Search Results (1,633)

This study investigates the 3D mapping and VR technologies for virtual tourism applications by utilizing Souq Al-Alawi, which is a UNESCO heritage site located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Virtual reality is a technology that has opened up possibilities for low-cost, immersive traveling experiences without being bound by physical locations. This study introduces a holistic 3D virtual model of Souq Al-Alawi that utilizes a combination of close-range photogrammetry methods, image-based modeling (IBM), Geographic Information System (GIS) data, and presentation in the Unreal Engine. This methodology combines a systematic GIS data collection technique with historical record keeping, IBM 3D modeling techniques for facades digitization, as well as VR integration to arrive at an interactive virtual tour experience. In the preprocessing step, distortions in building facades induced by narrow street layouts were evaluated and rectified using advanced IBM techniques aiming to maximize geometric accuracy and visual plausibility. The developed platform produced 41 three-dimensional models and 426 image-based models across three survey zones, with photogrammetric processing achieving RMS reprojection errors of 1.115, 0.554, and 0.55 pixels. The VR environment maintained a consistent rendering performance of 90 frames per second, enabling smooth real-time navigation. The resulting interactive 3D navigational map demonstrates the technical feasibility of integrating photogrammetry, GIS, and VR technologies to support virtual tourism and digital cultural heritage documentation. Full article

Digital technologies and data-based approaches do not only increase the amount of information available to institutions and the public, they also transform the conditions through which social reality is classified, made visible, ordered, interpreted and governed. This article examines this transformation through AI4Alfieri, a project developed in Italy, at the Luciano Gallino Laboratory of the University of Turin in collaboration with the Fondazione Centro di Studi Alfieriani in Asti, and devoted to generative AI for the mediation of Vittorio Alfieri’s life and work. Specifically, it presents a virtual conversational agent and one embodied in a social robot (Pepper or NAO). The project is analysed as a reflexive case study of a technology in the making, with autoethnographic elements. The empirical corpus comprises a development diary, code and design artefacts, prompts, logs, architectural diagrams and laboratory tests; the study does not evaluate effects on museum visitors. From analysis of the design process, the article advances the interpretive thesis that embodied generative AI makes cultural mediation a problem of distributed accountability: knowledge is governed by the corpus, speech by prompts and retrieval, action by deterministic policy, presence by the body, legitimacy by the institution, and auditability by infrastructures. The paper proposes an exploratory S0–S4 governance stack for embodied generative agents and formulates hypotheses for future research on how data-based cultural mediation may reallocate epistemic authority, institutional legitimacy and design responsibility. Full article

This research addresses the reception and variations in the Modern Movement in the French Caribbean, focusing on the urban transformation of Fort-de-France, Martinique, between 1927 and 1986. Through a critical methodology based on decentralized perspectives and “situated gazes,” this study challenges traditional historiographical narratives that often subordinate tropical architecture to mere simplified derivatives of European metropolises. Utilizing the development and implementation of the ARMOMA platform (Architecture du Mouvement Moderne en Martinique)—a specialized digital archive and cartographic database—this work documents, spatially visualizes, and analyzes the region’s modern heritage. Methodologically, it examines a specific sample of 77 state-owned buildings divided into three key typologies—educational (34), institutional (30), and sanitary (13)—extracted from a wider urban universe of 332 modern works, evaluating their spatial relations with 171 residential architectures. Rather than constituting simple transpositions of metropolitan models, these infrastructures reveal processes of climatic, material, and cultural adaptation that contributed to the emergence of a specific form of Caribbean tropical modernism. The findings show how this localized practice reinterpreted Western rationalism through hybrid construction techniques, passive environmental strategies, and local building knowledge. In conclusion, the study highlights that, while architecture commonly serves as an instrument of institutional representation, in Martinique this role acquired particular relevance following the 1946 Departmentalisation. Within this framework, the French state promoted a range of public architectural typologies in Fort-de-France that materialized the expansion of welfare policies and administrative modernization. These developments accompanied the consolidation of the Welfare State in Martinique and continued until the implementation of the Decentralization Laws of 1982–1983. Full article

Perceived authenticity may strengthen the credibility of virtual cultural heritage communication and foster sustained cultural engagement, yet authenticity theory remains insufficiently translated into actionable design guidance. This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design comprising ten qualitative interviews, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with two independent samples (n = 200 each), framework construction, and a between-group prototype evaluation (n = 61). The analyses indicated a context-specific two-factor structure: constructive authenticity, integrating evidence-based judgment, contextual interpretation, and narrative plausibility; and existential authenticity, encompassing participation, emotional engagement, personal meaning, and cultural connection. Objective authenticity converged with constructive authenticity rather than emerging independently, suggesting that users interpreted historical evidence through digitally mediated representations. These findings were translated into six coordinated design dimensions: historical environment design, historical information transparency, narrative plausibility, stylistic atmosphere, experiential immersion, and interactive engagement. In a single-theme comparison, the framework-guided prototype was associated with higher loyalty, satisfaction, cultural identity, and behavioral intention than the conventionally designed prototype (Hedges’ g = 1.265–1.636). Overall, the study offers a context-specific theoretical account and an actionable, evidence-informed framework that may support continued engagement and cultural transmission; long-term sustainability outcomes and cross-context transferability require further investigation. Full article

Indigenous languages in Southern Thailand are increasingly affected by modernization, digital communication, and language contact, yet the relationship between kinship terminology, social organization, and linguistic sustainability among Indigenous Austroasiatic-speaking communities remains insufficiently explored. This study addresses three research questions: (1) how Tan’ean and Jaahaai kinship systems differ in their semantic structures and classificatory patterns; (2) how kinship terms reflect cultural worldviews, social organization, and relational values of the Manni and Mueng’ra communities; and (3) what challenges influence the transmission and sustainability of kinship-related linguistic knowledge. This study aims to comparatively analyze consanguineal and affinal kinship terminology in the Tan’ean language of the Manni ethnic group and the Jaahaai language of the Mueng’ra ethnic group, focusing on how kinship systems encode cultural worldviews, social relations, and adaptive strategies under contemporary change. Guided by Componential Analysis and Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory, this study employed a qualitative ethnolinguistic approach. Data were collected through genealogical elicitation, in-depth interviews, and participant observation with 40 key informants from Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces. The data were analyzed through semantic feature identification and comparative interpretation of kinship structures. The findings demonstrate that, despite shared Austroasiatic heritage, Tan’ean and Jaahaai exhibit distinct kinship systems reflecting different cultural logics. In response to the first research question, the findings reveal that the Manni system resembles the Hawaiian type, emphasizing egalitarian relations, generational categories, and inclusive incorporation of affinal relatives, whereas the Mueng’ra system shows Crow–Omaha characteristics, including generational skewing, gender-specific markers, hierarchical classification, and stronger influence from dominant regional languages. Regarding the second research question, the findings demonstrate that kinship terminology functions as a cultural mechanism for organizing social relationships, identity, and intergenerational obligations, reflecting different models of Indigenous social organization. For the third research question, the study identifies language contact, changing social conditions, and reduced intergenerational transmission as challenges affecting the continuity of Indigenous kinship knowledge. Therefore, the study recommends community-based orthographies, participatory digital learning platforms, and policies supporting Indigenous linguistic rights to strengthen language revitalization, cultural continuity, and Indigenous communities’ capacity to adapt to social transformation. Full article

Backgrond/Objectives: Human anatomy education has traditionally relied on cadaveric dissection as the reference standard for acquiring anatomical knowledge. However, decreasing availability of donated bodies, curricular changes, and rapid technological advances have encouraged the progressive integration of complementary educational resources, including historical anatomical collections, physical models, plastinated specimens, and digital technologies. At the same time, anatomical museums have evolved from repositories of scientific heritage into dynamic educational environments that promote public engagement, accessibility, and lifelong learning. Methods: This article presents the educational experience of the Human Anatomy and Histology Institute of the University of Palermo, where historical anatomical collections, cadaveric dissection, plastination, three-dimensional (3D) digitization, virtual anatomy, and interactive educational technologies have been integrated within a single multimodal teaching framework. Results: The strengths and limitations of each educational resource are discussed in relation to contemporary anatomy education and museum communication. Our experience suggests that digital technologies achieve their greatest educational value when they complement rather than replace traditional anatomy teaching. Conclusions: Integrating historical collections with cadaveric study, physical models, and immersive digital tools offers a comprehensive educational approach capable of enhancing anatomical understanding, improving accessibility, and promoting more engaging learning experiences for students and the wider public. Full article

