Search Results (13)

Against the dual backdrop of the rural revitalization strategy and the pursuit of high-quality, balanced urban–rural education, optimizing rural campus spaces has emerged as an important lever for addressing educational resource disparities and improving pedagogical quality. However, conventional evaluation of campus space optimization faces two systemic dilemmas. First, top-down decision-making often neglects the authentic needs of diverse stakeholders and place-based knowledge, resulting in spatial interventions that lose regional distinctiveness. Second, routine public participation is constrained by geographical barriers, time costs, and sample-size limitations, which can amplify professional cognitive bias and impede comprehensive feedback formation. The compounded effect of these challenges contributes to a disconnect between spatial optimization outcomes and perceived needs, thereby constraining the distinctive development of rural educational spaces. To address these constraints, this study proposes a novel method that integrates regional spatial feature recognition with digital media-based public perception assessment. At the data collection and ethical governance level, the study strictly adheres to platform compliance and academic ethics. A total of 12,800 preliminary comments were scraped from major social media platforms (e.g., Douyin, Dianping, and Xiaohongshu) and processed through a three-stage screening workflow—keyword screening–rule-based filtering–manual verification—to yield 8616 valid records covering diverse public groups across China. All user-identifying information was fully anonymized to ensure lawful use and privacy protection. At the analytical modeling level, we develop a Transformer-based deep learning system that leverages multi-head attention mechanisms to capture implicit spatial-sentiment features and metaphorical expressions embedded in review texts. Evaluation on an independent test set indicates a classification accuracy of 89.2%, aligning with balanced and stable scoring performance. Robustness is further strengthened by introducing an equal-weight alternative strategy and conducting stability checks to indicate the consistency of model outputs across weighting assumptions. At the scenario interpretation level, we combine grounded-theory coding with semantic network analysis to establish a three-tier spatial analysis framework—macro (landscape pattern/hydro-topological patterns), meso (architectural interface), and micro (teaching scenes/pedagogical scenarios)—and incorporate an interpretive stakeholder typology (tourists, residents, parents, and professional groups) to systematically identify and quantify key features shaping public spatial perception. Findings show that, at the macro level, naturally integrated scenarios—such as “campus–farmland integration” and “mountain–water embeddedness”—exhibit high affective association, aligning with the “mountain-water-field-village” spatial sequence logic and suggesting broad public endorsement of ecological campus concepts, whereas vernacular settlement-pattern scenarios receive relatively low attention due to cognitive discontinuities. At the meso level, innovative corridor strategies (e.g., framed vistas and expanded corridor spaces) strengthen the building–nature interaction and suggest latent value in stimulating exploratory spatial experience. At the micro level, place-based practice-oriented teaching scenes (e.g., intangible cultural heritage handcraft and creative workshops) achieve higher scores, aligning with the compatibility of vernacular education’s “differential esthetics,” while urban convergence-oriented interdisciplinary curriculum scenes suggest an interpretive gap relative to public expectations. These results indicate an embedded relationship between public perception and regional spatial features, which is further shaped by a multi-actor governance process—characterized by “Government + Influencers + Field Study”—that mediates how rural educational spaces are produced, communicated, and interpreted in digital environments. The study’s innovative value lies in integrating sociological theories (e.g., embeddedness) with deep learning techniques to fill the regional and multi-actor perspective gap in rural campus POE and to promote a methodological shift from “experience-based induction” toward a “data-theory” dual-drive model. The findings provide inferential evidence for rural campus renewal and optimization; the methodological pipeline is transferable to small-scale rural primary schools with media exposure and salient regional ecological characteristics, and it offers a new pathway for incorporating digital media-driven public perception feedback into planning and design practice. The research methodology of this study consists of four sequential stages, which are implemented in a systematic and progressive manner: First, data collection was conducted: Python and the Octopus Collector were used to crawl online comment data related to Fuwen Township Central Primary School, strictly complying with the user agreements of the Douyin, Dianping, and Xiaohongshu platforms. Second, semantic preprocessing was performed: The evaluation content was segmented to generate word frequency statistics and semantic networks; qualitative analysis was conducted using Origin software, and quantitative translation was realized via Sankey diagrams. Third, spatial scene coding was carried out: Combined with a spatial characteristic identification system, a macro–meso–micro three-tier classification system for spatial scene characteristics was constructed to encode and quantitatively express the textual content. Finally, sentiment quantification and correlation analysis was implemented: A deep learning model based on the Transformer framework was employed to perform sentiment quantification scoring for each comment; Sankey diagrams were used to quantitatively correlate spatial scenes with sentiment tendencies, thereby exploring the public’s perceptual associations with the architectural spatial environment of rural campuses. Full article

This article explores the transformative potential of heritage education in promoting rural development along European pilgrimage routes. Drawing on findings from the Horizon 2020 rurAllure project, this study identifies key training and educational needs among cultural and non-cultural stakeholders in rural areas and proposes a strategic agenda for innovation in heritage-led tourism. Using a qualitative and participatory methodology—including a literature review, expert interviews, and pilot experimentation in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania—the research reveals persistent gaps in digital skills, tourism management, and accessibility. The study demonstrates the value of inclusive, place-based, and digitally enhanced learning approaches in strengthening local identity, enhancing community resilience, and addressing territorial disparities. Building on these empirical insights, the article proposes a strategic research and innovation agenda for heritage-led tourism, aligned with European policy priorities, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners. Ultimately, the article positions pilgrimage routes as learning landscapes—spaces for educational innovation, cultural sustainability, and territorial cohesion. Full article

Historic city centers host dense ensembles of heritage buildings where conservation goals must coexist with sustainable and smart urban development, yet the semi-outdoor “liminal” spaces of these complexes, such as cloisters, loggias and courtyards, are rarely included in microclimate monitoring networks. This study develops and tests the Liminal Environmental Monitoring System (LEMS), a flexible environmental data acquisition architecture designed for long-term monitoring in such spaces. The LEMS is based on a custom, low-cost data acquisition board able to handle multiple analogue and digital sensors, combined with a daisy-chain communication layout using the MODBUS RS485 protocol and a commercial datalogger as master, in order to meet the technical and visual constraints of historic buildings. Board calibration and sensor characterisation are reported, and the system is deployed in the cloister of Palazzo Costabili, a renaissance complex in the historic city center of Ferrara (Italy). This case study illustrates how the LEMS captures spatial and temporal variation in air temperature, relative humidity and solar irradiance and how an annual solar-shading indicator derived from 3D ray-tracing simulations supports the interpretation of irradiance measurements. The results indicate that the LEMS is a viable tool for heritage-compatible microclimate monitoring and can be adapted to other historic courtyards and loggias. Full article

Folk festivals and other intangible cultural heritage have received widespread attention, and their socio-cultural value can be used to promote tourism, strengthen local identity, and build city brands. However, it remains unclear how these intangible cultural heritage festivals transform their multi-dimensional and multi-configuration material characteristics into economic benefits and image enhancement. This study proposes a practical decision-making framework aimed at understanding how different festival design and governance strategies can work synergistically under different cultural conditions. Based primarily on a literature review and expert questionnaire survey, this study identified six stable materialized practice modules: productization, spatialization, experientialization, digitalization, branding/communication, and co-creation governance. At the same time, this framework also incorporates two other conditional intervention properties: classicism and novelty. The interactions between these modules shape people’s understanding of intangible cultural heritage festivals. Subsequently, this study used a multimodal national dataset that included official statistics, industry reports, e-commerce and social media data, questionnaires, and expert ratings to construct module scores and cultural attributes for 167 festival case studies. Through rough set analysis (RSA), this study simplifies the attributes and extracts clear “if-then” rules, establishing a configurational causal relationship between module configuration and classic/novel conditions to form high economic benefits and enhance local image. The findings of this study reveal a robust core built around spatialization, digitalization, and co-creative governance, with brand promotion/communication yielding benefits depending on the specific context. This further confirms that classicism reinforces the legitimacy and effectiveness of rituals/spaces and governance pathways, while novelty amplifies the impact of digitalization and immersive interaction. In summary, this study constructs an integrated and easy-to-understand process that links indicators, weights, and rules, and provides operational support for screening schemes and resource allocation in festival event combinations and venue brand governance. Full article

