World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 14561 – 14580 of 15962 publications

The use of UAVs to monitor archeological sites: the case study of Choirokoitia within the PROTHEGO project

Choirokoitia — 2017 — WHEA68102BB50

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) emerged as a transformative tool for monitoring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering high-resolution data collection and analysis. This study demonstrated their effectiveness at Choirokoitia, a Neolithic settlement in Cyprus, showcasing UAVs' ability to capture detailed topographic and archaeological features without ground disturbance. By integrating multispectral imaging with photogrammetry, researchers generated precise 3D models and orthomosaics, revealing micro-topographical variations and structural details that are critical for site preservation and analysis. The approach not only enhanced documentation but also provided a scalable solution for large-scale heritage monitoring within the PROTHEGO project.

Toolkit for intensive work with metadata in specialized information systems

Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery — 2017 — WHEE6D5E8AF19

A dynamic metadata toolkit for specialized information systems has been developed to enable real-time modifications of both data and metadata models by users, addressing the challenges of heterogeneous data storage. This approach is demonstrated through its application in a digital registrar project for the UNESCO-listed Ferapontov Monastery, focusing on the 16th-century Dionisius frescoes in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. The toolkit's adaptability allows for efficient management and analysis of cultural heritage data, providing a scalable solution for preserving and studying historical artifacts.

Tourism in the Fond Gens Libre Indigenous community in Saint Lucia

Pitons Management Area — 2017 — WHEFDABEC5171

Fond Gens Libre, an indigenous community nestled at the foot of Saint Lucia's UNESCO-listed Pitons Management Area (PMA), faces significant challenges in poverty and limited livelihood opportunities despite its strategic location. This study highlights the community's historical significance as a descendant settlement of the Brigands since the 1700s, yet underscores its economic vulnerabilities within one of the Caribbean's few natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The research employs qualitative methods to explore tourism's potential role in addressing these challenges, offering insights into sustainable ethnodevelopment strategies for remote, culturally rich communities.

Tourism water footprint: an empirical analysis of Mount Huangshan

Mount Huangshan — 2017 — WHEA3875EDB3C

A comprehensive analysis of the tourism water footprint (TWF) at Mount Huangshan reveals that tourists consume approximately 10.19 million cubic meters of water annually, equivalent to 3.39 m³ per tourist per day or 3387 liters. The study highlights that tourism sewage and food are the primary drivers of water consumption, with significant environmental spillover effects extending beyond Mount Huangshan to Huangshan City and even nationwide. Tourist flow and temperature show a highly significant positive correlation with TWF, indicating increased water demand during peak tourist seasons. This quantification provides critical insights for sustainable water resource management in tourism-driven regions.

Tourist and Recreational Facilities of Geosites. Theory and Practice

Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes — 2017 — WHE5720A81BB0

A comprehensive analysis of tourist and recreational facilities at Twyfelfontein/Ui-//aes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Namibia, reveals a robust infrastructure supporting geotourism. The study identifies numerous service facilities, including hotels, campgrounds, roads, airstrips, and an ethnographic museum, highlighting the region's potential for sustainable geotourism development. The research employs the territorial recreational systems (TRS) approach to assess five key sub-systems: tourists, natural and cultural resources, technical infrastructure, staff, and governing institutions. This method provides a holistic framework for understanding and optimizing the geotourism experience at this significant geological site.

Tourists’ perceptions of crowding, attractiveness, and satisfaction: a second-order structural model

Mount Sanqingshan National Park — 2017 — WHE95BA9E3895

Tourists' perceptions of crowding at Mount Sanqingshan National Park negatively impact the attractiveness of the destination, though they do not directly affect satisfaction. This study introduces a multidimensional model of crowding—neutral, personal, and social—to refine how tourist experiences are evaluated beyond traditional metrics like satisfaction. Using a second-order structural equation model with survey data from 424 tourists, researchers found that while perceived crowding diminishes destination appeal, it does not directly influence overall visitor satisfaction. The findings underscore the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate negative perceptions of crowding and enhance tourist experiences at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tourists’ preferences for ecotourism planning and development around Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park — 2017 — WHE5904204DE9

Tourists visiting Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, prioritize improved product quality, scenic viewpoints, and better infrastructure to enhance their ecotourism experience. A study revealed that while tourists are satisfied with current guiding services, they face constraints due to time and price, limiting longer stays. Key preferences include revising park pricing, upgrading service quality, and expanding information dissemination to attract more visitors and boost park revenues. Researchers used surveys, GPS tracking, and spatial mapping to analyze tourist behavior and preferences, providing actionable insights for ecotourism planning in Rwanda.