This study explores the potential of integrating Virtual Reality technology into art restoration education and conducts a preliminary usability evaluation for an immersive training prototype. Amidst the digital transformation of cultural heritage preservation, traditional apprenticeship-based education faces challenges such as irreversible damage risks to artifacts, high costs of restoration materials, and a lack of error tolerance for beginners. To address these issues, virtual environments provide a “zero-risk” simulation laboratory, allowing learners to engage in repetitive practice with real-time feedback. This research focuses on a prototype of a “Virtual Conservation and Restoration Education system” (V-CARE system) and conducted usability testing with 20 students at Cheng Shiu University. A mixed-method evaluation approach was employed, combining the System Usability Scale (SUS) for quantitative measurement and the 12 VR Heuristics proposed by Sutcliffe and Gault for qualitative verification. The evaluation suggests preliminary evidence in terms of learnability, interaction naturalness, and immersion. Finally, the study discusses potential layout considerations for prospective virtual environments, aiming to provide a baseline reference for virtual applications in cultural preservation training. Full article

As a vital component of cultural heritage, historic buildings carry multiple values, including historical continuity, construction techniques, and social memory. Their conservation and utilization are of significant importance for cultural transmission and economic development. However, existing research findings have long been dispersed across different themes, disciplines, and linguistic contexts, lacking a systematic integration and interpretive framework that links the entire conservation–utilization process, thereby constraining a comprehensive understanding of the field. Against this background, following the PRISMA guidelines, this study retrieved and screened 474 core journal articles published between 2005 and 2025 from the CNKI and the WOSCC. Using bibliometric and visualization analysis methods, and employing tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Pajek, and Scimago Graphica, we analyzed publication trends, collaboration networks, disciplinary distributions, and knowledge structures, and conducted thematic mapping and cross-database comparison in conjunction with the management cycle articulated in international heritage conservation theory. The results show that publication volume in this field has generally exhibited a growth trend, and the research evolution has roughly undergone four stages: basic problem focus, emergence of digital technologies, digital transformation, and data-intensified assessment and intelligent applications. The research network presents a multi-centric pattern characterized by “fragmented distribution with localized clustering.” Cross-database comparison reveals that CNKI and WOS share common concerns in conservation, utilization, technology empowerment, and governance issues, but differ in thematic emphasis and methodological pathways. Based on the international heritage management cycle, this study maps out a systematic framework of “value recognition–risk assessment–conservation intervention–adaptive reuse–sustainable governance,” revealing the similarities and differences between the WOS and CNKI databases in thematic presentation and knowledge production pathways, and further identifies key issues including the insufficient independence of value research, inadequate methodological integration, weak post-utilization feedback, and the lack of a closed governance loop, thereby proposing future research directions. This study may serve as a reference for systematically understanding the overall knowledge and practical development in the field of historic building conservation and utilization. Full article

This research investigates the development of integrated knowledge systems for built heritage located in Italian Inner Areas, marginal territories characterised by socio-economic fragility and the progressive weakening of traditional settlement systems. Within these contexts, built heritage is deeply interconnected with the landscape as a result of long-standing interaction processes between man and territory. Yet it is often affected by limited, fragmented information and inadequate digital management frameworks. This study addresses these issues by developing a methodological approach grounded in multidisciplinary, multiscalar, transcalar, and diachronic principles to reconnect territorial and architectural dimensions within a unified interpretative framework. The Alpine municipality of Dosso del Liro (Northern Italy) was selected as a representative case study for testing the applicability of an integrated H-GIS-BIM workflow under conditions typical of marginal contexts. The research combines desk-based and field-based investigations. Information was organised with regard to the historical and diachronic features of assets and then integrated into a digital environment developed using GIS, HBIM, and conversion workflows. The results demonstrate the accessibility of H-GIS-BIM strategies through a methodological approach and their support for enriching analyses of diffuse heritage, while also highlighting current limitations regarding workflow, interoperability, semantic preservation, and dynamic data updating. Full article

