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Showing 27521 – 27540 of 30315 publications

Geomorphological and geotechnical causes of anthropogenically induced rock‐mass falls in the wachau‐danube valley (bohemian massif, lower austria)

Wachau Cultural Landscape — 2012 — WHE804E0DC38D

Anthropogenic activities, particularly quarrying for building materials, have significantly destabilized rock slopes in the Wachau-Danube Valley, leading to catastrophic rock-mass falls. The study identifies that the combination of existing geological discontinuities and artificially modified morphology is fatal for slope stability. At two quarries near Spitz and Dürnstein, heavy rainfall triggered four major rockslides, with a total volume of 170-000m³ at Spitz and approximately 15-000m³ at Dürnstein. Rock mechanical analysis revealed that undercutting by mining faces and the presence of steeply dipping joint sets contributed to these events. The research underscores the need for extensive reshaping of mining faces to achieve stable conditions, essential for maintaining transport infrastructure in this culturally significant UNESCO World Heritage Site.

George Town World Heritage Site: What We Have and What We Sell?

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca — 2012 — WHE4AAF88D778

A significant gap exists in the online representation of intangible heritage within George Town. While tangible heritage dominates promotional content across top tourism websites, intangible elements—particularly beyond food—receive scant attention despite their critical role in sustainability. Content analysis of ten major tourism sites revealed incomplete or skewed information, with interviews confirming challenges like missing inventories and negotiation hurdles for local stakeholders. The study underscores the urgent need to compile a comprehensive list of George Town’s heritage, including endangered intangible elements, to ensure balanced promotion and long-term preservation efforts.

Geoscientific research in the Wadden Sea region (editorial)

Wadden Sea — 2012 — WHEFC9ECD6FB4

The Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, is one of the world's largest uninterrupted systems of barrier islands, tidal channels, salt marshes, and tidal flats. Geoscientific research reveals that this dynamic system, shaped by post-glacial sea-level rise under temperate climate conditions during the Holocene, exhibits significant spatial variations in geological history and ongoing processes. A cross-sectional analysis from Den Helder to Blåvandshuk highlights these variations, reflecting complex stratigraphic build-up and structural frameworks. Recognized for its unique biotic and abiotic features, the Wadden Sea's geoscientific significance underscores its role as a natural laboratory for studying active geological processes.

Gereanimeerd erfgoed: Nationaal project Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie als format voor het landschapsbeleid

Dutch Water Defence Lines — 2012 — WHEA7A70B2A4D

A national project revitalizing the Dutch Water Defence Lines (Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie) demonstrates how integrated landscape policy can balance heritage preservation, ecological management, and regional development. This initiative successfully merged cultural heritage conservation with landscape protection, tourism, and water policy, offering a model for managing large-scale historical landscapes. The project's approach, rooted in identifying historically based boundaries and artifacts, provides a framework for future landscape strategies that address the complex interplay of conservation, utilization, and adaptation. By synthesizing multiple policy domains—including monument preservation, nature conservation, and recreation—the project showcases an innovative method for addressing the challenges of modern landscape management.

Gestion durable des ressources naturelles et culturelles dans l'extrême sud-est algérien. Cas d'étude : le parc national du Tassili n'Ajjer

Tassili n'Ajjer — 2012 — WHECFD027DBF7

Tassili n'Ajjer, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southeastern Algeria, faces significant challenges in sustainable management of its natural and cultural resources. This study identifies critical gaps in the protection and governance of the region, which is renowned for its unique human-environment interactions, stunning landscapes, and distinctive Saharan culture. Through comprehensive analysis—including field surveys and interviews with local stakeholders—the research proposes actionable strategies to enhance sustainable development and safeguard Tassili n'Ajjer's ecological and cultural heritage. These recommendations aim to address the region's underdeveloped infrastructure and insufficient conservation efforts, offering a blueprint for balanced preservation and growth.

Gis and 3D Models as Support to Documentation and Planning of the Baku Historical Centre (Republic of Azerbaijan)

Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower — 2012 — WHEFA79F591EA

A three-dimensional model of Baku's historical center, combined with GIS and other geospatial technologies, has emerged as a powerful tool for documenting and planning the evolution of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This approach enables systematic analysis of urban stratigraphy, revealing the city's transformation from the Khans to the Soviet period and beyond. By integrating iconographic studies with digital mapping, researchers have captured both major monuments and minor structures, providing a comprehensive framework for virtual navigation and design choices. The study also highlights the importance of standardized data formats and survey instruments in preserving and analyzing historical cities, offering valuable insights for future urban conservation efforts.

