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Contributing Environmental Factors of Habitat Suitability for the Great Argus (Argusianus argus) in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Indonesia

Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra — 2026 — WHEC11583FE4A

A study modeling the habitat suitability of the great argus (Argusianus argus) in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Indonesia, revealed that primary forests located far from human disturbances and with lower rainfall levels are critical for its survival. Using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm, researchers analyzed environmental variables such as elevation, slope, distance to rivers, and land cover, combined with field survey data. The model achieved high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.846), identifying distance to roads, rainfall intensity, and primary forest presence as key factors influencing the species' distribution. These findings highlight the urgency of conserving undisturbed primary forests and mitigating road impacts to protect this vulnerable species and preserve the ecological integrity of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

“Soleil, que me veux-tu?”: Protección climática en la Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas

Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas — 2025 — WHEADFB6F5126

The Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, designed by Carlos Raúl Villanueva, exemplifies innovative climate-responsive architecture that integrates protective elements such as brise-soleil and concrete blocks, drawing inspiration from Le Corbusier's designs. A study combining documentary, photographic, planimetric analysis, and bibliographic reviews reveals how these features evolved between 1945 and 1950, reflecting both modernist aesthetics and climate adaptation in tropical contexts. The research highlights the site's role as a symbol of Venezuela's modernist identity, blending technical functionality with cultural heritage.

Regional identity and sustainable development in Transylvania: german cultural heritage

Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania — 2025 — WHE134A8C2FEC

Transylvania's cultural landscape, shaped by over eight centuries of German influence, remains a significant driver for sustainable development through tourism. The study highlights that despite a dramatic decline in the German (Saxon) population—from 200,000 in 1930 to fewer than 10,000 today—their heritage persists strongly in southern Transylvania, particularly in Brașov and Sibiu counties. This legacy is embodied in fortified cities, churches, and architecture, with several sites, including the historic center of Sighișoara and six Saxon villages with fortified churches, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These locations attract millions of visitors annually, solidifying their role as key tourist destinations in Romania. The research underscores how preserving this cultural identity not only sustains local economies but also fosters regional pride and development.

5 Archaeological fieldwork and research in Roman Macedonia: 2014–2024

Archaeological Site of Philippi — 2025 — WHE287780B8D9

Recent archaeological research in Roman-period Macedonia (2014–2024) has revealed a dynamic and interconnected landscape, challenging traditional models of rural habitation. Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as Thessaloniki’s Metro and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, exposed dense settlement patterns, sophisticated urban grids, monumental public architecture, and diverse burial grounds, highlighting the city's evolution from Hellenistic to Late Antiquity periods. Rural investigations uncovered small cemeteries, artisanal workshops, agricultural estates, and infrastructure, emphasizing continuous rural habitation, intensified agricultural activity, and advanced land management strategies. Interdisciplinary approaches, including geoarchaeology and bioarchaeology, further illuminated socio-economic networks and daily life in both urban and rural communities.

A Deep Learning Approach to Intelligent Detection of Shedthin Tile Pathology in Suzhou Classical Gardens

Classical Gardens of Suzhou — 2025 — WHE5E9336EDDE

A deep learning model, YOLO11-seg, achieved high accuracy in detecting four key pathologies—water stains, color aberration, surface scaling, and excessive gaps—in shedthin tiles from Suzhou Classical Gardens, with an overall accuracy of 74.38%. This approach significantly accelerates detection speed by an order of magnitude compared to traditional visual surveys, standardizes assessments across inspectors, and captures early-stage micro-pathologies often missed in manual inspections. The study provides a quantitative analysis of damage severity, offering critical references for scientific restoration strategies. This methodology sets a replicable template for preserving other fragile, repetition-rich historical materials in architectural heritage.

A diminutive pterosaur from the uppermost Maastrichtian chalk of Denmark

Møns Klint — 2025 — WHE8B27001642

A diminutive pterosaur, represented by a fragment of a finger bone, has been discovered in the uppermost Maastrichtian chalk at Møns Klint, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Stevns Klint. This specimen, identified as a proximal phalanx from digit IV, challenges previous hypotheses about Late Cretaceous niche partitioning by showing that small-bodied pterosaurs with wingspans under 50 cm coexisted with birds during the final stages of the Cretaceous period. The discovery, made in the Højerup Member of the Møns Klint Formation at Holtug quarry, provides the first record of pterosaurs from Denmark's chalk and suggests that size-based competition avoidance was not a defining factor for these flying reptiles.

A hollókői lakosság véleménye és részvételi aktivitása a helyi turizmusban

Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings — 2025 — WHE451C474F26

A decline in local community engagement with tourism in Hollókő, despite its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been identified. Between 2015 and 2023, while the majority of residents still view tourism as the village's primary livelihood, actual participation—particularly in local businesses and events—significantly decreased. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation exacerbated risk aversion and diminished business expectations. The study underscores the urgent need for stronger community involvement to foster sustainable local tourism. This research employs a longitudinal approach, analyzing perceptions and engagement trends over eight years using quantitative data.