In response to the coexistence of multi-objective conflicts and environmental complexity in the renewal of contemporary urban industrial heritage, this study develops a simulation and decision-making methodology for architectural and environmental renewal based on a digital twin framework. Using the Xi’an Old Steel Plant Industrial Heritage Park as a case study, a community-scale digital twin model integrating multiple dimensions—architecture, environment, population, and energy systems—was constructed to enable dynamic integration of multi-source data and cross-scale response analysis. The proposed methodology comprises four core components: (1) integration of multi-source baseline datasets—including typical meteorological year data, industry standards, and open geospatial information—through BIM, GIS, and parametric modeling, to establish a unified data environment for methodological validation; (2) development of a high-performance dynamic simulation system integrating ENVI-met for microclimate and thermal comfort modeling, EnergyPlus for building energy and carbon emission assessment, and AnyLogic for multi-agent spatial behavior simulation; (3) establishment of a comprehensive performance evaluation model based on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP); (4) implementation of a visual interactive platform for design feedback and scheme optimization. The results demonstrate that under parameter-calibrated simulation conditions, the digital twin system accurately reflects environmental variations and crowd behavioral dynamics within the industrial heritage site. Under the optimized renewal scheme, the annual carbon emissions of the park decrease relative to the baseline scenario, while the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and spatial vitality index both show significant improvement. The findings confirm that digital twin-driven design interventions can substantially enhance environmental performance, energy efficiency, and social vitality in industrial heritage renewal. This approach marks a shift from experience-driven to evidence-based design, providing a replicable technological pathway and decision-support framework for the intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable renewal of post-industrial urban spaces. The digital twin framework proposed in this study establishes a validated paradigm for model coupling and decision-making processes, laying a methodological foundation for future integration of comprehensive real-world data and dynamic precision mapping. Full article

This study explores the transformative potential of the metaverse in redefining cultural heritage engagement, with a specific focus on the digital metamorphosis of the Museum of L’Avesnois in Fourmies. By leveraging advanced 3D scanning technologies and immersive virtual environments, select artifacts have been meticulously digitized, creating an unprecedented interactive platform that bridges accessibility gaps and invites global audiences to engage with cultural heritage. Variability in user experience, reflecting the diverse interactions, emotions, and cognitive responses of participants, serves as a critical analytical axis in this research. While diversity can yield invaluable insights into user preferences, excessive discrepancies risk fragmenting the coherence of engagement. This study demonstrates how strategic design interventions can mitigate such variability, fostering uniform yet personalized experiences. Through the integration of real-time social dynamics, enabled by customizable avatars and communication tools, the metaverse is established as a pioneering medium for collaborative cultural exploration. Employing a robust mixed-methods approach, this research synthesizes quantitative metrics with qualitative insights from in-depth interviews to critically evaluate the metaverse’s capacity to deliver authentic, emotionally resonant, and pedagogically impactful engagements. While challenges persist in replicating the emotive depth of physical exhibits and sustaining user attention, findings underscore the metaverse’s unparalleled efficacy in democratizing access to cultural artifacts and enabling transboundary social interactions. Furthermore, the seamless incorporation of previously inaccessible artifacts into these virtual domains significantly enhances both user engagement and educational outcomes. This work advances the discourse on digital heritage by presenting actionable insights into the design of virtual environments that uphold cultural authenticity, foster socially immersive interactions, and align with the broader paradigm of digital transformation. Full article

The percentage of historical heritage buildings in Italy is substantial. Many of these buildings are abandoned or not adequately restored for public access due to safety concerns. However, some are managed by city councils and made available to local communities. These heritage buildings, valued for their historical significance, are now frequently used for live events, including musical performances by ensembles and small groups. This paper deals with the acoustics of two rooms provided with barrel-vaulted ceilings: Sisto V Hall in Naples and Aula Magna at the University of Parma. These spaces are structurally very similar, differing mainly in length. Acoustic measurements conducted in both halls reveal reverberation times of approximately 4.5 s at mid frequencies, resulting in poor speech clarity. This is primarily due to the presence of reflective surfaces, as the walls and ceilings are plastered, and the floors are tiled. To optimize their acoustic properties for functions such as celebrations, gatherings, and conferences, an acoustic design intervention was proposed. Digital models of the halls were calibrated and used to correct the acoustics by incorporating absorbing panels on the walls and carpeting on the floors of the central walk path. This treatment successfully balanced the reverberation time to approximately 1.3–1.4 s at mid frequencies, making speech more intelligible. Additionally, an amplified audio system was analyzed to enhance sound distribution, ensuring uniform coverage, even in the last rows of seating. Under amplified conditions, sound pressure levels (SPLs) range between 90 dB and 93 dB, with appropriate gain control applied to the column array speakers. Full article

This study explores the dynamic relationship between rural tourism and traditional architecture, emphasizing their joint role in cultural heritage preservation and sustainable development. Utilizing CiteSpace (6.3.R1) and VOSviewer (1.6.19) tools, this study analyzes 1356 publications from the Web of Science database and identifies three development stages: the initial stage (1996–2008), the growth stage (2009–2016), and the peak stage (2017–2024). The main findings highlight a focus on climate-adaptive design, community collaboration, and the integration of digital technologies in heritage preservation. Emerging topics, such as green building materials and virtual reality, have also gained increasing attention. Despite these advancements, limitations persist in terms of data diversity and the regional scope of research. Future studies should address how to balance heritage conservation with modernization needs, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, and leverage digital tools to promote urban–rural interaction and ecological design. Full article

The architecture of Al-Ula Heritage Village offers valuable lessons for sustainable strategies adaptable to contemporary architecture. By studying the green strategies employed in Al-Ula Heritage Village, insights into heritage villages’ future preservation and ecological development are gained. This study investigates Al-Ula’s historical buildings’ environmental, cultural, and social sustainable strategies. Ecological design principles include preserving natural conditions, urban design, site planning, and human comfort. Cultural considerations incorporate embracing change, integrating sustainable design strategies, protecting cultural heritage, engaging the community, and leveraging digital preservation tools. Social sustainability involves preserving cultural heritage, community engagement, and promoting social cohesion. A comprehensive conceptual framework for environmental, cultural, and social sustainability is developed and employed. Primary data from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and the existing literature on traditional Saudi vernacular architecture are utilized. The findings highlight the effectiveness of ancient design strategies such as topography preservation, non-disturbance of natural hydraulic processes, and the integration of open spaces. Urban design principles like mixed-use development, pollution reduction, and human comfort considerations are prevalent. The study outcomes emphasize the importance of cultural and social considerations. The study concludes that green architecture can be achieved through the thoughtful adaptation of traditional techniques, demonstrating how sustainable design rooted in historical practices can serve as a model for future developments. Full article

The aim of this paper is to understand the long-COVID impact on cultural heritage organisations, and future research needed. COVID-19 was disruptive to cultural heritage socioeconomic activities across the world during 2020 and 2021. Whilst government intervention and changes from physical to digital engagement generally prevailed, the long-COVID impact on cultural heritage organisations, their people and users, buildings, and collections remains unknown. The extent, also, to which financing, curating, visiting, and volunteering patterns have changed is uncertain. Following the pandemic closures and associated support, cultural heritage organisations are facing continuing economic, social, political, environmental, technological, and organisational culture pressures. This research examines the existing academic literature, sector publications, annual reports and associated visitor information to understand whether cultural heritage organisations have long-COVID, whether they can survive another pandemic, and what further research is needed to be better prepared. Four case studies from the UK look at the visitor and financial impacts of COVID-19 on the British Library, the London Transport Museum, The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and Kensington Palace. This paper contributes to heritage research by providing a deeper understanding of the impact that COVID-19 had on heritage, and how to proactively plan for similar future disruptions. The impact themes show that change did not result in a new normal but in the need for a new space, consisting of blended space (physical and digital), mixed space (indoors and outdoors), and community of practice space (isolated or cross-sector networking space). The literature highlights the significance of the sector coming together during the pandemic to share knowledge and provide support through its networks. It also highlights how important it is for such unity not to be lost but to be harnessed to support ongoing organisational sustainability and better preparedness for future crises. Finally, future research suggestions are proposed grouped into social, digital, financial, and operational research themes. Full article

Research on cultural heritage conservation has shifted from emphasizing the digital information process with the advantages of “precision” and “visualization” in the early stage to focusing on the development of “realistic” and “highly experiential” gamified interactive environments. As game technology provides a highly interactive experience, effective communication, and an integrated environment, it brings new application opportunities for the future development of the reconstruction of historical blocks and cultural spaces. This study takes the old city blocks and historic buildings in Taiwan as examples, applies ArcGIS and SketchUp as the information modeling software, uses the Unity3D game engine as the development platform, and carries out the integration and interactive presentation of the scene information model through the two-stage process of information modeling and programming integration. The historical building information model and 3D-GIS attribute data are integrated, and the visibility and interaction of the information model of the old city blocks are enhanced. Using game technology to optimize the digital integration process of cultural asset not only simplifies the integration of multiple information models and provides two-way updates, but also effectively enhances the interaction and display application capabilities of historic district and building space information. The development tasks that were completed in this research are (1) integrate historical building models and 3D-GIS attribute data; (2) get all the necessary visual information; (3) update historical buildings and historic district models and data at any time; (4) provide virtual reality simulation function and environmental interaction experience. Full article

Cultural communication and art heritage represent a repository of highly condensed information of past time that depends not only on the expansion of emerging digital media but also on the transformation of language and knowledge. In this course, students try to extract single elements from the traditional Chinese cultural patterns and redesign them, then combine them into existing buildings, attempting to balance the coherence, heterogeneity of space, and the uniqueness of projects. It provides favorable conditions in the new era for the traditional patterns to be re-activated. It is a combination of technology and art. The purpose of this course is not to discover new theories or new technologies but to provide morphological possibilities under the existing digital techniques in cultural symbols. We try to build new ideas and innovative digital expressions for traditional Chinese patterns, realize the collision of culture and technology from experimental trials on the existing architectures in other unimagined forms. It is not only the research reproduction of traditional patterns but also brings new vitality and fresh ideas for architecture design. Full article

Building upon the positive outcomes and evidence of dissemination across the community of the first Special Issue “Remote Sensing and Geosciences for Archaeology”, the second edition of this Special Series of Geosciences dedicated to “Earth Observation, Remote Sensing and Geoscientific Ground Investigations for Archaeological and Heritage Research” collects a varied body of original scientific research contributions showcasing the technological, methodological, and interpretational advances that have been achieved in this field of archaeological and cultural heritage sciences over the last years. The fourteen papers, published after rigorous peer review, allowed the guest editor to make considerations on the capabilities, limitations, challenges, and perspectives of Earth observation (EO), remote sensing (RS), and geoscientific ground investigations with regard to: (1) archaeological prospection with high resolution satellite SAR and optical imagery; (2) high resolution documentation of archaeological features with drones; (3) archaeological mapping with LiDAR towards automation; (4) digital fieldwork using old and modern data; (5) field and archaeometric investigations to corroborate archaeological hypotheses; (6) new frontiers in archaeological research from space in contemporary Africa; and (7) education and capacity building in EO and RS for cultural heritage. Full article