Global integration along historic pathways: Vienna and Munich in the changing financial geography of Europe

Historic Centre of Vienna — 2012 — WHE52C4BCC7E6

Vienna and Munich, while historically significant financial hubs, now play distinct roles in Europe's evolving financial landscape. This study reveals that their current positions are shaped by both long-term historical developments and recent industry restructuring, including corporate takeovers, mergers, and the rise of private equity firms. Through a network analysis of 493 merger and acquisition transactions between 1997 and 2009, as well as an examination of the location networks of top private equity firms and banks, researchers demonstrate how financial diversification and specialization have redefined these cities' roles in Europe's financial geography.

Global–local relationships and governance issues at the Great Wall World Heritage Site, China

The Great Wall — 2012 — WHE6F54F92151

At the Badaling section of China's Great Wall tourism and heritage preservation coexist with both benefits and tensions. Research reveals that while local businesses strongly support tourism—prioritizing economic gains—they also show high awareness for heritage conservation, albeit with some tolerance for environmental impacts. The study highlights conflicts between global UNESCO standards and local development needs, noting weak international linkages at the site. Using interviews with officials and surveys of local operators, it maps a complex, hierarchical management structure that shapes preservation efforts and tourism policies.

Göbekli Tepe: A Neolithic Site in Southeastern Anatolia

Göbekli Tepe — 2012 — WHEF0E93DCC10

Göbekli Tepe, a partially excavated Neolithic site in southeastern Anatolia, offers groundbreaking insights into the transition from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to early agriculture and animal husbandry during the Pleistocene to Holocene shift. Its monumental architecture, characterized by T-shaped pillars arranged in circular or oval enclosures with central pairs, suggests anthropomorphic representations, challenging traditional narratives of pre-agricultural societies. The site's diverse artistic repertoire—ranging from small figurines to intricately decorated megaliths—further underscores its significance as a cultural and symbolic precursor to later Neolithic developments. Excavations reveal that Göbekli Tepe predates the advent of agriculture, implying complex social structures and ritual practices far earlier than previously assumed.

Gold mining impact on riverine heavy metal transport in a sparsely monitored region: the upper Lake Baikal Basin case

Lake Baikal — 2012 — WHE497D8AC27B

Gold mining at the Zaamar Goldfield (Mongolia) has significantly increased riverine heavy metal transport in the Tuul River-Selenga River-Lake Baikal water system, with total annual mass flows of Al, As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn rising by 44.3%, 30.1%, 65.7%, 47.8%, 1.48%, 76.0%, and 65.0% respectively due to mining activities. Despite alkaline conditions limiting dissolution on-site, suspended sediment concentrations are much higher than dissolved ones, posing potential environmental risks. The study, which combined historical data, long-term monitoring, and novel field campaigns, highlights the Selenga River Basin as one of the world's most impacted areas for heavy metal loads, contributing 1% and 3% to global dissolved Fe and Pb fluxes respectively. Single hydrological events can further amplify suspended load concentrations by at least an order of magnitude.

Gordion: The Changing Political and Economic Roles of a First Millennium B.C.E. City

Gordion — 2012 — WHEA081A38DF3

Excavations at Gordion, identified as the capital of the Phrygian kingdom in first millennium BCE Turkey, reveal significant political and economic transformations. The site, Yassıhöyük, was confirmed through scale, date, and Phrygian inscriptions, though no direct name evidence for 'Gordion' or its famous king Midas has been found. Research utilized historical descriptions, archaeological remains, and tumuli excavations to trace the city's evolving roles. Findings highlight Gordion's strategic importance at the confluence of the Porsuk and Sakarya Rivers, offering insights into ancient urban dynamics.

GPR Investigations in Ajanta Caves to Decipher Seepage Pathways

Ajanta Caves — 2012 — WHEC456B972D3

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) investigations at the UNESCO-listed Ajanta Caves, renowned for their 2nd-century BC to 6th-century AD Buddhist heritage and exceptional mural paintings, revealed critical seepage pathways contributing to the degradation of cave walls. These pathways, identified through GPR, are linked to natural weathering processes and retreating scarps in the Deccan Trap basalts, which facilitate water intrusion and subsequent damage to the caves' structural integrity and artworks. The study underscores the potential of GPR as a non-invasive tool for monitoring and preserving such vulnerable heritage sites, offering insights into the complex interactions between geological formations and human-made structures.

Gravity fluctuations induced by magma convection at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — 2012 — WHEC4A883071C

Researchers have uncovered evidence of magma convection within Kīlauea Volcano's subsurface reservoir, a process previously inferred but never directly observed. By analyzing continuous microgravity measurements at the summit of Kīlauea, the team detected gravity oscillations with a period of approximately 150 seconds, which they attributed to density inversions in a magma chamber located about one kilometer beneath Halema'uma'u Crater. These fluctuations, distinct from seismic activity, provide a novel method for characterizing convection in magma reservoirs, offering new insights into the dynamics of persistently active volcanoes.

