scholarly journals Evaluation of an Online 360° Virtual Reality World Heritage Site During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1192-1215
Author(s):  
Wei Ren ◽  
Xianhong Chen

Abstract This study developed a framework to evaluate, in the context of COVID-19, the performance of an OVRWCHT (online 360° virtual reality world cultural heritage tourism) system created by the authors for the purpose of heritage interpretation and presentation. The research framework was based on the seven main principles of the ICOMOS Charter for the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites, and evaluation criteria were established for each. This framework was used to evaluate an OVRWCHT for the Hailongtun Tusi World Heritage Site in Guizhou Province, China. Data were mainly based on 1,062 questionnaires and analyses of the developed system. The findings indicated that, whether in terms of user experience or the interpretation of the UNESCO criterion “outstanding universal value,” Stakeholders agreed that OVRWCHT has played a positive role in heritage interpretation. Yet, more data support is needed to improve both technology and theory – especially the transferability of OVRWCHT to countries other than China. Based on the findings, it is suggested that the International Council on Monuments and Sites should continue to issue charters on how emerging technologies can support heritage site interpretation and presentation.

2022 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 64-84
Author(s):  
R. Wimalasuriya ◽  
A. Kapukotuwa ◽  
G. Ranasinghe

On-site heritage interpretation plays a vital role in cultural heritage sites in conveying the significance and multiple heritage values to the visitors. In an era where the world is transforming with innovative digital applications, the heritage sites are also being integrated with digital interpretation techniques to deliver a better interpretation and new dimensional experience to the visitors. Though multiple digital solutions are available, not all the techniques are appropriate, applicable and feasible to every site. Besides, neither proper worldwide principles nor framework has been exerted for these digital heritage interpretation developments. Therefore, this study is focused on building a generic conceptual framework to select the most appropriate digital interpretation technique(s) that fit the context of the heritage site, giving special reference to the six Cultural World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. The relevant qualitative and quantitative data were gathered via in-depth interviews, field observation, literature survey and a visitor survey questionnaire. The main themes and sub-themes derived through the thematic analysis were adopted as the theoretical framework for the research to analyze the collected data of the six Cultural World Heritage Sites and the selected digital techniques. Based on the results, the study recommends appropriate digital techniques for each Cultural World Heritage Sites of the country. Further as aimed, the study presents a conceptual framework for on-site digital interpretation developments for cultural heritage sites by categorizing the 24 criteria derived for data analysis under five phases namely ‘Prepare’, ‘Assess’, ‘Design’, ‘Implement’ and ‘Sustain’.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ali Mohamed Khalil ◽  
Eman Hanye Mohamed Nasr

PurposeThe study aims to analyze the development of Omani heritage legislation against the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC), 1972 and WHC Operational Guidelines (WHC-OGs) to predict the possible effects of the recent developments on the management of the World Heritage Site in Oman.Design/methodology/approachThis study discusses the development of the heritage protection legislation in Sultanate of Oman since 1970; it analyses the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 against the recommendations of the UNESCO WHC as well as the requirements of the World Heritage Operational Guidelines. Moreover, the research investigates the possible effects of the recent heritage legislation developments on the management of Bahla Fort and Oasis in Oman, which is the first Omani World Heritage Site and the only site with special management regulations.FindingsThe paper outlines the effects of both the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 and the Special Management Regulations 81/2019 on the implementation of the Bahla Management Plan. Additionally, the research establishes how the customization of heritage legislation as a special heritage management regulation facilitates the implementation of national legislation to solve specific local problems.Originality/valueThe study establishes the significance of developing comprehensive legislation to protect and manage the rich Omani cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites in alignment with the WHC and the WHC-OGs.


