, lack of public spaces, prominent parking chaos, and fragmented historic styles, and the health problems of streets with different functional types show significant typological differentiation characteristics. Based on this, this paper proposes five systematic renewal strategies, transportation system optimization, public space improvement, landscape system perfection, historic style activation, and long-term mechanism construction, for achieving the synergistic goals of historic culture conservation, public health promotion, and urban sustainable development. This study not only enriches the theoretical system of research on healthy spaces in historic districts but also provides a referable evaluation framework and practical approach for modern historic districts in China and other similar historic districts with comparable spatial textures and functional characteristics. Full article

At the international level, heritage is widely recognised as a critical component of sustainable development. However, in South Asian countries such as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, historic cities continue to struggle to preserve and integrate built heritage amid rapid urbanisation, socio-economic transformation, and evolving contemporary urban demands. Heritage places in these contexts are shaped by complex interrelations between collective memory, the built environment, and socio-cultural identity. Yet, conservation practices have been mainly implemented through fragmented, building-by-building approaches that neglect urban-scale coherence and intangible cultural dimensions. This article addresses this gap by examining adaptive reuse as a value-based conservation strategy in historic urban quarters, where heritage serves as both a repository of cultural memory and a catalyst for sustainable, experience-based tourism. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork, heritage value assessment matrices, and doctoral research, this study uses the Saddar Bazaar Quarter in Karachi, Pakistan, as a case study to explore how tangible and intangible heritage values can be systematically integrated into conservation and regeneration processes. The findings demonstrate that heritage-led adaptive reuse, when embedded within a comprehensive urban-scale conservation framework, can sustain everyday socio-cultural practices, reinforce local identity, and enhance the legibility of historic urban environments. Rather than positioning tourism as a primary driver, the study shows that culturally sensitive and community-oriented tourism emerges as an outcome of successful heritage integration, grounded in lived urban experience rather than commodified representation. Based on these insights, the article proposes a value-based integration framework that aligns heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, and sustainable tourism within historic urban quarters. The framework offers transferable methodological guidance for revitalising heritage places and collective memories, while providing policy-relevant insights for heritage governance that support sustainability objectives, community resilience, and inclusive urban regeneration in post-colonial contexts. Full article