Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 6903

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Heritage Science (ISPC), National Research Council (CNR), Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, LE, Italy
Interests: destructive and non-destructive tests for physical and mechanical characterization of materials; analysis of the durability of building materials; evaluation of the performances of consolidating and restoring products

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of cultural heritage preservation, conservation, and dissemination has been recognized worldwide. Cultural heritage tells the story of our past, is part of our origin and identity, and has social relevance. It is our inheritance from previous generations and a legacy for those to come.

Cultural heritage includes a multitude of creative expressions. Among tangible assets, a variety of artifacts belongs to cultural heritage: from landscapes and archeological sites to historic buildings and monuments, books, paintings, and artworks. A multidisciplinary approach and a varied group of professionals are called to contribute to solving the challenges that face heritage today. The new cross-disciplinary vision encompasses chemistry, archeology, physics, engineering, and ICT. Technological advances in these fields have provided powerful tools and strategies for analytical and experimental research on historical and cultural artifacts that open new frontiers for their diagnosis, monitoring, and protection.

This Special Issue, “Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage”, will provide an overview of existing knowledge on new approaches for heritage preservation and conservation. Relevant topics to this Special Issue include:

  • knowledge, diagnosis, and conservation of heritage artifacts;
  • conservation of built heritage;
  • digital technologies for knowledge, conservation, and valorization

Dr. Emilia Vasanelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • heritage
  • repair and conservation
  • NDT
  • decay and durability
  • case studies
  • diagnostic tools
  • digital technologies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

24 pages, 15047 KiB  
Article
Discovery and Reconstruction of the Remains of the Beacon-Equipped Hollow Enemy Towers along the Ming Great Wall
by Zhixing Chen, Zhe Li, Xiaolong Tuo, Yan Li, Yukun Zhang and Xiaofeng Zhao
Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3178; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103178 - 6 Oct 2024
Viewed by 595
Abstract
Hollow Enemy Towers, as iconic structures of the Ming Great Wall, are renowned for their roles in defense surveillance, weapon storage, and firearm operation. Recent studies have indicated that certain Hollow Enemy Towers along the Ji Town section of the Ming Great Wall [...] Read more.
Hollow Enemy Towers, as iconic structures of the Ming Great Wall, are renowned for their roles in defense surveillance, weapon storage, and firearm operation. Recent studies have indicated that certain Hollow Enemy Towers along the Ji Town section of the Ming Great Wall also serve the function of Beacon Towers for beacon signaling. However, previous studies have not definitively determined if these towers were distinctively marked, nor have they provided a comprehensive account of their current distribution and original historical appearance. This paper initially examined the historical documentation of white lime markings employed on the outer walls of certain Hollow Enemy Towers, which served as Beacon Towers during the middle and late Ming periods. Utilizing multidisciplinary methodologies, this research identified remains of lime markings of the Beacon-Equipped Hollow Enemy Towers along the Ji Town section of the Ming Great Wall, illustrating their extensive distribution. We analyzed the material composition and construction techniques of the lime mortar. This analysis clarifies the scope of lime plastering on the exterior walls of these towers and offers a point of reference for restoring their original historical appearance. The results make a significant supplement to the types of signaling structures on the Great Wall, enriching existing understanding of the original appearance of the Great Wall’s historical landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7305 KiB  
Article
Improving Mud Brick Durability in Ancient Closed-Box Tombs: A Graphene Oxide Nanoparticle Approach
by Ahmed Sallam, Ghazy Abdullah Albaqawy, Mabrouk Touahmia, Mustapha Boukendakdji and Mona M. E. Khalil
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2248; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072248 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 840
Abstract
This paper presents a novel concept for significantly enhancing the strength and durability of ancient closed-box tombs. These tombs hold significant philosophical values, and their architecture serves as a valuable data source, providing insights into the cultural stage of the society in which [...] Read more.
This paper presents a novel concept for significantly enhancing the strength and durability of ancient closed-box tombs. These tombs hold significant philosophical values, and their architecture serves as a valuable data source, providing insights into the cultural stage of the society in which it was constructed. Throughout medieval and modern times, clay bricks remained a prevalent material for tomb construction due to their affordability and design flexibility. However, these structures currently face neglect and weakening, requiring imperative intervention of protection to prevent them from potential deterioration or extinction. The key objective of this research is to explore the potential use of graphene oxide (GO), a novel nanomaterial, as a treatment method to enhance the durability of mud brick tombs in Aswan, Egypt. Samples of mud bricks were examined and characterized using various techniques, including SEM-EDX, TEM, PLM, XRF, XRD, and mechanical properties analysis. The results indicated that GO nanomaterials significantly improve the mechanical properties of mud brick tombs, allowing them to resist more compressive loading and ultimately resulting in more durable and long-lasting structures. By using these innovative materials, effective restoration and preservation of these ancient structures for future generations could be viable. This research has the potential to revolutionize the preservation of closed-box tombs, ensuring these historical landmarks stand longer the test of time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 17403 KiB  
Article
Research on Pathology Information Management of Educational Architectural Heritage Based on Digital Technology: The Case of James Jackson Gymnasium
by Hechi Wang, Xinyi He, Zhaoyi Yan, Siyu Lei, Shengzhong Luo, Jingjing Lei and Qi Zhou
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041048 - 9 Apr 2024
Viewed by 998
Abstract
Rapid advances in technology have led to an increasing demand for this type of information in the field of cultural heritage and architectural conservation. The article aims to use digital technology to obtain, record, store, and display accurate and intuitive information about architectural [...] Read more.
Rapid advances in technology have led to an increasing demand for this type of information in the field of cultural heritage and architectural conservation. The article aims to use digital technology to obtain, record, store, and display accurate and intuitive information about architectural heritage for daily management and repair of that heritage. This article conducts a comprehensive and in-depth study of the pathology information from the James Jackson Gymnasium, a typical case of the modern educational architectural heritage of Wuhan. Research contents include obtaining point cloud data through 3D scanning, constructing Building Information Modeling (BIM) 3D models and pathological information models to visualize the affected parts, using the Monument Damage Diagnostic System (MDDS) to establish a pathological information map management system, using virtual simulation technology and digital repair technology to diagnose and repair the affected parts, and establishing a systematic architectural pathology information database to explore the causes of architectural pathology from a multidisciplinary perspective. The authors aim to gradually promote this method and build a systematic pathological information database of architectural heritage. This utilizes the sharing characteristics of information technology to transcend the barriers of time and space and provide important support for heritage protection and pathology management. The Architectural Pathology Information Management System is proposed as an innovative solution to promote the sustainable conservation of architectural heritage through digital technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

35 pages, 27351 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Spatiotemporal Aggregation and Corridor Distribution Characteristics of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Fuzhou, China
by Jiahao Zhang, Lan Jiang, Xuqian Wang, Zhihong Chen and Subin Xu
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010121 - 2 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1807
Abstract
Fuzhou is an important city on the southeast coast of China with rich cultural heritage resources, and it is a national historical and cultural city in China. The main purposes of this study are the following: 1. To study the current situation and [...] Read more.
Fuzhou is an important city on the southeast coast of China with rich cultural heritage resources, and it is a national historical and cultural city in China. The main purposes of this study are the following: 1. To study the current situation and spatial distribution of cultural heritage; 2. To study the construction of cultural heritage corridors; 3. To utilize the holistic characteristics of heritage corridors to integrate the cultural heritage elements along the corridors and achieve the optimal allocation of resources. This study collects data from 605 cultural heritage sites in Fuzhou City and establishes a GIS database. The spatial distribution characteristics of cultural heritage in Fuzhou City are studied using aggregation analysis, nearest neighbor analysis, and buffer analysis in GIS technology. The following results were obtained: there is a cultural heritage corridor in Fuzhou City with the Minjiang River serving as the main land and water transportation line, and the closer one is to the water transportation line, the more intensive the distribution of cultural heritage points; and there are three cultural heritage node areas and one special cultural heritage node area. The study of Fuzhou’s heritage corridor system has important reference significance for the protection of cultural heritage in coastal historical cities in China and even in East Asia and has exploratory value for the holistic protection of cultural heritage and for the planning and development of tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 29332 KiB  
Article
Insights on the Mortars of Ancient Roman Aqueducts: Aqua Virgo and Aqueduct Y, Rome (Italy)
by Laura Calzolari, Maria Elisa Amadasi, Laura Medeghini and Silvano Mignardi
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010069 - 26 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1689
Abstract
Despite the archaeological importance of Aqua Virgo, a Roman aqueduct built in 19 BC and still functioning nowadays, there is a lack of information about the mortars coming from the inner duct. This work aims to investigate the mortars from Aqua Virgo [...] Read more.
Despite the archaeological importance of Aqua Virgo, a Roman aqueduct built in 19 BC and still functioning nowadays, there is a lack of information about the mortars coming from the inner duct. This work aims to investigate the mortars from Aqua Virgo and Aqueduct Y, an unidentified aqueduct running under the first one in the La Rinascente area (between Via del Nazareno and Via dei Due Macelli, Rome, IT) through Optical Microscopy (OM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The aim is to understand which materials guarantee such longevity and differentiate between different intervention phases. Local natural materials with pozzolanic behaviour—in particular, Pozzolane Rosse—and ceramic fragments are widely employed, mixed or not, for the realisation of the hydraulic mortars under investigation, independently of the intervention phase. Of particular interest is the discovery of an amorphous binder composed of Si, Al, Ca, K and Mg in some samples characterised by the absence of calcite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop