Search Results (128)

Rural regions face significant barriers to adopting IoT technologies, due to limited connectivity, energy constraints, and poor technical infrastructure. While urban environments benefit from advanced digital systems and cloud services, rural areas often lack the necessary conditions to deploy and evaluate secure and autonomous IoT solutions. To help overcome this gap, this paper presents the Smart Rural IoT Lab, a modular and reproducible testbed designed to replicate the deployment conditions in rural areas using open-source tools and affordable hardware. The laboratory integrates long-range and short-range communication technologies in six experimental scenarios, implementing protocols such as MQTT, HTTP, UDP, and CoAP. These scenarios simulate realistic rural use cases, including environmental monitoring, livestock tracking, infrastructure access control, and heritage site protection. Local data processing is achieved through containerized services like Node-RED, InfluxDB, MongoDB, and Grafana, ensuring complete autonomy, without dependence on cloud services. A key contribution of the laboratory is the generation of structured datasets from real network traffic captured with Tcpdump and preprocessed using Zeek. Unlike simulated datasets, the collected data reflect communication patterns generated from real devices. Although the current dataset only includes benign traffic, the platform is prepared for future incorporation of adversarial scenarios (spoofing, DoS) to support AI-based cybersecurity research. While experiments were conducted in an indoor controlled environment, the testbed architecture is portable and suitable for future outdoor deployment. The Smart Rural IoT Lab addresses a critical gap in current research infrastructure, providing a realistic and flexible foundation for developing secure, cloud-independent IoT solutions, contributing to the digital transformation of rural regions. Full article

Serious games (SGs) have been widely employed in the digital preservation and transmission of architectural heritage. However, the key determinants and underlying mechanisms driving users’ continuance intentions toward ancient-architecture cultural heritage serious games (CH-SGs) have not been thoroughly investigated. Accordingly, a conceptual model grounded in the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) framework was developed to elucidate the affective and behavioral effects experienced by CH-SG users. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were employed to capture both the linear and nonlinear relationships among model constructs. By integrating sufficiency logic (PLS-SEM) and necessity logic (necessary condition analysis, NCA), “must-have” and “should-have” factors were identified. Empirical results indicate that cultural authenticity, knowledge acquisition, perceived enjoyment, and design aesthetics each exert a positive influence—of varying magnitude—on perceived value, cultural identification, and perceived pleasure, thereby shaping users’ continuance intentions. Moreover, cultural authenticity and perceived enjoyment were found to be necessary and sufficient conditions, respectively, for enhancing perceived pleasure and perceived value, which in turn indirectly bolster CH-SG users’ sustained use intentions. By creating an immersive, narratively rich, and engaging cognitive experience, CH-SGs set against ancient architectural backdrops not only stimulate users’ willingness to visit and protect heritage sites but also provide designers and developers with critical insights for optimizing future CH-SG design, development, and dissemination. Full article

Currently, exploring digital immersive experiences is a new trend in the innovation and development of cultural tourism. This study addresses the growing demand for digital immersion in cultural tourism by examining the integration of spatial narrative and digitally gamified architectural scenarios. This study synthesizes an optimized framework for narrative design in digitally gamified architectural scenarios, integrating spatial narrative theory and feedback-informed design. The proposed model comprises four key components: (1) developing spatial narrative design methods for such scenarios; (2) constructing a spatial language system for spatial narratives using linguistic principles to organize narrative expression; (3) building a preliminary digitally gamified scenario based on the “Wuhu Jiaoji Temple Renovation Project” after architectural and environmental enhancements; and (4) optimization through thermal feedback experiments—collecting visitor trajectory heatmaps, eye-tracking heatmaps, and oculometric data. The results show that the optimized design, validated in the original game Dreams of Jiaoji, effectively enhanced spatial narrative execution by refining both on-site and in-game architectural scenarios. Post-optimization visitor feedback confirmed the validity of the proposed optimization strategies and principles, providing theoretical and practical references for innovative digital cultural tourism models and architectural design advancements. In the context of site-specific architectural conservation, this approach achieves two key objectives: the generalized interpretation of architectural cultural resources and their visual representation through gamified interactions. This paradigm not only enhances public engagement through enabling a multidimensional understanding of historical building cultures but also accelerates the protective reuse of heritage sites, allowing heritage value to be maximized through contemporary reinterpretation. The interdisciplinary methodology promotes sustainable development in the digital transformation of cultural tourism, fostering user-centered experiences and contributing to rural revitalization. Ultimately, this study highlights the potential use of digitally gamified architectural scenarios as transformative tools for heritage preservation, cultural dissemination, and rural community revitalization. Full article

The spatial genes of rural settlements show a lot of different traditional settlement traits, which makes them a great starting point for studying rural spatial morphology. However, qualitative and macro-regional statistical indicators are usually used to find and extract rural settlement spatial genes. Taking Yubei Village in the Nanxi River Basin as an example, this study combined remote sensing images, real-time drone mapping, GIS (geographic information system), and space syntax, extracted 12 key indicators from five dimensions (landform and water features (environment), boundary morphology, spatial structure, street scale, and building scale), and quantitatively “decoded” the spatial genes of the settlement. The results showed that (1) the settlement is a “three mountains and one water” pattern, with cultivated land accounting for 37.4% and forest land accounting for 34.3% of the area within the 500 m buffer zone, while the landscape spatial diversity index (LSDI) is 0.708. (2) The boundary morphology is compact and agglomerated, and locally complex but overall orderly, with an aspect ratio of 1.04, a comprehensive morphological index of 1.53, and a comprehensive fractal dimension of 1.31. (3) The settlement is a “clan core–radial lane” network: the global integration degree of the axis to the holy hall is the highest (0.707), and the local integration degree R3 peak of the six-room ancestral hall reaches 2.255. Most lane widths are concentrated between 1.2 and 2.8 m, and the eaves are mostly higher than 4 m, forming a typical “narrow lanes and high houses” water town streetscape. (4) The architectural style is a combination of black bricks and gray tiles, gable roofs and horsehead walls, and “I”-shaped planes (63.95%). This study ultimately constructed a settlement space gene map and digital library, providing a replicable quantitative process for the diagnosis of Jiangnan water town settlements and heritage protection planning. Full article

This study presents a digital twin–based framework for assessing rockfall hazards at the immediate vicinity of the Rumkale Archaeological Site, a geologically sensitive and culturally significant location in southeastern Türkiye. Historically associated with early Christianity and strategically located along the Euphrates, Rumkale is a protected heritage site that attracts increasing numbers of visitors. Here, high-resolution photogrammetric models were generated using imagery acquired from a remotely piloted aircraft system and post-processed with ground control points to produce a spatially accurate 3D digital twin. Field-based geomechanical measurements including discontinuity orientations, joint classifications, and strength parameters were integrated with digital analyses to identify and evaluate hazardous rock blocks. Kinematic assessments conducted in the study revealed susceptibility to planar, wedge, and toppling failures. The results showed the role of lithological structure, active tectonics, and environmental factors in driving slope instability. The proposed methodology demonstrates effective use of digital twin technologies in conjunction with traditional geotechnical techniques, offering a replicable and non-invasive approach for site-scale hazard evaluation and conservation planning in heritage contexts. This work contributes to the advancement of interdisciplinary methods for geohazard-informed management of cultural landscapes. Full article