A hollókői örökség fenntarthatósági dilemmái: alternatív turisztikai fejlesztés botanikai értékek mentén

Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings — 2025 — WHE9F580FBEB5

Hollókő's UNESCO-listed Old Village faces sustainability challenges that necessitate alternative tourism development approaches. The study identifies botanical values as potential keys to shifting towards more sustainable, low-impact tourism models while preserving the site's unique cultural heritage and landscape harmony. By focusing on the region's botanical assets, researchers propose a strategy that could balance conservation efforts with economic growth, offering a viable path for maintaining Hollókő's living village character and traditional architecture without compromising its ecological integrity.

A multi-species corridor between the Andean Amazonian and Amazon floodplain landscapes: prioritizing ecological connectivity areas for jaguar and threatened ungulates in the north-eastern of South America

Chiribiquete National Park – “The Maloca of the Jaguar” — 2025 — WHEAA05492BCC

Researchers have identified a critical multi-species corridor spanning the Andean Amazonian and Amazon floodplain landscapes, essential for maintaining ecological connectivity for jaguars and threatened ungulates like the lowland tapir and collared peccary. This corridor, primarily associated with the hydric network of the upper and middle Caquetá River basin, connects key protected areas such as Alto Fragua Indi Wasi, La Paya, and Serranía del Chiribiquete National Natural Parks, as well as several regional parks. The study utilized potential distribution models, spatial morphological analysis, and resistance matrix modeling to pinpoint low-cost dispersal routes and prioritize connectivity nodes using the randomized shortest path algorithm. These findings highlight the importance of preserving these corridors to safeguard biodiversity in the face of accelerating habitat degradation due to deforestation, cattle ranching, and infrastructure development.

A Non-Uniform Processing Method (NUPM) for Large Photogrammetry Datasets: Case Study of Shams-ol-Emareh, Golestan Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Iran

Golestan Palace — 2025 — WHECCD3EB27CE

A novel Non-Uniform Processing Method (NUPM) for large photogrammetry datasets enables high-quality 3D reconstruction of cultural heritage sites using consumer-grade computers, significantly reducing computational demands and output file sizes without compromising data quality. Applied to the Shams-ol-Emareh building at Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran, NUPM fragmented the object based on importance and roughness, processed segments separately, and then merged them. This approach reduced point cloud points by over 90% and mesh triangles by over 97%, yielding efficient textures and resolutions suitable for virtual reality, augmented reality, and gaming engines while maintaining geometric and aesthetic accuracy.

A Pandora’s Box: Indigenous Voices in Heritage Management Within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural Landscapes in South Africa

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape — 2025 — WHE67FDB160F8

This research highlights the critical tension between indigenous knowledge systems and Western-influenced heritage management practices, particularly within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural Landscapes in South Africa. It reveals that while state-based heritage management has historically excluded indigenous communities, their inclusion could significantly enrich archaeological heritage management by drawing from collective memory, ritual practices, and indigenous knowledge. The study, based on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, emphasizes the therapeutic potential of inclusive approaches to bridge the gap between Western and indigenous perspectives, advocating for a more indigenously sensitive management system that could unlock deeper cultural insights.

A population viability analysis of K’gari (Fraser Island) wongari (dingoes)

K’gari (Fraser Island) — 2025 — WHE4238CCC56F

A population viability analysis (PVA) of K’gari (Fraser Island) wongari (dingoes) reveals that, under favorable conditions, the population is likely to persist over 50 and 100 years. However, high mortality rates significantly increase extinction risk, particularly at low- and mid-level population sizes. Promiscuous breeding behavior, higher female breeding success, and greater male availability mitigate these risks. The study highlights the importance of PVA in identifying critical factors influencing wongari survival but underscores a lack of data on reproduction and mortality, which limits actionable recommendations for conservation managers. Improved data collection is essential to accurately predict the long-term viability of this iconic population.

A Reassessment of the Role of Atmospheric and Oceanic Forcing on Ice Dynamics at Jakobshavn Isbræ (Sermeq Kujalleq), Ilulissat Icefjord

Ilulissat Icefjord — 2025 — WHE7C06388A37

Jakobshavn Isbræ, the largest contributor to Greenland Ice Sheet mass loss over the past three decades, has shown complex ice dynamics influenced by both atmospheric and oceanic factors. Recent research indicates that the glacier began re-accelerating in 2018, with near-terminus velocity increasing by 49% between 2018 and 2021, prior to significant ocean warming. This acceleration was likely driven by reductions in effective pressure due to ice surface lowering, caused by negative surface mass balance and dynamic thinning. Additionally, sustained thinning and iceberg calving during winter 2020/2021 corresponded with a decrease in rigid mélange extent, linked to increased ocean temperatures in Disko Bay and Ilulissat Icefjord. The study underscores the need to consider both atmospheric and oceanic forcing when projecting the future behavior of marine-terminating outlet glaciers like Jakobshavn Isbræ.

A revised chronology and depositional history for the Outer Arumpo lunette, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, NSW

Willandra Lakes Region — 2025 — WHEF89E27DD99

Lakes in the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area exhibit distinct hydrologic histories, challenging the long-held assumption that Lake Mungo's depositional record is representative of the entire system. A new study reveals that the Outer Arumpo (OA) lunette experienced significant lake level fluctuations between ~40–38 ka ago, contrasting with the relatively stable conditions at Lake Mungo during the same period. Bayesian modeling of 52 single-grain OSL ages and sediment micromorphological analysis across seven stratigraphic units demonstrates that OA's hydrologic history is unique, with lake filling occurring from ~80–56 ka ago and subsequent rapid fluctuations. This research underscores the need for site-specific stratigraphic frameworks to accurately interpret landscape changes in multi-lake systems.

A Semantic Classification Approach for the Aachen Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral — 2025 — WHE0055B927AF

A novel semantic classification approach, integrating 3D survey data and machine learning, demonstrates significant potential for distinguishing materials and construction techniques in historic masonry, particularly at UNESCO World Heritage sites like Aachen Cathedral. The study, focusing on the Westwerk area, combines terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and photogrammetric point clouds with supervised algorithms (Random Forest) and 2D image segmentation via META’s Segment Anything Model (SAM). Findings reveal that 3D geometry-based classification excels in identifying features with strong morphological differentiation, while 2D approaches are more effective for visually subtle or geometrically similar elements. Annotated 2D masks projected onto the 3D model enhance classification reliability, contributing to scalable, semi-automatic documentation and conservation planning for complex heritage sites.

A Space-Time Analysis on the Ancient Gaya Tombs in Hapcheon Region : Focusing on Hapcheon Samga Ancient Tomb Complex Excavated by the Dong-A University Museum in the Year 1981 -

Gaya Tumuli — 2025 — WHE1A42C13582

The Hapcheon Samga Ancient Tomb Complex, excavated by the Dong-A University Museum in 1981, reveals significant cultural interchange among Gaya, Baekjae, and Shilla during the early 5th to late 6th century. Analysis of artifacts, such as 'Short-Mounted Dish' (type II-A · B) and iron-rings, indicates a transition from preceding Gaya culture to Shilla influence, while also highlighting Baekjae's earlier cultural impact on the region. The study employs space-time analysis of excavated remains and structures to demonstrate this dynamic period of cultural exchange in the Hapcheon region.

A Study on Innovative Experience Design for the Museum of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in the Era of Digital Humanities

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor — 2025 — WHEE110036E76

This study introduces a novel approach to enhancing museum experiences at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It addresses the gap in current intelligent museum models, which often focus on artifact restoration and conservation without adequately capturing visitor needs. The proposed solutions aim to deliver high-quality immersive visits, leveraging AI to innovate cultural heritage dissemination. By applying digital humanities frameworks, the research seeks to create more engaging and personalized experiences for visitors, ensuring that technological advancements align with educational and experiential goals.

A Study on the Architectural Form and Characteristics of Tusi Manors in the Yunnan–Tibet Region

Tusi Sites — 2025 — WHE01ED11805E

Tusi manors in the Yunnan–Tibet region represent a unique blend of official and vernacular timber-framed architecture, embodying distinct regional characteristics and ethnic identity. This study reveals their rich construction wisdom and cultural significance as 'living' material evidence for understanding regional architectural craftsmanship. Through field surveys and on-site documentation, researchers analyzed 132 manors across 45 counties, identifying key features such as settlement mechanisms, site selection principles, courtyard layouts, and spatial configurations. By integrating natural environment and socio-cultural contexts, the study provides a multidimensional analysis that enhances awareness of this cultural heritage and offers guidelines for conservation efforts.

A Top-Down, Multi-Method and Multi-Scale Approach to Studying the Byzantine–Umayyad Settlement of Umm ar-Rasas (Amman, Jordan)

Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) — 2025 — WHED4790A197D

A groundbreaking study at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Umm ar-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) in Jordan has successfully delineated the northern boundaries of its Byzantine–Umayyad settlement, a task previously confined to theoretical discourse. The research, conducted between 2021 and 2023 as part of an ongoing multidisciplinary project initiated in 2013, employed a novel combination of remote sensing technologies, archaeological surveys, laser scans, and geophysical prospecting. This multi-methodological approach allowed for the first shared interpretation of the settlement's configuration, offering significant insights into its spatial organization during this pivotal period.

A Value-Based Risk Assessment of Water-Related Hazards: The Archaeological Site of the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus

Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus — 2025 — WHE8FABFB8CAF

Intensified surface water runoff and localized water inundation pose significant threats to key monuments at the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus. Projections indicate that climate change will exacerbate hydroclimatic extremes in the Mediterranean region, particularly affecting the Roman Odeion and central parts of the site's ensemble. This study employs a value-based risk assessment approach, integrating GIS-based hydrological modeling (HAND), field observations, material assessments, and NARA Grids to link exposure, vulnerability, and potential value loss. The findings highlight the need for site-specific climate change adaptation strategies, prioritizing drainage enhancement, preventive conservation, and continuous monitoring to preserve the site's Outstanding Universal Values under changing climatic conditions.