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Showing 16621 – 16640 of 30345 publications

From Ha Long Bay to Trang An Landscape Complex: Issues on Tourism Management at World Heritage Sites, Vietnam | Quản lý du lịch tại Di sản Thế giới của Việt Nam: Từ Vịnh Hạ Long đến Quần thể Danh thắng Tràng An

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago — 2019 — WHE2A0D008DDC

Tourism management at Vietnam's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ha Long Bay and Trang An Landscape Complex, faces critical challenges despite strong local governance. Key issues include governance inefficiencies, overcrowding, and negative social impacts on vulnerable communities. The study recommends privatization or public-private partnerships to improve economic efficiency while adhering to heritage conservation laws. It also suggests diversifying investments into less detrimental areas like technology infrastructure and heritage-based performances to mitigate environmental harm. To address overcrowding, the research proposes capacity assessments, dynamic pricing, and the development of new attractions to disperse tourists and enhance experiences. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for community-based tourism to foster cross-cultural understanding and create sustainable high-paid jobs for locals, ensuring that tourism benefits rather than disrupts their lives.

From invisibility to readability: Recovering the ink of Herculaneum

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata — 2019 — WHE5C43AAD291

A groundbreaking discovery challenges the long-held assumption that micro-CT imaging cannot detect carbon-based ink, paving the way for noninvasive digital recovery of lost texts from Herculaneum. Researchers demonstrated that carbon ink—previously deemed invisible in micro-CT scans—leaves a subtle yet detectable signature, which they successfully isolated and enhanced using novel computational techniques. This advancement offers a transformative approach to preserving and deciphering ancient writings without physical intervention, addressing a critical gap in the study of UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Herculaneum.

From Mythos to Logos

City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto — 2019 — WHE87E4D3747F

Research reveals that Freemasonry's influence on architecture and art, particularly in 16th-century Vicenza, Italy, was more profound and earlier than previously understood. The study demonstrates that Freemason precepts—promoting peace, freedom, and kindness—were encoded through myth and philosophy in buildings, frescoes, and texts by Andrea Palladio, starting as early as 1546. This decoding of symbolic architecture suggests a deliberate dissemination of universal values, rooted in an inclusive understanding of the divine, challenging conventional narratives about the period's cultural and intellectual movements.

From Point Cloud to Existing BIM for Modelling and Simulation Purposes

Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah — 2019 — WHE28F9C73692

Building Information Modeling (BIM) emerges as a transformative tool for heritage conservation, particularly for existing structures with unique architectural elements. This study demonstrates that BIM, when applied to historic buildings through point-cloud data derived from 3-D laser scanning, enables precise digital modeling and simulation—critical for structural and energy analysis. Unlike traditional methods, this approach efficiently captures undocumented heritage features, providing engineers and experts with a comprehensive digital representation. The research evaluates the efficacy of existing BIM in addressing conservation challenges for heritage buildings, such as those in Jeddah’s historic district, by offering advanced documentation, monitoring, and simulation capabilities that traditional techniques cannot match.

From population to individual host scale and back again: testing theories of infection and defence in the Soay sheep of St Kilda

St Kilda — 2019 — WHEB692EC9ED0

A long-term ecological and genetic study of the unmanaged Soay sheep population on St Kilda reveals critical insights into the interplay between host-parasite dynamics, immune defense, and population regulation. The research demonstrates that parasite burden significantly influences individual sheep survival and fecundity, while also shaping population dynamics through density-dependent effects. By integrating over 30 years of data on sheep demographics, genetics, and parasite diversity, the study identifies how natural selection has molded immune function in response to varying transmission intensity. This comprehensive approach bridges population-scale observations with fine-grained individual-level analyses, providing empirical validation for theoretical models in disease ecology.

From Stonehenge to Mycenae

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites — 2019 — WHE519641A12B

A paradigm shift in archaeology challenges the notion that material remains represent the people or institutions behind them, instead advocating for understanding how local, materially distinct worlds enabled monumental projects like Stonehenge and Mycenae. The radiocarbon revolution debunked the idea of architectural influence between these sites, while recent 'big data' and genetic studies have reinforced a top-down approach to solving 'big problems.' This book argues for bottom-up solutions, emphasizing how people connected through production, use, and movement of objects during their lifetimes. It offers a fresh perspective on how life was sustained in these ancient societies by examining their material practices and local contexts.

