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Sustainability
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Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development
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Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 16 January 2025 | Viewed by 1448

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesca Di Turo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
Interests: cultural heritage; conservation science; corrosion; electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giacomo Fiocco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostics, CISRiC, University of Pavia, 26100 Cremona, Italy
Interests: multi-layered coatings; material characterization; heritage science; musical instruments; cleanings; spectroscopies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cultural heritage and sustainability intersect in the preservation of material culture, forming a crucial nexus for a sustainable future. Safeguarding historical artifacts, architecture, and traditional craftsmanship not only grounds communities in their past but also contributes to environmental and economic resilience. Integrating heritage preservation into urban development and tourism fosters responsible growth. Sustainable practices in conservation ensure the longevity of valuable cultural assets against environmental threats. By balancing progress with the protection of material culture, societies can forge a path that cherishes their roots, fostering a harmonious coexistence between tradition and progress for generations to come.

This Special Issue aims to collect works related to new possibilities for studying objects of cultural interest that align with sustainability in terms of materials, costs, use, and analytical procedures. Equal importance is given to classical analysis (i.e., microscopy and spectroscopy), preventive conservation, and new digital technologies that could play a key role in bridging the gap between researchers and public stakeholders.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome, covering the following research areas:

  • Conservation sciences: Methods and technologies aimed at the sustainable conservation of objects of cultural interest. The works can highlight how the experimental procedure was conducted with a view to sustainability.
  • Preventive conservation: Strategies of proactive measures such as climate control, proper storage, and handling practices to mitigate deterioration.
  • Augmented and virtual reality: Innovative methods for the use and dissemination of cultural heritage. Works that combine analytical data with the digital or virtual rendering of the object are particularly welcome.

Dr. Francesca Di Turo
Dr. Giacomo Fiocco
Guest Editors

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • conservation science
  • cultural heritage technologies
  • digital humanities
  • sustainable development

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4701 KiB  
Article
Research on the Redesign of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Based on Sustainable Livelihood—The Case of Luanzhou Shadow Play Empowering Its Rural Development
by Li Sun, Jiangnan Li, Zeyi Wang, Weishang Liu, Shuo Zhang and Jiantao Wu
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4555; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114555 (registering DOI) - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 80
Abstract
The majority of China’s intangible cultural heritage is rooted in rural areas, and the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) with rural resources has potential for sustainable development. This study develops a theory of sustainable livelihoods for ICH rural areas, employing design intervention [...] Read more.
The majority of China’s intangible cultural heritage is rooted in rural areas, and the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) with rural resources has potential for sustainable development. This study develops a theory of sustainable livelihoods for ICH rural areas, employing design intervention strategies to strengthen core capital, thereby promoting the protection of ICH and the sustainable development of rural areas. Through a case study of China’s ICH, specifically Luanzhou shadow play, this study focuses on core livelihoods capital: design capital and cultural capital. The key elements of the two were analyzed through the use of interviews and questionnaires. The Luanzhou shadow play was redesigned for cultural and creative products and digital application innovation. This approach effectively meets the needs of the target groups and meets the requirements of rural revitalization and ICH, thereby enhancing the adaptability and resilience of rural areas. This study offers a new development path for the heritage of Luanzhou shadow play and local rural areas while also providing a reference for the differentiated development of other non-legacy rural areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development)
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27 pages, 6872 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Sustainable Inheritance Strategies of National Traditional Fine Arts Intangible Cultural Heritage in China
by Zhiqiang Cai, Keke Cai, Tao Huang, Ge Zhang and Ruixi Chen
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4488; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114488 - 25 May 2024
Viewed by 224
Abstract
A total of 417 intangible cultural heritage objects (ICHOs) are intertwined with traditional Chinese art, showcasing China’s rich historical heritage and distinctive creative allure. However, ICHOs currently grapple with a significant succession quandary due to modernization endeavors and the impacts of globalization. Hence, [...] Read more.
A total of 417 intangible cultural heritage objects (ICHOs) are intertwined with traditional Chinese art, showcasing China’s rich historical heritage and distinctive creative allure. However, ICHOs currently grapple with a significant succession quandary due to modernization endeavors and the impacts of globalization. Hence, this study scrutinizes the spatial distribution of ICHO projects and inheritors and examines methodologies for inheriting these 417 ICHOs, employing approaches such as the closest neighbor index, Moran’s I index, kernel density estimation, geographic concentration analysis, and imbalance index assessment. Research indicates that ICHOs exhibit a spatial aggregation pattern, yet there is no substantial spatial correlation observed in their distribution. The national distribution highlights two core density zones: Beijing and Shanghai. In China, ICHO programs display uneven distribution across various types, levels, regions, and cultural zones. Regarding the ethnic composition of projects and inheritors, ICHO projects predominantly focus on the Han ethnic group, with a scattering of minority representations. Minority ICHO projects and inheritors are concentrated in central and eastern areas, while Han ICHO projects and inheritors are concentrated in central and western regions. Among the 148 ICHO projects lacking inheritors, 203 have one inheritor, and only 66 have several inheritors. Shanghai serves as the core density zone for 269 ICHO projects with inheritors, while Beijing holds that status for 148 ICHO projects without inheritors. Out of the 148 ICHO projects lacking inheritors, 115 belong to the Han ethnic group, with 33 split among 16 different ethnic minorities, and 2 have no inheritors. These disparities underscore the uneven distribution of ICHO projects and the critical issue of inheritance. This study identified education, tourism, digital communication, incentivizing inheritors, and international cooperation as potential strategies for preserving ICHA. Moreover, a sustainable inheritance pathway integrating government, education, tourism, and media is imperative for the effective perpetuation of ICHOs’ legacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development)
19 pages, 14232 KiB  
Article
Using Deep Learning Approaches to Quantify Landscape Preference of the Chinese Grand Canal: An Empirical Case Study of the Yangzhou Ancient Canal
by Yiwen Li and Bing Qiu
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3602; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093602 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 551
Abstract
Landscape preference emerges from the dynamic interaction between individuals and their environment and plays a pivotal role in the preservation and enhancement of the Chinese Grand Canal’s scenery. As a vast linear heritage, employing conventional methods for analyzing landscape preferences can be resource-intensive [...] Read more.
Landscape preference emerges from the dynamic interaction between individuals and their environment and plays a pivotal role in the preservation and enhancement of the Chinese Grand Canal’s scenery. As a vast linear heritage, employing conventional methods for analyzing landscape preferences can be resource-intensive in terms of both time and labor. Amid the rapid advancement of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), a cognitive framework for understanding the Chinese Grand Canal’s landscape preferences has been developed, encompassing two primary aspects: the characteristic features of landscape preference and its spatial organization. Geotagged photographs from tourism media platforms focused on the Yangzhou Ancient Canal were utilized, and the EasyDL deep learning platform was employed to devise a model. This model assesses current landscape preferences through an analysis of photographic content, element composition patterns, and geospatial distribution, integrating social network and point density analyses. Our findings reveal that the fusion of Yangzhou Ancient Canal and classical gardens creates a sought-after ‘Canal and Watercraft Remains’ landscape. Tourists’ preferences for different landscape types are reflected in the way the elements are combined in the photographs. Overall, landscape preferences are dense in the north and sparse in the south. Differences in tourists’ perceptions of the value of and preferences for heritage sites lead to significant variations in tourist arrivals at different sites. This approach demonstrates efficiency and scalability in evaluating the Chinese Grand Canal landscape, offering valuable insights for its strategic planning and conservation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development)
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