The integration of advanced terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques into building information modelling (BIM) workflows has significantly enhanced the digitization and preservation of cultural heritage sites. In this context, crowdsourcing can operate as a complementary upstream mechanism for enriching heritage inventories, supporting participatory mapping, collecting preliminary condition observations, and prioritizing assets for subsequent expert-led TLS acquisition, HBIM modelling, and structural assessment. This paper explores the application of TLS within BIM for the structural assessment and the long-term monitoring of historic structures. The reviewed studies show how high-resolution TLS data can support the development and updating of geometry-informed structural models, enabling detailed structural assessment and effective management strategies. The reviewed case studies demonstrate the practical benefits of integrating TLS with BIM, such as improved accuracy in structural assessments, enhanced data processing capabilities, and the creation of comprehensive digital twins. These advancements facilitate better-informed decision-making and targeted preventive measures, contributing to the resilience and preservation of cultural heritage assets. The results underscore the contribution of TLS–BIM/HBIM workflows to condition-informed documentation, structural assessment, conservation planning, and long-term heritage management. This research was supported by the ERA4CH project, which aims to protect European cities’ cultural heritage from earthquake risks through innovative monitoring and management tools. Full article

Immersive technologies and digital twins have provided new opportunities for the documentation, interpretation, and conservation of architectural heritage. However, the knowledge structure and evolutionary pathways of this interdisciplinary field remain insufficiently understood. This study conducts a scientometric analysis of 273 articles published between 2007 and 2025 using CiteSpace to investigate publication trends, collaboration networks, co-citation structures, and keyword evolution. The results demonstrate that research on immersive technologies and digital twins in architectural heritage has evolved from digital documentation and visualization toward integrated information management and intelligent conservation. The knowledge foundation of this field is mainly constructed around three interconnected areas: three-dimensional data acquisition, Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM), and digital twin-supported conservation management. Collaboration and co-citation analyses reveal an interdisciplinary knowledge base spanning architectural conservation, construction informatics, remote sensing, computer science, and human–computer interaction, but also indicate a comparatively fragmented collaboration structure. Keyword evolution further indicates a transition from photogrammetry and virtual reality toward HBIM, extended reality, Internet of Things, and digital twin applications. Based on these findings, this study proposes a preliminary Cross-Domain Technology Adaptation Framework to organize potential relationships among data acquisition, semantic information modeling, immersive interaction, digital-twin analytics, and heritage-oriented applications. The framework represents a conceptual synthesis rather than a validated technology-transfer model and provides directions for future empirical research and sustainable architectural-heritage conservation. Full article

The anthropogenic transformation of modern European cities over the past centuries has been characterized by a gradual transition from a natural defensive landscape to a dense modern urban structure. This study aims to reconstruct the historical urban landscape of Sumy (Ukraine) by integrating archival cartographic materials into a digital three-dimensional model to support heritage preservation and post-war urban planning. The proposed methodology combines retrospective source analysis, comparative cartographic assessment, and GIS-based georeferencing. These approaches are used to evaluate the accuracy, scale, and reliability of historical maps. The study analyzed 18 archival maps of the city of Sumy covering the period from the 1670s to 2025. A comparative assessment enabled the selection of 4 representative cartographic sources for reconstructing the historical urban landscape. A GIS-based methodology for georeferencing archival maps was developed and validated in QGIS v.3.44.11. It used the Google Hybrid basemap in the WGS 84/Pseudo-Mercator coordinate reference system (CRS) with identifier EPSG:3857. The methodology employed a first-order affine transformation, a cubic resampling kernel (4 × 4), and 15 stable ground control points (GCPs). This ensured spatial compatibility between historical cartographic materials, contemporary geospatial datasets, and topographic-geodetic reference frameworks. The proposed approach achieved an RMS georeferencing error of 2–9 m, depending on the historical period, the accuracy, and the scale of the original cartographic sources. Furthermore, the methodology enabled the identification of three classes of anthropogenic landscape transformation (minimal, moderate, and critical). As a result, it provided a comprehensive spatio-temporal representation of the historical evolution of the urban landscape. The resulting 3D model provides a reliable geospatial framework for documenting the historical morphology of Sumy and supports future interdisciplinary studies in heritage conservation, urban planning, and post-war reconstruction. The proposed methodology can also be applied to other historical cities where archival cartographic materials constitute the primary source for reconstructing long-term landscape evolution. Full article

