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Showing 681 – 700 of 15962 publications

LGT 13.5 – Das fraktale Spitzen‑Netzwerk des Alten Reiches: Modulare Systemlogik und proportionale Längenmatrix Djoser–Nyuserre–Snofru

Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur — 2026 — WHE21EC4C39E4

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the monumental landscapes of Giza, Saqqara, and Dahschur in ancient Egypt form a fractal, systemically planned network with astronomical precision. The study identifies three functional modules: solar dynamics validating horizon channels as astronomical vectors, geodetic statics aligning sightlines to the circumpolar center of the ancient sky, and a proportional length matrix following a near-perfect 1:2 scaling law along the geodetic meridian. A Monte-Carlo permutation test (N=10,000) confirms that this axis configuration is statistically non-random (p ≈ 0), supporting a systemic planning principle underlying the Old Kingdom's monumental landscape. This research integrates geodetic precision, astronomical cycles, and fractal proportionality into a coherent space-time model, advancing archaeoastronomical understanding without relying on explicit formulas.

LiDAR-derived high-resolution geomorphological analysis for archaeology: Case study of the Gunditjmara aquaculture engineering systems at Budj Bim, Australia

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHE70F2CB4394

High-resolution LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have revolutionized archaeological analysis, enabling the detection of previously undetectable sites due to their small size or deterioration. This study demonstrates their potential in identifying a diverse array of archaeological sites across the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in Victoria, Australia. By focusing on advanced DEM analysis and visualization, the research highlights the importance of machine learning techniques, particularly when validated by Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and staff from the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC). The study underscores how these methodologies can reveal broad spatial distributions, functional relationships, and patterns of landscape use by past populations over time.

Lighting Design in the Renovation Project of the Historical and Cultural Environment: The Example of Krasnogorsky Square in Sergiev Posad

Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad — 2026 — WHE34BD3F8C7B

A systematic approach to lighting design for the renovation of Krasnogorsky Square, adjacent to the UNESCO-listed Trinity Sergius Lavra, demonstrates how spatial elements, lighting technologies, and socio-cultural factors can be integrated to preserve historical authenticity while enabling adaptive use. The proposed solution balances functional zoning, decorative lighting, and technical innovations, allowing the square to host diverse events—from religious ceremonies to secular gatherings—without compromising its museum-like environment. This project, rooted in a training initiative at Stroganov University, offers a scalable model for restoring historic urban spaces while meeting national cultural preservation goals.

Lighting Devices in the Jongmyo Ancestral Rites: From Offering Candles to Consumables

Jongmyo Shrine — 2026 — WHEB97BF3F3E9

This study reveals that candles in Jongmyo Shrine's ancestral rites underwent a significant shift from being sacred offerings to becoming consumables, marking a transition in their symbolic and functional roles during the Joseon Dynasty and into the modern era. The research analyzes historical texts and records to trace the evolution of lighting devices, showing how candles were initially categorized based on wax composition and ritual significance, reflecting hierarchical and emotional aspects of the rites. By the late Joseon period, mixed-wax candles were phased out due to smoke and odor issues, replaced by lead-wax candles. Post-liberation, industrial-era lighting like oil lamps and electric bulbs took over, but candles persisted as ritual symbols, bridging tradition and modernity.

Lightning‐caused disturbance frequency and severity varies with topography in an Afromontane forest

Nyungwe National Park — 2026 — WHE45F923F86B

Lightning-caused disturbances in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, exhibit significant variation in frequency and severity based on topography. Ridges experience six times more lightning strikes (19) compared to valleys (2), yet valley disturbances cause greater tree-level damage and a higher mortality rate among affected trees, though the latter was not statistically significant due to limited sample size. This pattern contrasts with findings from tropical American forests, where lightning typically results in higher tree mortality rates. The study also suggests taxonomic differences in lightning tolerance, particularly for ridge-dominant Syzygium spp., which showed less damage compared to the community average. These insights imply that lightning disturbance severity may decline with increased frequency and highlight potential species-specific adaptations to lightning stress.

Linking Climatic Resources and Green Tourism Growth Under Climate Change Adaptation Contexts: Evidence from Hue City

Complex of Hué Monuments — 2026 — WHE8BC39CE0DC

A study on Hue City's UNESCO World Heritage Sites reveals that all five climatic factors—wind, rainfall, thermal conditions, extreme weather events, and humidity—positively and significantly influence green tourism growth. These findings underscore the importance of integrating climate information, seasonal planning, and adaptive strategies into sustainable tourism governance to mitigate climate change impacts. The research analyzed 174 tourist surveys collected from Bach Ma, Hue Imperial Citadel, and Chuon Lagoon–Thuan An over a year, using SPSS for statistical analysis, with the regression model explaining 35.3% of variance in green tourism growth.

Linking Social Justice with Climate Justice at the Coal Mines Historic Site in Tasmania (Australia)

Australian Convict Sites — 2026 — WHE700C32695C

A novel approach to managing UNESCO World Heritage Sites with deep colonial legacies, such as Australia's Coal Mines Historic Site, demonstrates that integrating social justice and climate justice is essential for effective conservation. The study, part of the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Place Lab initiative, reveals that addressing these interconnected issues fosters stronger collaboration between site managers and scholars, ultimately enhancing the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. By analyzing the Coal Mines Historic Site in Tasmania, researchers highlight the need for a holistic framework that balances historical narratives with contemporary environmental challenges to ensure sustainable heritage management.

Living on Display: Negotiating Gentrification and Cultural Resilience in Chew Jetty, George Town, Malaysia

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca — 2026 — WHE4613220AEA

Residents of Chew Jetty, a historic clan settlement within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, exhibit 'negotiated resilience' to counter commercial gentrification without erasing cultural heritage. This phenomenon challenges the notion that economic opportunism leads to cultural displacement, instead showing how communities adapt through spatial regulation and ritual bifurcation. The study highlights resident agency as crucial for sustainable heritage conservation, contrasting with traditional facade-oriented planning frameworks. Qualitative case studies, representing a significant majority of the population, reveal 'commercial gentrification from below,' driven by economic incentives but mitigated by community-led strategies to preserve intangible heritage.

Living with Floods: Applying the Adversity Acceptance as Resilience Framework to Flood Management Practices in Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town — 2026 — WHEC7A2C4F0BA

Hoi An Ancient Town demonstrates remarkable resilience to flooding through a proactive and holistic approach deeply rooted in transgenerational knowledge. Residents have adapted the town's layout and architecture to flooding, using flood marks on buildings as both symbolic reminders and indicators of potential future scenarios. This study reveals how adversity acceptance—understanding, acknowledging, and adapting to challenges—has shaped flood management practices, integrating modern technology like weather forecasts and social media while also incorporating floods into tourism experiences. The town's long history with flooding, exacerbated by climate change and urban development, underscores a unique blend of environmental adaptation and cultural sustainability.

Local and universal principles of cultural heritage at Candi Borobudur and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat — 2026 — WHE744617D9CB

A comparative analysis of Candi Borobudur and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan reveals distinct yet interconnected cultural heritage preservation principles. While both temples share Buddhist origins, their architectural forms—Borobudur's mandala-based structure influenced by Javanese cosmology and Indian philosophy, versus Thailand’s regional interpretations of Buddhist symbolism in Wat Phra Mahathat—reflect unique local adaptations shaped by acculturation and foreign influences. The study highlights how these differences challenge preservation efforts while underscoring their shared histories. By examining site plans, stupas, structural layouts, and Buddha statues' mudrā representations, the research offers insights into maintaining religious monuments' historical and cultural identities in Southeast Asia.

Long-term adaptation pathways for Venice and its lagoon under sea-level rise

Venice and its Lagoon — 2026 — WHED20594F4C5

Under current greenhouse gas mitigation policies, Venice and its lagoon are likely to face hard limits within the 21st century due to sea-level rise (SLR). The study maps long-term adaptation pathways, revealing that the current strategy of mobile barriers and accommodation measures will become unsustainable. Alternative strategies, such as ring-dikes or permanent coastal dams, could preserve different combinations of environmental, heritage, and socio-cultural values but entail significant ecological and social transitions. Under extreme SLR scenarios, including potential Antarctic ice-sheet collapse, relocation of monuments or abandonment may become unavoidable by the 22nd century. Rapid mitigation could still prevent these drastic outcomes.

Long-term demographic responses to historical logging and ongoing climate change in an upland subtropical rainforest

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia — 2026 — WHE6F921E39A1

Historical logging and ongoing climate change continue to significantly impact the recovery of upland subtropical rainforests in southeast Queensland, part of Australia's Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Site. Despite over 50 years since logging cessation, these forests show persistent structural and compositional differences compared to intact plots, with logged areas exhibiting higher recruitment of pioneer species but greater sensitivity to warming temperatures and extreme weather events. The study, utilizing a rare long-term dataset spanning 1962–2015, found that while logged plots demonstrate faster diameter growth initially, this slows as basal area increases. Intact plots, conversely, show growth concentrated in larger, cloud-water-intercepting trees. These findings highlight the enduring legacy of logging and the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on these critical biodiversity refugia.

Long-Term Evaluation of Coastal Change Forecasting Following the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Maritime Restoration Project, Normandy, France

Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay — 2026 — WHE752AC6F9A4

A long-term evaluation of the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Maritime Restoration Project reveals that engineering measures, such as embankment removal and managed retreat, have successfully enhanced erosion and deepening of tidal flats while maintaining ecological value. The study, using a 22-year LiDAR dataset, quantifies post-restoration topographic changes and sediment budgets, showing effective sediment export and spatial redistribution of salt marshes. However, discrepancies between model predictions and field observations highlight the challenges in forecasting long-term channel migration variability and adapting to evolving hydro-meteorological conditions. This research underscores the importance of adaptive management strategies for non-stationary tidal systems undergoing anthropogenic modifications and climate-driven environmental change.