Heritage ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1874-1891
Author(s):  
Abdel Tawab

Influences exerted by cultural heritage properties on developments in architecture, town planning, or landscape design represent one of the criteria that are used to evaluate the Outstanding Universal Value of the properties nominated for listing as World Heritage Sites, which is criterion (ii). In 1996, the wording of criterion (ii) was revised to address the interchange of human values exhibited by cultural heritage properties. The main aim of this study was to discuss the changes that occurred to the application of criterion (ii) following the revision of its wording of 1996, particularly in relation to historic towns. The study also aimed at investigating the applicability of the revised version of criterion (ii) to the particularity of the cultural heritage of an Egyptian historic town and a potential World Heritage Site, which is “Historic quarters and monuments of Rosetta/Rachid”. To achieve these aims, a sample of World Heritage Sites, or potential ones, representing both the pre-1996 and the post-1996 historic towns whose Outstanding Universal Value was justified based on criterion (ii), was adopted for the analysis of the changes in the application of criterion (ii). Subsequently, a brief preview of the major features that represent the mutual influences experienced throughout Rosetta’s wider cultural context was carried out. The findings revealed that the prevalent trend in the post-1996 listings of historic towns is the emphasis on other cultures’ influences exerted on the concerned historic towns through interchanges of human values that take the form of exchanges of technical know-how, traditions and religious values. The findings also indicated the applicability of the revised version of criterion (ii) to the particularity of Rosetta’s cultural heritage. The study recommends inscribing Rosetta on the World Heritage List based on criterion (ii).


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro CHECHI

AbstractThis paper looks at the Judgment handed down by the International Court of Justice in November 2013 on the interpretation of its 1962 Judgment in theTemple of Preah Vihearcase between Cambodia and Thailand. The primary objective of this paper is to disclose the imperfect account of states’ obligations provided for by the Court. In effect, the ICJ emphasized that Cambodia and Thailand must co-operate pursuant to the World Heritage Convention in the protection of the Temple as a world heritage site of outstanding universal value. Accordingly, the Court obscured the fact that the regime for the protection of cultural heritage in wartime was applicable in this case. This paper first examines the ICJ’s narrow approach and its implications. Next, it brings the focus back into a larger context by analyzing the impact of the ICJ’s jurisprudence on the development of international cultural heritage law.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Roby Ardiwidjaja

Identitas bangsa Indonesia sekarang ini menghadapi masalah serius akibat pengaruh globalisasi yang membawa perubahan besar dalam berbagai aspek kehidupan berbangsa, oleh karena itu perlu upaya berkesinambungan dalam membangun dan memperkuat jati diri bangsa Indonesia. Salah satu upaya dimulai dengan melindungi dan melestarikan keragaman nilai-nilai luhur tradisi beserta warisan budaya yang masih mencerminkan ciri khas Indonesia. Adanya kesadaran dunia tentang pentingnya pelestarian situs warisan budaya semakin meningkat dari waktu ke waktu, memberi peluang pentingnya pelaksanaan pelestarian guna memperkuat ketahanan budaya bangsa Indonesia. Salah satu upaya pelestarian tersebut adalah dengan mengusulkan warisan budaya berupa situs, kompleks bangunan, dan lanskap budaya yang tersebar di wilayah Indonesia dengan keunikannya masing-masing sebagai Warisan Dunia yang memiliki nilai universal. Situs Warisan Dunia adalah aset bangsa, maka setiap orang memiliki hak dan berkewajiban memahami, mengapresiasi, dan melestarikan nilai-nilai universal, nasional maupun lokal yang terkandung di dalamnya melalui mekanisme pengelolaan yang terpadu dan berkelanjutan. Kajian ini merupakan hasil dari desk research dengan analisis menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif berdasarkan pada studi pustaka dari referensi yang relevan. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa pendekatan positif dalam pengelolaan dan pemafaatan warisan budaya adalah dengan menggunakan pendekatan pariwisata berkelanjutan melalui konsep pariwisata budaya. Pariwisata disini dimungkinkan menjadi alat untuk mengemas upaya pelestarian kawasan situs Warisan Dunia menjadi daya tarik wisata budaya. Kajian ini menghasilkan sejumlah rekomendasi yang dapat diterapkan dalam mengembangkan pariwisata berkelanjutan di kawasan situs Warisan Dunia. Today, the identity of Indonesian people faces a severe problem due to the influence of globalization, which brings significant changes in various aspects of national life; therefore, it required continuous efforts to build and strengthen the identity of the Indonesian people. We can start by protecting and preserving the diversity of the traditional noble values and cultural heritage that still reflect Indonesian characteristics. The awareness of the world about the importance of preserving cultural heritage sites is increasing over time, providing an opportunity for the importance of implementing conservation to strengthen the resilience of Indonesian culture. One of the conservation efforts is to propose cultural heritage in the form of site, building complex, and cultural landscape that spread in the territory of Indonesia with their uniqueness as World Heritage that has universal values. World Heritage site is a national asset, so everyone has the right and obligation to understand, appreciate, and preserve the universal, national, and local values contained in it through an integrated and sustainable management mechanism. This study was the result of desk research with the analysis using a qualitative descriptive method based on literature studies from relevant references. The results of this study indicate that a positive approach in the management and utilization of the world heritage is by using a sustainable tourism approach through the cultural tourism concept. Here, tourism might be a tool to package the conservation efforts of the world heritage site to become a cultural tourist attraction. This study produced some recommendations that can apply to develop sustainable tourism in the World Heritage site.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Yongqi ◽  
Yang Ruixia ◽  
Wang Pu ◽  
Yang Anlin ◽  
Chen Guolong

AbstractDepicting the temporal and spatial evolution pattern of global world cultural heritage systematically and finely is the basis of heritage recognition and protection. In this study, 869 world cultural heritage inscriptions (through 2019) were selected as the research objects, and the times and types of each World Heritage site were manually annotated from more than 5000 pieces of data. Through time series modelling, the advantages of and changes in heritage declarations in different regions and periods were analysed, and the impact of heritage strategy on the number of heritage sites included in each region was evaluated. The results showed that the implementation of heritage policy greatly impacted each region, especially on the number of heritage sites in Asia and the Pacific region. Using the heritage era to carry out modelling analysis, from the perspective of the integrity of historical heritage cultural types, it is considered that there may be cultural heritage sites in the Caribbean and Latin America that have not been given enough attention. The modelling analysis results of era attributes can support the fairness of heritage determination. By calculating the frequency and peak value of heritage sites at the national scale, the frequency and peak value of each country in the top 10 list are used to characterize the ability of national declarations of cultural heritage and reveal the differences in the ability of each member country to declare heritage sites and the heritage era. By calculating the distribution density of the heritage era, this study finds that the world’s cultural heritage is not concentrated in the Middle Ages (600–1450) but the periods of Reformation and Exploration (1450–1700) and Progress and Empire (1850–1914). The above analysis shows that there are imbalances and strategic adjustment effects concerning regions, countries, eras and types in World Heritage list development. The composition types of heritage are complex, and the combination types have obvious changes in different periods. It is suggested that the strategy of world cultural heritage collection should be further optimized to fully guarantee the balance of regions, countries and types, and the heritage value should be fully considered in heritage protection with more diversity and complexity of types.


2022 ◽  
pp. 138-160
Author(s):  
Nihan Garipağaoğlu-Uğur ◽  
Orhan Akova

Underwater cultural heritage and deep diving are important attractions for tourism. Using cutting-edge technology tools for cultural heritage became more important for tourism destinations. The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in tourism from the perspective of cultural heritage and deep diving. This chapter will contribute to the literature to show a new way of sustainable tourism. Commercial diving to an underwater heritage site a is popular touristic activity. Sometimes shipwreck recovery can be hazardous for cultural heritage. The review results indicate that these underwater cultural heritage sites need to be protected for sustainable tourism development. Virtual tours contribute to the sustainability of cultural heritage. On the other hand, treasure hunting trips and recreational diving may cause damage to the archaeological sites. Underwater cultural heritage sites should be protected for sustainable tourism. VR and AR applications can be used to promote a touristic destination by tourism marketers for experimental marketing.


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