Chinese local gazetteer maps contain visual evidence of historical cities and architecture, but their hand-drawn, low-texture, and small-sample characteristics make automatic recognition difficult. This study develops a transfer-learning workflow to classify gazetteer-derived architectural images and examines its usefulness for digital heritage image organization, indexing, and retrieval. A dataset of 685 images covering nine classification labels was constructed from Chinese local gazetteer maps. Five representative models, ResNet-18, MobileNetV3-Small, EfficientNet-B0, DenseNet-121, and ViT-B/16, were trained and compared under the same transfer-learning setting. Their performance was evaluated using accuracy, macro-average F1 score, class-level metrics, confusion matrices, difficult-sample analysis, and Grad-CAM visualization. CNN-based models outperformed the Vision Transformer on this task. EfficientNet-B0 achieved the best results, with a test accuracy of 87.38% and a macro-average F1 score of 86.60%; after disabling class weights, the macro-average F1 score increased to 86.81%. Misclassifications mainly occurred in visually similar or context-dependent category pairs, including gate tower and drum tower, bell tower and drum tower, and buildings inside and outside the city. The results show that compact CNNs can support classification, indexing, and retrieval of hand-drawn architectural images in gazetteer archives, although the workflow should be regarded as an auxiliary tool rather than direct evidence for specific extant buildings. Full article

Construction period is a core item of information for the heritage conservation of traditional dwellings, supporting building archive compilation, historical character zoning, conservation grading, and restoration strategy formulation in traditional villages. However, accurately determining the construction period of traditional dwellings remains difficult. Existing methods rely heavily on expert judgment and field surveys and are limited by low efficiency, subjectivity, and weak scalability. This study focuses on surface-built traditional dwellings in the Guanzhong region. UAV image acquisition and field photography were used to collect dwelling images, while resident interviews were used to verify construction-period information. Architectural components with chronological relevance were then annotated. On this basis, a construction-period classification model was developed using a support vector machine (SVM). Model performance was evaluated through classifier comparison, RBF parameter optimization, and repeated dwelling-level test-set evaluation. The optimized SVM model achieved an average classification accuracy of 81.9%. Qing-dynasty and post-1980 dwellings showed the highest and nearly identical classification performance, with F1-scores of 87.2% and 87.0%, respectively. Republican-period dwellings also achieved relatively good performance, with an F1-score of 82.9%, whereas dwellings built between 1949 and 1979 showed the lowest performance, with an F1-score of 75.4%. These findings indicate that construction-period classification based on architectural component features and SVM can support preliminary screening of dwelling construction periods, providing auxiliary technical support for digital archiving, period-based classification, character control, conservation planning, and targeted restoration in traditional villages. Full article

Senior leadership turnover in Christian Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs) necessitates the identification of effective self-leadership practices that preserve intergenerational memory and Reformed traditions. Using a qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study explored the lived experiences of five senior-level administrators averaging 22.2 years of leadership experience in CHEIs. The findings identified five core themes shaping their leadership: (1) efficiency and Self-Awareness, characterized by the use of digital boundaries and organizational systems; (2) fulfillment, derived from a deep sense of “calling” and the institutional mission; (3) fortitude, built on theological principles of God’s sovereignty to navigate administrative stress; (4) applicability and Intellectualism, rooted in the Reformed confessional heritage and “treasure trove” of creeds; and (5) integration, where spiritual practices, such as breath prayers and scripture-based cues, are woven into professional routines. Crucially, the research revealed a significant disconnect where leaders utilized robust self-leadership strategies for professional growth but often struggled to apply parallel techniques (such as goal setting or self-observation) to their personal spiritual disciplines. The study concludes by proposing a Spiritual Self-Leadership Framework that integrates the Five Solas of the Reformation with self-leadership theory to provide a roadmap for individual sanctification and institutional flourishing. Full article