(1) Background: Cultural heritage plays a vital role in shaping collective identity and supporting tourism, yet it faces increasing threats from natural and human-induced disasters. As a response, digital technologies—especially drone-based monitoring systems—are being explored for disaster prevention. This study examines whether a Genetic Algorithm can effectively optimize the placement of drone stations for the economic protection of cultural heritage. (2) Method: A simulation was conducted in a 2500 km² virtual space divided into 25 km² grid units, each assigned a random land price. Drone stations have an operational radius of 40 km. GA optimization uses a fitness function based on the ratio of cultural artifacts covered to installation cost. To prevent premature convergence, multi-point crossover and roulette wheel selection are employed. Key GA parameters were fine-tuned through repeated simulations. (3) Results: The optimal parameter set—population size of 300, mutation rate of 0.2, mutation strength of ±5 km, and crossover ratio of 0.3—balances exploration and convergence. The results show convergence toward low-cost, high-coverage locations without premature stagnation. Visualization clearly illustrates the optimization process. (4) Conclusions: GA proves effective for economically optimizing drone station placement. Though virtual, this method offers practical implications for real-world cultural heritage protection strategies. Full article

Historical buildings have important historical and social value, but they are generally difficult to identify, complicated to evaluate, and insufficiently addressed in digitization research. On 25 July 2021, Quanzhou successfully applied for World Heritage status. In this case study, Qiaonan Village in the Quanzhou World Heritage Area is selected, and a deep learning algorithm is proposed for the identification, evaluation, and digitization of historical buildings. By comparing multiple models, the optimal model is selected for intelligent identification and classification of building elevations. Combined with GIS, a distribution map of the village buildings is created for digitization research. An intelligent monitoring platform is built to enable dynamic monitoring and hierarchical protection of the buildings, aiding in the protection of historical structures and the sustainable development of the tourism industry. In the future, we will continue to optimize the integration of YOLO and GIS and explore a more universal model for the intelligent protection of historical buildings. Full article

The archaeological complex of the Benzú rock shelter and cave, located in Ceuta (Spain), represents a heritage site of significant scientific and historical value that is currently at risk due to natural processes and, in particular, the activity of a nearby quarry. This site has been occupied from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age and consequently has been the subject of systematic research since 2002, focusing on its stratigraphic sequence, lithic technology, exploitation of marine resources, and the connection between both shores of the Strait of Gibraltar. With the aim of preserving this endangered heritage, a methodology based on advanced digital technologies such as photogrammetry, 3D laser scanning, and GNSS georeferencing has been implemented. These tools have enabled the creation of high-precision, three-dimensional models of the rock shelter and the cave, which are useful for both documentation and monitoring of their structural condition. In addition, fracture networks have been identified, revealing a high degree of geotechnical vulnerability, exacerbated by blasting activities at the nearby quarry. The project has produced a digital twin of the site in an open access format, serving not only for preventive conservation but also for its enhancement through virtual tours, augmented reality, and accessible outreach activities. This digitalization has been essential to facilitate the access to heritage, particularly in areas that are physically difficult to access. Finally, the integration of these digital resources into institutional policies for the sustainable management of heritage is proposed, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches that combine archaeology, geotechnology, and scientific communication. The experience at Benzú is presented as a replicable model for the protection, interpretation, and dissemination of heritage sites located in fragile and threatened environments. Full article

Historical Building Information Modeling is a digital modeling technology applied to cultural heritage buildings. It has made remarkable progress in aspects such as data integration and management, digital protection of historical buildings, parametric and semantic modeling, multi-source data fusion, and interdisciplinary cooperation platforms. However, the sustainability of this technology has not been explored yet. This paper analyzes nearly a hundred related research achievements between 2010 and 2024 and finds that there is not only a lack of a review of the development and application of Historical Building Information Modeling (HBIM) technology in China, but also a serious shortage of discussions and explorations regarding its sustainability. Therefore, taking the development and application of Historical Building Information Modeling technology in China as the research scope, using relevant practical projects and research achievements in China, and combining a small number of the latest foreign achievements as cases, centering around the research question of the sustainability of Historical Building Information Modeling, this paper adopts the methods of review research and comparative research. It sorts out four development directions and the faced dilemmas in the development process of Historical Building Information Modeling in China and puts forward constructive suggestions for sustainable development, as well as a set of theoretical paths for the sustainability of HBIM technology based on Revit (version 23.0.1.318), Dynamo (version 2.17), Python (version 3.12.1) (Open 3D v0.18 and PointNet++), Network Attached Storage, and cloud-based collaboration platforms. The purpose is to provide a referable path for the sustainable development of Historical Building Information Modeling technology in China. Full article