Long-Term Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Snow Cover in the Arys River Basin (Western Tien Shan)

Western Tien-Shan — 2026 — WHE112B560AC1

A long-term analysis of snow cover dynamics in the Arys River basin (Western Tien Shan) reveals significant interannual variability and a weak but notable decline in snow-covered area, averaging 0.37% per year between 2000–2024. The study, leveraging MODIS satellite data and validated against meteorological station records, found the most pronounced reductions at mid-elevation zones. These trends suggest growing risks to seasonal water availability, particularly under ongoing climate change, with implications for water resource management in Central Asia's Syr Darya basin.

Los orígenes del monacato cristiano. Arquitectura, medioambiente, producción

Sceilg Mhichíl — 2026 — WHEBF4BD3C215

Early Christian monasticism, long idealized as self-sufficient and isolated, was found to be an open system deeply integrated with its environment. Research reveals a dual evolution: architectural forms transitioned from scattered dwellings to communal, multifunctional spaces, while productive systems shifted from household economies to territorial networks that outsourced labor. This study challenges the heroic narrative of monastic life by analyzing five case studies—Qumran, Kellia, the White Monastery, Kalat Siman, and Skellig Michael—using interdisciplinary methods including archaeology, paleoclimatology, and meteorology. It demonstrates that monasteries were dynamic entities, organized in federations or connected to other settlements, and adapted to climate and resource management, offering a more nuanced understanding of their historical role.

Low and steady: Minimal change in plastic exposure in Kermadec Petrels in the remote South Pacific

Henderson Island — 2026 — WHE8EF57F54A4

A study on Henderson Island reveals that plastic ingestion in Kermadec Petrels (Pterodroma neglecta) has remained consistent at low levels over more than 30 years, with only 23.1% of fledglings sampled in 2025 containing small quantities of microplastics (mean ± SD: 0.0113 ± 0.0061 g). This finding contrasts sharply with plastic ingestion rates in closely related species, suggesting that Kermadec Petrels may selectively avoid plastic or forage in areas with lower pollution densities. The research, conducted on uninhabited Henderson Island and Oeno Atoll, highlights the potential for these birds to serve as sentinels for pollution in remote South Pacific regions, offering valuable insights into species-specific vulnerability to marine debris.

LST-Based Heritage-Sensitive Greening for Surface Heat Mitigation in Zabid, Yemen: A Spatial Decision-Support Framework for Earthen Historic Cities

Historic Town of Zabid — 2026 — WHE2521FFFCE1

A novel spatial decision-support framework for heritage-sensitive greening has been developed to mitigate surface heat stress in earthen historic cities, using Zabid, Yemenas a case study. The research reveals that the walled historic core of Zabid exhibits a recurrent daytime 'cool-core' phenomenon, with land surface temperatures (LST) 1.69 °C and 1.78 °C lower than surrounding areas on two hot-season dates in 2024. Overheating is concentrated on vegetation-deficient surfaces, with 98.40% of hotspots occurring in the least vegetated zones. The framework integrates LST, NDVI, wetness-risk screening, and earthen-fabric sensitivity to propose five intervention classes for targeted greening while minimizing moisture-related risks to heritage structures. This method offers a planning-level approach that requires field verification before implementation.

Luctor et Emergo : territorial sovereignty as contested paradigm in the United Provinces

Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) — 2026 — WHE5FC63AEA55

This study challenges the traditional static relationship between territory and sovereignty, revealing that sovereignty in the Dutch Republic was dynamic and fluid. It argues that the notion of territorial sovereignty, which emerged during the revolt against Spain, does not align with the sociopolitical framework of the newly established Republic. The research examines key events such as the Union of Utrecht, the Act of Abjuration, and the drainage of Lake Beemster, alongside celebratory depictions like the Siege of Leiden, to support this argument. By analyzing these moments, the study offers a nuanced understanding of how sovereignty was practiced and contested in Dutch history.

Lut Desert Mars Hike Tour as an Idea for Destination Dupe

Lut Desert — 2026 — WHE9192DB271A

Researchers propose the concept of 'destination dupe' to address gaps in current theories of destination substitutability, where tourists consciously engage with fantasies that lack terrestrial equivalents. A 5-year study involving a professional team traversing over 700 km across the Lut Desert, accompanied by native guides and researchers as part of the 'Lut Desert Mars Hike Tour Package,' explored this phenomenon. The study used recorded GPS tracks to analyze terrestrial analogs of Martian phenomena, highlighting how destination dupe extends beyond traditional substitutability by incorporating elements that do not exist in reality.

Machine Learning for Automated Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale Classification – A Comparison of Two Approaches

Pirin National Park — 2026 — WHEF8A8F18357

Machine learning models can effectively classify avalanche terrain exposure with high accuracy, demonstrating robust generalization across mountain ranges. A study comparing two approaches for Pirin National Park, Bulgaria, found both models achieved over 86% pixel-based accuracy and correctly classified 92-94% of validation polygons. While challenging terrain classes remained difficult to predict, the results highlight the potential of automated methods for avalanche risk management in backcountry areas.