Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca

Heritage values protection, from the monument to the urban dimension. Case study: the historic centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, Ecuador

A comprehensive strategy for protecting heritage values in urban landscapes has been developed, focusing beyond traditional monument preservation to include geomorphology, environment, hydrology, urban planning, historical cartography, land uses, symbolic imagery, and intangible aspects. This approach, applied to Cuenca's historic center in Ecuador, integrates multiple data layers using ArcMap to create a visual tool that facilitates stakeholder engagement and social participation in conservation efforts. The strategy aims to broaden the scope of heritage protection by mapping these elements, providing a holistic framework for urban-level conservation that aligns with principles from international agreements like the 1972 Convention.