Tracking rapid landscape change with repeated photography, Gros Morne National Park, Canada

Gros Morne National Park — 2017 — WHE2652FF054E

A long-term photographic study of Gros Morne National Park, Canada, reveals that most high-risk landslide sites along Western Brook Pond remain stable, while thin-skinned landslides near Winter House Brook have persisted for over a century. The research used repeated imagery to document landscape changes—such as stone rings, coastal dynamics, and river modifications—driven primarily by natural forces like gravity, precipitation, and frost heaving rather than human activity. This non-invasive method offers valuable insights into ecological integrity, public safety, and landscape processes, with minimal cost or environmental impact.

Tree Goddess Scenes in the New Kingdom Private Tombs at Thebes

Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis — 2017 — WHEF63A1082FA

Ancient Egyptian private tombs from the New Kingdom at Thebes feature 58 scenes depicting tree goddesses, revealing their diverse forms and roles. These goddesses, often linked to sycamore fig (nht) or persea (iSd), appear in varied shapes without a fixed placement within tombs. They present gifts to the deceased, symbolizing protection and sustenance. The study analyzes these scenes to deduce differences across cemeteries, including goddess attributes, deceased positions, and associated deities. Employing descriptive and analytical methods, it catalogs all scenes while focusing on preservation status. Findings highlight the cultural significance of tree goddesses in Egyptian funerary art, offering insights into religious practices and tomb design.

Turismo enogastronomico nella Langa del Barolo: indagine presso i ristoratori

Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato — 2017 — WHE354BCEE043

Restaurant managers in the Langa del Barolo region, part of Italy's UNESCO-listed Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont, highly value and accept initiatives aimed at promoting wine and food tourism. The study found that traditional word-of-mouth recommendations remain influential but are increasingly supplemented by digital interactions via social media, which significantly expands global reach and engagement with tourists. This highlights the dual importance of local authenticity and modern digital tools in shaping enogastronomic tourism experiences.

Understanding Divergent Constructions of Vulnerability and Resilience: Climate Change Discourses in the German Cities of Lübeck and Rostock

Hanseatic City of Lübeck — 2017 — WHE9F0E84ABAE

Despite sharing similar geographic and climatic conditions, the German coastal cities of Lübeck and Rostock exhibit divergent perceptions of vulnerability and resilience to climate change. This discrepancy is attributed to their distinct historical and socio-economic contexts, with Rostock's past as part of the former GDR and subsequent marginalization influencing local knowledge about climate impacts. The study employs discourse analysis of news articles and expert interviews to reveal these idiosyncratic constructions, suggesting that social constructionism can provide a framework for understanding such differences. Additionally, it underscores the role of shared experiences like social marginalization in shaping climate change narratives.

Understanding the identity of Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture — 2017 — WHE311F012746

Ibiza's identity is characterized by six distinct dimensions: its vibrant club and discotheque scene, an exciting personality, an atmosphere of harmony, moments of collective fusion, a clubber image, and the figure of a young, liberal tourist who loves to party. This identity remains strong and stable over time, with limited potential for radical repositioning. The study used Kapferer's brand-identity prism and qualitative analysis through focus groups involving tourists who had visited Ibiza in the past to uncover these dimensions.

UNESCO’s Historic Centre of Porto: Rehabilitation and Sustainability

Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar — 2017 — WHE25FCAE76D2

Porto's Historic Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, has successfully undergone rehabilitation and sustainability efforts led by Porto Vivo – SRU. This initiative balances heritage preservation with environmental and social considerations, focusing on enhancing urban functions, contemporary comfort, and mobility while minimizing energy impact. The approach integrates cultural identity, health, and lifestyle improvements, demonstrating a model for sustainable urban development that can be replicated globally.

Urban Conservation Policies and Plans for a World Heritage Site Case: Antique Pergamon City and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape

Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape — 2017 — WHEDA8E246A5A

Pergamon (Bergama), Turkey, achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014 as a multi-layered cultural landscape, highlighting successful urban and archaeological conservation efforts spanning from 1992 to 2014. The study reveals that while such achievements are possible through coordinated policies by central and local governments, they come at the cost of time, financial resources, and potential loss in historical areas, particularly Ottoman houses and open archaeological sites. It also underscores persistent challenges faced by Turkey's urban and archaeological sites, including lack of public awareness, insufficient funding, and administrative inefficiencies. The research focuses on the conservation policies implemented by key authorities such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Bergama Municipality, and the General Directorate of Vakiflar, providing a case study for effective heritage management.

