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Showing 2061 – 2080 of 15962 publications

Exploring Bare-Hand Interaction Design and Evaluation Method for Interactive Experience of Cultural Heritage: A Case Study on the Digital Reconstruction of Yungang Grottoes

Yungang Grottoes — 2025 — WHE02CDD62D5E

A novel bare-hand interaction (BHI) system for digital cultural heritage experiences significantly reduces cognitive load and enhances usability, immersion, and user satisfaction. Researchers developed a BHI-based interactive narrative system for the central pagoda of Yungang Grottoes demonstrating that specific narrative strategies and hand-interaction models optimize virtual heritage engagement. The study employed a combined subjective-objective evaluation method, measuring brain activity (HbO2 data), NASA-TLX scores, performance metrics, user satisfaction, and immersion levels. Findings indicate this approach is universally applicable for refining digital cultural heritage experiences and offers valuable insights for human-computer interaction research.

Exploring Local Attitudes Towards Sustainable Tourism Development and Community Resilience in Skadar Lake and Durmitor National Parks, Montenegro: A Socio-Demographic Analysis

Durmitor National Park — 2025 — WHE85F180262A

Residents of Durmitor National Park exhibit more pronounced perceptions of both positive and negative tourism impacts compared to those in Skadar Lake National Park, while the latter show greater enthusiasm for tourism promotion. Socio-demographic factors, particularly education and age, significantly shape these attitudes. The study used questionnaire data analyzed via regression analysis, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation, ensuring robust statistical validity. These findings highlight the need for tailored tourism development strategies that address local community needs and perceptions in both parks.

Exploring Narrative Techniques and Artistic Expression in the Buddhist Murals of the Mogao Caves

Mogao Caves — 2025 — WHE3922CD9A26

Buddhist murals at the Mogao Caves employ dynamic narrative techniques that blend visual storytelling, symbolic iconography, and historical context to engage viewers in spiritual education. The study reveals these murals as a distinct medium where color, composition, and symbolism work together to convey complex religious narratives effectively. Researchers analyzed representative murals using art historical methods and iconographic analysis, combined with literature review, to uncover how artists communicated intricate Buddhist stories through visual means. This approach highlights the murals' role in not just preserving but also actively educating viewers about spiritual themes.

Exploring plastering techniques in ancient Chinese royal architecture at Huilong temple using multi-analytical methods

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains — 2025 — WHE8629A16FCB

A groundbreaking analysis of the Huilong Taoist Temple, part of China's Wudang Mountains World Heritage Site, reveals that its well-preserved walls owe their durability to a sophisticated combination of raw materials and meticulous plastering techniques. Researchers discovered distinct compositions in two wall plaster layers: the surface layer incorporates magnesium lime, lateritic soil, ocher, and paper mulberry bast fiber for texture and color, while the base layer relies more on lime without ocher. This layered approach, with coarse materials forming the foundation and finer elements applied superficially, provides both structural integrity and aesthetic qualities. The study not only deepens our understanding of ancient Chinese royal architectural practices but also offers critical insights for modern conservation efforts at this UNESCO-listed site.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Urban Regeneration: The Comparative Study of the Industrial Heritage Sites of Łódź (Poland) and Yazd (Iran)

Historic City of Yazd — 2025 — WHE37DC3157AA

Effective urban regeneration of industrial heritage sites requires balancing public and private financing while mitigating excessive private influence, prioritizing accessibility improvements, infrastructure development, and adaptive reuse of historical resources. These strategies not only generate financial income but also deliver social benefits and preserve cultural heritage values. A comparative study of Łódź (Poland) and Yazd (Iran), two cities with shared textile manufacturing histories but distinct socio-cultural and economic contexts, reveals that successful regeneration achieves both economic outcomes and cultural preservation. The research employed semi-structured interviews, fieldwork, and observational analyses to assess revitalization projects, applying a synthetic qualitative data approach to compare urban regeneration strategies across the two regions.

Exploring the heritage sustainability of the Sundarban landscape

Sundarbans National Park — 2025 — WHEFA1FE71008

A study on the Sundarbans National Park, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, reveals that integrating socio-ecological conservation with heritage preservation can effectively address sustainability challenges, including those posed by climate change. The research demonstrates how local knowledge, cultural practices, and sustainable development strategies are interconnected in shaping the landscape's resilience. Through extensive qualitative inquiry—including interviews, group discussions, participatory observations, and transect walks—the study highlights the importance of recognizing the Sundarbans as a potential cultural or mixed heritage site to better preserve its exceptional ecological and cultural heritage.

Exploring the Hidden Dimension in the Islamic Architecture: The Medina of Tunis as a Study Case

Medina of Tunis — 2025 — WHE4A0A1B293E

The Medina of Tunis embodies a hidden dimension where mythological, sacred, ritual, and legendary elements shape living spaces and practices. This study reveals how cosmogony, the imaginary, and hidden dimensions influence urban and architectural design, acting as mirrors reflecting worldviews. By focusing on auto-centric processes—where inhabitant practices and representation systems interact—the research uncovers an unsuspected facet of Islamic architecture's lived experiences. The approach combines field survey with analysis of symbolic and spatial relationships, offering a nuanced understanding of how these intangible forces structure urban landscapes.

Exploring the potential and development strategies of dark tourism: a case study of Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine

Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem — 2025 — WHE6411DA2545

Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine, harbors significant potential for dark tourism, offering a unique lens to explore themes of conflict, occupation, and historical injustice. Key sites such as the separation wall, Israeli settlements, military checkpoints, refugee camps, and memorials serve as poignant reminders of ethnic cleansing and apartheid, providing visitors with an immersive experience that fosters dialogue, education, and reconciliation. A SWOT analysis and TOWS matrix revealed that these underutilized sites could enrich Bethlehem’s tourism offerings while promoting socio-economic development. The study underscores the importance of strategic planning to leverage dark tourism for preserving collective memory, historical justice, and cross-cultural awareness.

Exploring the potentials of adaptive reuse of cisterns in historic cities: Case of Safranbolu

City of Safranbolu — 2025 — WHEE8ACFB7EF4

Adaptive reuse of historic cisterns could significantly enhance water efficiency in heritage cities, offering a sustainable solution to the growing demand for water resources. A study focusing on Safranbolu, known for its preserved architecture, found that local cisterns have the potential to manage and treat water consumed by buildings when combined with greywater reuse and limited rainwater collection. The research involved a field study of 11 cisterns and detailed water consumption data from 25 buildings, suggesting that such structures could play a supplementary role in sustainable water management. However, economic feasibility, technical capacity, and maintenance processes remain critical considerations for implementation.

Exploring the relationship between destination image, tourist satisfaction, and loyalty among overseas visitors to Taishan using structural equation modelling

Mount Taishan — 2025 — WHE0F7267C1CA

A study on Mount Taishan reveals that emotional engagement and perceived service quality are critical mediators between destination image, tourist satisfaction, and loyalty. Unlike traditional models, the research shows that these factors significantly enhance satisfaction, which in turn strengthens visitor loyalty more effectively than static branding efforts. The findings were derived from a hierarchical structural equation model (SEM) analyzing 1650 valid responses from international tourists during the 2023 peak season. This approach outperformed alternative methods like PLS-SEM and regression models across key performance indices, emphasizing the importance of experience design in heritage tourism management.

Exploring the Sustainability in a Rural Area of the World Heritage City of Yazd During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Historic City of Yazd — 2025 — WHE69D04BB920

A surviving eco-lodge in Yazd, Irandemonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic through sustainable innovations that could serve as a model for similar rural tourism ventures. The study found that strategies such as collaborating with local entrepreneurs, promoting handicraft sales via social media, organizing creative events for children, and partnering with universities and NGOs helped the eco-lodge maintain financial stability and community support amid the pandemic's economic disruptions. The research employed qualitative methods, including a semi-structured interview with the lodge owner and analysis of his operational data, to assess sustainability practices in adaptive reuse of traditional architecture. This case highlights the potential for rural heritage sites to thrive through innovative, community-centered approaches even during global crises.

Expression and characteristics of spatial distribution of architectural styles in the historic urban landscape of Lithuania (the cases of the old towns of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda)

Vilnius Historic Centre — 2025 — WHE2AB90D036A

A unique regionalization of historic urban landscapes in Lithuania's old towns—Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda—reveals distinct spatial patterns of architectural styles shaped by composition, urban structure, and morphological elements. The study leverages an interdisciplinary approach, integrating architectural historiography, cultural heritage data, and geospatial analysis to map and categorize building styles in a GIS database. This methodology uncovers nuanced differences in stylistic expression across the three cities, illustrated through photo collages. The findings contribute to understanding the artistic diffusion and spatial organization of historic urban landscapes, offering insights for conservation and urban planning.

Externalities Associated to the Mayan Train

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche — 2025 — WHE9F46DAAEC4

The Mayan Train, a significant infrastructure project connecting Mexico's southeast region, has exacerbated social and environmental conflicts around the UNESCO-listed Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Research reveals that while the train aims to boost regional development, it has intensified water scarcity, deforestation, community displacement, and tourism-related land use changes. A study analyzing economic, social, and environmental impacts through interviews with key stakeholders and surveys of 70 individuals found a complex network of actors balancing individual interests with broader benefits. The findings highlight the unintended consequences of large-scale infrastructure projects on protected areas, particularly in terms of externalities affecting local communities and ecosystems.

Extreme fighting and vocalisations in Tapirus bairdii: observations from aguadas of Calakmul, social arenas for the species

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche — 2025 — WHE31B3A25FEC

Researchers have uncovered rare and aggressive behaviors in Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii), including intense fighting and complex vocalizations, challenging the species' reputation for shyness. Over a decade of monitoring in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, revealed that ponds called aguadas serve as social arenas where tapirs engage in serious fights and produce various whistles, likely linked to courtship. These findings shed light on the social dynamics of this endangered Neotropical ungulate, offering insights into the causes of wounds and scars observed in adults. The study highlights the importance of these behaviors for tapir conservation efforts.

Factores determinantes del flujo turístico en la Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar.

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve — 2025 — WHEBE00FAA030

Tourist flow to the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve is primarily driven by global tourist GDP, health risks (such as COVID-19), inflation rates, and holiday periods. A multiple linear regression model, analyzing visitor data and socioeconomic variables from 2009–2021, revealed these key determinants. The findings provide actionable insights for tourism management, enabling more accurate future visitor projections and supporting sustainable conservation efforts in this UNESCO-listed protected area.

Factors affecting fuel-wood consumption in the central highlands and conservation drawbacks to the montane forest system in Sri Lanka

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka — 2025 — WHECF98085E24

Sri Lanka's montane forests, vital for biodiversity and water catchment, face growing threats from unsustainable fuelwood consumption. Research reveals that population growth, low income, traditional cooking methods, and limited access to alternative energy drive high demand, with households sourcing significant portions directly from nearby forests. This extraction exacerbates deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss while degrading water retention capacity, increasing soil erosion and downstream water scarcity. The study highlights the need for integrated conservation strategies, including energy-efficient technologies and community-based interventions, to balance livelihood needs with forest preservation.

Factors affecting tourist satisfaction in ecotourism: A case study of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park — 2025 — WHECB2A4F44BC

Tourist satisfaction at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam, is significantly influenced by destination attraction and ecotourism services, with staff quality having the least impact. A study analyzing responses from 185 tourists identified five key factors—destination attraction, ecotourism services, staff quality, price, and infrastructure—as critical to enhancing visitor experience. Using Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, and regression analysis via SPSS 26.0, researchers found that prioritizing destination appeal and service quality could substantially improve satisfaction and support sustainable ecotourism development in the region.

Factors Influencing the Art of Sculpture in China’s Longmen Grottoes: “Religious Colors, Culture, and Relief Sculpture”

Longmen Grottoes — 2025 — WHE9E7E03CE7C

Religious concepts profoundly shaped the evolution of Chinese sculpture art, particularly evident in the Longmen Grottoes. This study reveals that Buddhist beliefs influenced not only the styling and demeanour of statues but also the development of relief techniques over centuries. By comparing sculptures from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, researchers found a distinct integration of religious symbolism, classical literature, and national culture into sculptural modeling. The analysis highlights how these factors evolved alongside technological advancements in sculpture, offering new perspectives for establishing regionally distinctive teaching systems.

Factors influencing wildlife roadkill in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Northern, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area — 2025 — WHEF1EA16009B

A study on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) reveals that wildlife roadkill is significantly influenced by body size and habitat type, with small animals and those in specific habitats being more vulnerable. Over one year, 85 animals from 26 species were recorded as roadkill, with birds being the most affected group. The research, conducted along an 82-kilometer main road from Lodoare to Golini, found no significant differences between seasons or times of day but highlighted the need for stricter speed limits and driver education to mitigate this conservation issue.

Facts from Prince S.I. Shakhovskoy’s Biography in the Book by Simon Azaryin about the New Miracles of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad — 2025 — WHEE6051ADECA

New historical insights into the life of Prince S.I. Shakhovskoy, a 17th-century writer and theologian, emerge from an analysis of three episodes in Simon Azaryin’s book The New Miracles of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The study reveals key details about Shakhovskoy’s final years, including his perilous voyage on the White Sea in 1646, a fire at his estate in 1653, and his ties to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where Azaryin served as cellarer. Notably, one account clarifies the timeline of Shakhovskoy’s return from Siberian exile, enriching our understanding of his biography through primary sources.