From the Cloister to the City: Approaches to the Cistercian Land Management

Monastery of Alcobaça — 2019 — WHE19F639D48F

A key insight from this study is that Cistercian monasteries in Portugal, particularly those founded or affiliated in the 12th century, played a significant role in shaping both monastic spaces and surrounding settlements. The research reveals that these monasteries were strategically located near water sources, not only for practical needs like hygiene and energy but also due to the symbolic importance of water in Cistercian culture. Additionally, the study highlights that some monasteries, such as the Monastery of Alcobaça, evolved into or influenced the development of nearby cities, demonstrating their adaptability and impact on territorial organization. The approach involved analyzing historical records, climatic influences, and legislative permissions for site changes, providing a comprehensive understanding of Cistercian land management in Portugal from the 12th century onward.

From the Elaboration Process of Point Cloud to Information Systems Both for Planning and Design Management of Cultural Heritage

Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato — 2019 — WHE6FD38B30DA

A novel approach to managing cultural heritage, particularly in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont (Langhe-Roero and Monferrato), demonstrates how point cloud data can be transformed into actionable information for preservation and resilience planning. The study proposes a digital framework that integrates historical building models with geographic information systems (GIS) through processes such as Scan-to-BIM-to-GIS or Scan-to-GIS-to-BIM, optimizing time and cost efficiency. By leveraging the H-BIM approach—focused on district-level management—the research highlights the critical role of data acquisition and archiving in safeguarding undefended heritage. The case study, centered on Serralunga d’Alba, offers a scalable solution for enhancing resilience against natural events and poor preservation practices, bridging gaps between geometric modeling, topological analysis, and historical documentation.

From the General Documentation of Hadrian's Villa to Design Analysis of Complex Cupolas: a Procedural Approach

Villa Adriana (Tivoli) — 2019 — WHE5E104018FE

A novel procedural approach leveraging Catmull-Clark bicubic surfaces and Visual Programming Language (VPL) has successfully reconstructed the original shapes of complex cupolas at Hadrian's Villa. This method, integrating sensor data from 2013, provides scholars with reliable models for interpreting, restoring, and maintaining these structures. The study highlights the importance of reverse modeling applications in understanding the geometric conception behind apparently irregular cupolas, offering a robust framework for interdisciplinary research.

From Wildlife to Natural Resources, and Back Again? Translating Natures in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Maputo National Park — 2019 — WHE8B16AF0781

Contested perceptions of the Dukuduku forest, bordering South Africa's iSimangaliso Wetland Park, reveal that nature is both socially constructed and inherently real. This duality challenges wilderness restoration efforts by exposing how human and non-human networks shape environmental narratives. The study uses translation analytics to dissect 1980s debates on representationalism, showing that these historical discussions clarify modern struggles over landscape identity. By framing environments as translating subjects rather than passive objects, the research highlights the complexity of redefining nature in dynamic socio-ecological contexts.

Frontiers of Evangelization: Indians in the Sierra Gorda and Chiquitos Missions

Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos — 2019 — WHE870A0563D6

Robert Jackson's 'Frontiers of Evangelization: Indians in the Sierra Gorda and Chiquitos Missions' attempts to compare mission experiences between sedentary indigenous populations in present-day Bolivia and nonsedentary Pames and Jonaces Indians in central Mexico, aiming to show that demographic outcomes were influenced by missionaries' organizational strategies and population sedentariness. However, Jackson's claims lack sufficient evidence due to uneven sociocultural changes across the studied groups and an overemphasis on non-Chiquitos and Sierra Gorda missions. While the study contributes to comparative mission scholarship, it fails to substantiate its central arguments, leaving a limited understanding of the populations in question.

Functional Architecture of Deleterious Genetic Variants in the Genome of a Wrangel Island Mammoth

Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve — 2019 — WHEDA2866EDED

A Wrangel Island mammoth genome revealed numerous deleterious genetic variants linked to behavioral and developmental defects, oligozoospermia, diabetes, and impaired scent detection. These mutations suggest that isolation and reduced population size may have contributed to adverse phenotypic consequences in the species. Researchers resurrected and functionally characterized several genes with putatively deleterious substitutions, including HYLS1 (developmental defects), NKD1 (male fertility), NEUROG3 (diabetes), and OR5A1 (scent detection). The findings provide insights into the genetic vulnerabilities of relict populations during rapid demographic decline.

Functional Evolution of the Kernavė Hillforts in the Iron Age: New Intepretations of Old Data

Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė) — 2019 — WHED281161D0C

A reassessment of archaeological data from the Kernavė hillforts reveals a more complex functional evolution than previously understood, with significant changes in their use over time. The study challenges the term 'hillfort' for these sites and questions their contemporaneity within complexes. By reclassifying pottery sherds as primary, secondary, or refuse, researchers identified distinct phases of settlement, short-term activities, and long-term habitation, providing new insights into Iron Age occupation patterns in Lithuania.

Funerary and Social Aspects of Koguryo Pottery

Complex of Koguryo Tombs — 2019 — WHEB15AA06B31

Koguryo burial ceramics, encompassing 183 vessels categorized into 22 types, reveals significant regional and chronological variations linked to the state's administrative structure. The Yalu River region, historically central to Koguryo as its capital, exhibited the greatest diversity in pottery types, while peripheral areas like the Hun and Imjin River basins showed fewer varieties, suggesting less developed political and economic systems. The study identifies a shift post-4th AD, where ceramic replicas of household items and glazed ceramics were introduced, correlating with changes in burial practices. This underscores the symbolic importance of food in Koguryo's funerary culture, reflecting broader social developments within the state.

Further refinement of the Corbelling Theory for the equilibrium analysis of corbelled domes

The Trulli of Alberobello — 2019 — WHEC6993773DF

A refined Corbelling Theory offers deeper insights into the structural stability of corbelled domes, such as those found in Alberobello's Trulli. The study reveals that infill loads significantly impact equilibrium, challenging previous assumptions about these layered structures. Researchers employed 3D-laser scanning to analyze a Trullo dome, demonstrating how geometric precision influences stability. This advancement extends the theory's applicability beyond static conditions, providing a more comprehensive framework for assessing similar historical constructions.

Future Response of the Wadden Sea Tidal Basins to Relative Sea-Level rise—An Aggregated Modelling Approach

Wadden Sea — 2019 — WHE8A0D84A1D3

A critical threshold of approximately 80% of the maximum sustainable rate exists for sea-level rise before tidal basins, such as those in the Wadden Sea, begin a prolonged 'drowning' process. This finding emerges from an aggregated-scale morphological model (ASMITA) that reveals the response to accelerated sea-level rise is influenced not only by sediment equilibrium and time scales but also by grain size distribution. The study demonstrates that while basins may temporarily adjust to rising sea levels below this threshold, exceeding it leads to irreversible changes in intertidal flats—key ecological habitats—that can no longer sustain their current form. This insight is crucial for refining predictive models and guiding sustainable management of tidal systems facing climate change.

G.G. Rizzo, Il giardino privato di Roberto Burle Marx, Il Sítio. Sessant’anni dalla fondazione. Cent’anni dalla nascita di Roberto Burle Marx, Roma, Gangemi, 2009

Sítio Roberto Burle Marx — 2019 — WHE3845E41560

Sítio Roberto Burle Marx, a 40-hectare garden designed by renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx in 1949, stands as a testament to the fusion of scientific and artistic innovation. However, current management practices have led to its deterioration, rendering it an 'intact ruin.' Giulio G. Rizzo's book, published in 2009, provides a comprehensive account of the garden's inception, development phases, and Burle Marx's visionary approach. Through meticulous documentation, Rizzo highlights the garden's scientific and artistic components, underscoring its significance as both a cultural landmark and an ecological model. The study critiques the present-day neglect, advocating for preservation efforts that align with Burle Marx's original intent.

Gamifying the visit to places with valuable landscapes

Cultural Landscape of Sintra — 2019 — WHEB34EF09093

A mobile tool designed to engage users in discovering and sharing valuable landscapes through gamification has been shown to enhance user experience, particularly within UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The study, conducted in Sintra's Cultural Landscape—a site recognized for its global significance since 1995—evaluated the tool's effectiveness by assessing both user engagement and the impact of gamification features. Findings indicate that integrating playful elements can motivate exploration and sharing of lesser-known landscapes, offering a novel approach to cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.

Gardens, Parks and Green Reserves

Singapore Botanic Gardens — 2019 — WHE8619CB9EFB

Singapore's shift towards integrating nature into urban planning has revealed that mature, mixed-species vegetation better sustains biodiversity and aligns with the region's natural tropical conditions compared to mono-cultural landscapes. This study highlights how historical land exploitation depleted local flora and fauna but recent efforts, such as greening roadway verges and public parks, have restored more diverse ecosystems. The research emphasizes the importance of preserving both adult and juvenile life stages (e.g., butterflies and caterpillars) while managing risks like falling branches to ensure long-term ecological stability in a densely populated urban setting.

Gathering medicines among the cypress: the relationship between healing and place in the earliest records of Mount Wutai

Mount Wutai — 2019 — WHEE37BCC8C22

Early accounts of Mount Wutai, preserved in seventh-century texts, reveal that its significance as a Buddhist sacred site was not solely tied to its association with the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī (Wenshu). Instead, the mountain's reputation for hosting medicinal substances and promoting longevity played a pivotal role in shaping its religious identity. This study highlights how the presence of curatives and longevity-promoting elements in ancient narratives contributed to Mount Wutai's textual construction as a revered Buddhist place during this period.