Greek and Geʿez in the propaganda of King ʿEzana of Axum: religion and diplomacy in late antiquity

Aksum — 2012 — WHEA9B05107A6

King ʿEzana of Axum, who ruled in the 4th century AD, employed both Greek and Geʿez in his inscriptions, reflecting strategic religious and diplomatic choices. The study reveals that Greek was likely used to appeal to a broader audience, including Hellenized elites or foreign allies, while Geʿez invocations emphasized indigenous religious practices, possibly to assert cultural identity. This dual-lingual approach suggests a nuanced balance between local traditions and external influences during his reign.

Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) nesting on Atol das Rocas, north-eastern Brazil, 1990–2008

Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves — 2012 — WHE1501840CBF

A significant decline in the carapace length of nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas) was observed at Atol das Rocas, Brazil, from 1990 to 2008. The study found that the mean curved carapace length decreased from 115.9 cm in the early years (1990–1992) to 112.9 cm by the end of the study period (2006–2008). Despite this trend, nesting levels remained stable, with an average of 335 nests per year (excluding data from 1998–1999 due to lack of monitoring). The research, conducted over 17 seasons, also reported key reproductive metrics such as clutch size, hatching success, and incubation period. Atol das Rocas, a protected federal reserve since 1979, saw the cessation of turtle killing in 1990, allowing undisturbed nesting and incubation. The study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring in understanding population dynamics even within protected areas.

Guidelines for the retrofit of the school building stock for sustainable urban regeneration of the city of Rome

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2012 — WHE05AAF2FEC0

A significant reduction in energy consumption—up to 40% for building envelopes and 20% for plant systems—can be achieved through cost-effective retrofitting of school buildings in Rome, benefiting both environmental sustainability and indoor comfort. The study developed guidelines applicable to nearly all school buildings by analyzing representative case studies, focusing on optimizing building performance while preserving historic urban contexts. These interventions not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also serve as educational tools for raising awareness among students about energy efficiency and sustainable practices.

Habitat Suitability Modeling of Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus Desmarest 1822) in Ujung Kulon National Park

Ujung Kulon National Park — 2012 — WHEE543C213C1

Research identifies four critical habitat factors for the critically endangered Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP): slope, proximity to wallow sites, distance from open areas ('rumpang'), and beach proximity. These factors were determined using spatial modeling techniques, revealing their dominant influence on rhino presence. The study highlights the importance of these components for habitat suitability, providing crucial insights for conservation efforts in this last refuge for the species.

Habitat use of the wild boar,Sus scrofaLinnaeus 1758, in Los Alerces National Park, Argentina

Los Alerces National Park — 2012 — WHE3C039BFA9E

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Los Alerces National Park, Argentina, show distinct habitat preferences, favoring lower elevations (600 to 700 meters above sea level) and forests dominated by Nothofagus species with dense understory. Seasonal variations were observed, with different patterns of sign occurrence between summer and autumn. These findings provide critical insights for park management, aiding in the development of targeted wild boar control strategies.

Hadrian's Wall and the End of Empire

Frontiers of the Roman Empire — 2012 — WHEFCD4D7217C

Hadrian's Wall, a late Roman frontier, challenges traditional narratives of decline and collapse by demonstrating its transition from an imperial border zone to integration into Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. This study, the first comprehensive English-language treatment of a late Roman frontier, combines archaeological and documentary evidence to analyze the role of limitanei—frontier soldiers crucial for maintaining late imperial frontiers—and their relationship with local communities. It also assesses the impact of Rome's end on Britain and its influence on Northumbria's development. The research emphasizes the late Roman occupation and military, providing a nuanced perspective on frontier dynamics within the broader imperial context.

Hammurabi of Babylon

Babylon — 2012 — WHE44D1A18B93

Hammurabi of Babylon, renowned for his Code of Laws, stands out as one of antiquity's most influential rulers. His 282 legal injunctions, inscribed on a stele and allegedly divinely granted by the god Marduk, pioneered a new approach to lawmaking in Mesopotamia around 1792-1750 BCE. This codex, publicly displayed for all citizens to read, offers fascinating parallels with the biblical Ten Commandments and remains influential today. Beyond his legal legacy, Hammurabi transformed Babylon from a minor kingdom into a regional superpower through unparalleled geopolitical and military strategies, dominating Mesopotamia's fertile plain. Dominique Charpin, a distinguished scholar of ancient Babylon, provides a fresh appraisal of this iconic figure, highlighting his pivotal role in the history of civilization.