In response to the urgent need for the sustainable conservation of cultural heritage against the backdrop of climate change and environmental degradation, this study proposes a low-cost, non-destructive digital recording method for murals based on close-range photogrammetry. By integrating non-metric digital cameras, total stations, and spatial coordinate transformation models, high-precision digital orthophoto generation for indoor murals was achieved. Experimental results show that the resolution error of this method is 0.02 mm, with root mean square errors (RMSE) of 3.51 mm and 2.77 mm in the X and Y directions, respectively, meeting the precision requirements for cultural heritage conservation. Compared to traditional laser scanning technology, the energy consumption of the equipment in this study is significantly reduced, and the use of chemical reagents is avoided, thereby minimizing the carbon footprint and environmental impact during the recording process. This provides a green technological solution to address climate change. Additionally, the low-cost nature of non-metric cameras offers a feasible option for cultural heritage conservation institutions with limited resources, promoting equity and accessibility in heritage protection amid global climate challenges. This technology provides sustainable data support for long-term monitoring, virtual restoration, and public digital display of murals while also offering rich data resources for virtual cultural tourism, public education, and scientific research. It demonstrates broad application potential in the context of climate change and environmental protection, contributing to the green transformation and sustainable development of cultural tourism. Full article

The border effect on heritage protection, shaped by historical and physical factors, contributes to the formation of socio-territorial systems, particularly in relation to productive landscapes. This study focuses on the Portuguese–Spanish border between Andalusia and Extremadura, a region where inter-regional dynamics mirror international tensions due to the coexistence of differing legislative frameworks. The area is characterized by shared agricultural and ecological systems and fragmented transport networks, which complicate territorial integration. Methodologically, the study involves a selection of seven municipalities based on demographic vulnerability and rural identity, followed by historical and spatial analysis using legal sources, historical dictionaries, and digital platforms for heritage mapping. One of the key components was the identification and documentation of historical mills linked to the Ardilla River and its tributaries, using a combination of official heritage databases and user-generated platforms like Wikiloc and local websites. The twenty-one mills found highlight a significant presence of unprotected yet generally well-preserved mills that exemplify the agricultural and industrial legacy of the region. These assets, often overlooked in formal inventories, underline the potential for cross-border heritage recognition and call for a rethinking of protection strategies through the lens of cultural landscapes and community engagement. Full article

Due to the imbalance between urban and rural development and improper management, the spatial forms of many heritage villages have suffered severe damage, and their landscape styles are gradually being blurred, posing serious challenges to the protection of traditional villages. Taking the traditional village of Xi Songbi in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province, as a case study, this paper employs UAV low-altitude multi-view measurement technology to obtain high-resolution image data from different angles. Three-dimensional modeling technology is then used to construct a 3D real-world model, orthophotos, and point cloud data of the settlement. Based on these data, the weakly supervised point cloud segmentation method, DDLA, is further applied to finely segment and classify the acquired point cloud data, accurately extracting key spatial elements such as buildings, roads, and vegetation, thereby enabling a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the spatial morphology of traditional villages. The results of the study show the following: (1) The use of UAVs for low-altitude multi-view measurement not only greatly improves the efficiency of data acquisition but also provides millimeter-level precision spatial data in a short time through the constructed 3D models and orthophotos. (2) The acquired point cloud data can be processed through the DDLA, which effectively differentiates building contours from other environmental elements. (3) The calculation and analysis of the segmented point cloud data can accurately quantify key spatial morphology elements, such as the dimensions of traditional village buildings, spacing, and road widths, ensuring the scientific rigor and reliability of the data. (4) The comprehensive application of digital technology and point cloud segmentation methods provides clear expectations and solid technical support for the quantitative study of the spatial morphology of traditional villages, laying a scientific foundation for the protection and sustainable development of cultural heritage. Full article

Artistic masterpieces are mostly collected in museums located in the center of urban areas, which are prone to heavy traffic. Traffic-induced vibrations can represent a significant hazard for museum objects, due to the repeated nature of the excitation and the brittle, pre-damaged condition of the artifacts. This is the case of the Sarcophagus of the Spouses, displayed at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome. Vibrations on the floor of the room are measured by means of velocimeters, highlighting substantial vertical amplitudes and recommending the design of an isolation system. For its design, the dynamic identification of the statue is essential, but the use of contact or laser sensors is ruled out. Therefore, a recent technique that magnifies the micromovements present in digital videos is used and the procedure is validated with respect to constructions where the dynamic identification was available in the literature. In the case of the Sarcophagus, identified frequencies are satisfactorily compared with those of a finite element model. The recognition of the dynamic characteristics shows the method’s potential while using inexpensive devices. Because costs for cultural heritage protection are usually very high, this simple and contactless dynamic identification technique represents an important step forward. Full article

Modern digital media requires digitalization to protect cultural traditions, languages, and artistic expressions meant for future generations. Implementing the best digitalization strategy remains difficult because of unpredictable technological advances, changing digital preservation standards, and financial constraints. This study deals with these intricate challenges through the establishment of the picture fuzzy combined compromise for ideal solution (PF-COCOFISO) decision-making approach. The proposed framework employs picture fuzzy sets (PFSs) to develop symmetrical fuzzy assessment tools that better manage systems operating in uncertain technological settings. This practical research analyzes digital heritage archive optimization by assessing various digitalization approaches regarding important criteria, including technological adaptability and preservation standards, levels of accessibility, cultural maintenance, security systems, and sustainability initiatives. Multiple conflicting criteria can be optimally managed through the PF-COCOFISO selection process, which improves decision-making reliability. This research establishes an operational method which allows cultural organizations and digital archivists and policymakers to achieve intangible heritage digital accessibility symmetry while preserving heritage through structured methods during unstable times. Full article

In response to the inadequate color-matching effectiveness and the difficulty of restoring color intentions in cultural heritage recreation, a Cultural Color Interactive Genetic Algorithm (Cultural Color IGA) is proposed, which combines a color network model and a color harmony prediction model. First, the role of the color network model in providing color genes for subsequent design is emphasized. Then, a dataset of 10,743 color and color rating data points is used to train 12 color harmony prediction models, with the most efficient stacking model selected to improve the efficiency of user evaluation of color schemes. A prototype system for color regeneration is built in Python, and a user interface is designed. The example analysis is conducted using the Yungang Grottoes as the source of color imagery, and image colorization is tested. Independent experiments compare the proposed method with traditional IGA in terms of average fitness, maximum fitness, and evaluation time. Fuzzy evaluation is applied to assess the effectiveness of cultural heritage color regeneration design. The results show that the trained stacking model achieves an accuracy of 65.52% in color harmony prediction, outperforming previous methods. Compared to the traditional IGA algorithm, Cultural Color IGA reduces the number of user evaluations by 67.4%, improves the average fitness by 22.68%, and increases the maximum fitness by approximately 13.37%. Regarding cultural heritage color regeneration effectiveness, 80.6% of respondents considered the generated color schemes to be of good or higher quality. This method not only generates design solutions with high cultural representation and color harmony but also improves the efficiency and sustainability of the design process by reducing trial numbers and manual evaluation workload. It demonstrates the potential of digital technologies in the protection and sustainable application of cultural heritage color, offering valuable references for the digital preservation and innovative design of cultural heritage. Full article