Using automated acoustic monitoring to detect elevational migration in the avian community of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia — 2017 — WHE05CDD40A44

Automated acoustic monitoring revealed seasonal elevational migration among resident bird species in Australia's Gondwana Rainforests, marking the first comprehensive avian biodiversity survey in the region. This study demonstrated that affordable bioacoustic recorders could efficiently collect large-scale, long-term data on species distributions, migratory patterns, and breeding behaviors—previously challenging to obtain. By analyzing 14 months of continuous recordings along two elevational gradients in northern New South Wales, researchers identified key insights into avian ecology, including the arrival and departure times of migratory species and the reproductive activity of cryptic species. These findings provide critical baseline data for understanding climate change impacts on rainforest avifauna and guiding conservation strategies.

Using laser scanner technology to analyse mud-brick architecture in the ancient Near East: the Palatial Complex of Arslantepe (Malatya, Turkey)

Arslantepe Mound — 2017 — WHE831C336559

Laser scanning technology has proven highly effective in analyzing the complex, ever-changing structures of mud-brick architecture at Arslantepe Mound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate in eastern Turkey. This study demonstrates that laser scanning can provide extremely accurate measurements and structural monitoring over time, addressing the challenges posed by the irregular designs typical of such ancient buildings. The research, conducted on the Palatial Complex dating back to the 4th millennium BCE, offers valuable insights into the architectural evolution and condition assessment of these monumental structures, aiding in their preservation and interpretation.

Utilising aversive conditioning to manage the behaviour of K’gari (Fraser Island) dingoes (Canis dingo)

K’gari (Fraser Island) — 2017 — WHE74CE99AB14

Aversive conditioning shows promise as a non-lethal alternative to lethal control for managing aggressive dingo behavior on K’gari (Fraser Island), reducing risks to human safety. The study reviews eight experimental approaches, including electric fencing, chemical repellents, and fear-evoking stimuli, with some—like exclusion fencing and personal protection tools—offering effective mitigation. However, methods such as conditioned taste aversion are deemed ineffective. While not a universal solution, aversive conditioning provides a viable gap-filling strategy in dingo management.

Validating the Use of Graphical Thrust Line Analysis for Pier Buttresses: The Case Study of Amiens Cathedral

Amiens Cathedral — 2017 — WHE4111CAF2FC

Graphical thrust line analysis emerges as the most appropriate method for studying pier buttresses in historic masonry structures, such as Amiens Cathedral, challenging the widespread misuse of continuous modeling techniques like photoelasticity and finite element methods. This study demonstrates that discontinuous approaches—specifically discrete element methods and graphical thrust line analysis—more accurately reflect the physical behavior of unreinforced masonry, resolving longstanding debates about structural stability, including the placement of pinnacles. By comparing results from two prior continuous models with new discontinuous analyses, the research validates graphical thrust line analysis as a reliable tool for assessing historic structures while questioning the validity of continuous methods in such contexts.

Vatanajökull National Park (Southern Region): Guide to a Glacial Landscape Legacy, by David J.A. Evans

Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice — 2017 — WHE200F8FF377

Vatnajökull National Park, established in 2008 and encompassing Europe's largest ice cap and Iceland's highest mountain, presents a unique glacial landscape shaped by climate-induced changes. The park, accessible within five hours from Reykjavik, showcases an unparalleled array of glacial and fluvio-glacial landforms, offering a comprehensive guide to these dynamic features. Author David J.A. Evans provides a detailed exploration through maps, diagrams, tabulated data, and striking color photographs, which not only serve scientific purposes but also stand as artistic representations of the landscape's grandeur. This publication serves as an exceptional resource, surpassing typical textbooks in its depth and visual appeal.

Visualization techniques for an airborne laser scanning‐derived digital terrain model in forested steep terrain: Detecting archaeological remains in the subsurface

Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia — 2017 — WHE1933D5CFAB

Researchers have uncovered 79 previously unknown subsurface archaeological structures, part of the ancient Roman Empire's defensive system (limes), using advanced visualization techniques on airborne laser scanning data. These structures, confirmed through ground inspection, were detected in a steep, forested area within Porolissum, Romania. The most effective methods—principal component analysis, simple local-relief model, sky-view factor, and positive openness—achieved over 75% detection accuracy for feature extent. The findings suggest that this region was strategically deforested during the Roman period. This study demonstrates the potential of cutting-edge remote sensing technology to identify buried ancient structures, a crucial step in compiling data for potential UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination.