scholarly journals Aggregation of Linked Data in the Cultural Heritage Domain: A Case Study in the Europeana Network

Information ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuno Freire ◽  
René Voorburg ◽  
Roland Cornelissen ◽  
Sjors de Valk ◽  
Enno Meijers ◽  
...  

Online cultural heritage resources are widely available through digital libraries maintained by numerous organizations. In order to improve discoverability in cultural heritage, the typical approach is metadata aggregation, a method where centralized efforts such as Europeana improve the discoverability by collecting resource metadata. The redefinition of the traditional data models for cultural heritage resources into data models based on semantic technology has been a major activity of the cultural heritage community. Yet, linked data may bring new innovation opportunities for cultural heritage metadata aggregation. We present the outcomes of a case study that we conducted within the Europeana cultural heritage network. In this study, the National Library of The Netherlands contributed by providing the role of data provider, while the Dutch Digital Heritage Network contributed as an intermediary aggregator that aggregates datasets and provides them to Europeana, the central aggregator. We identified and analyzed the requirements for an aggregation solution for the linked data, guided by current aggregation practices of the Europeana network. These requirements guided the definition of a workflow that fulfils the same functional requirements as the existing one. The workflow was put into practice within this study and has led to the development of software applications for administrating datasets, crawling the web of data, harvesting linked data, data analysis and data integration. We present our analysis of the study outcomes and analyze the effort necessary, in terms of technology adoption, to establish a linked data approach, from the point of view of both data providers and aggregators. We also present the expertise requirements we identified for cultural heritage data analysts, as well as determining which supporting tools were required to be designed specifically for semantic data.

Author(s):  
Emanuela Sorbo ◽  
Gianluca Spironelli

The paper is an initial form of dissemination of the research activities carried out by the IUAV University of Venice working group which, on behalf of the Municipal administration of Brendola, seeks to delineate the application of a methodology for the study and analysis of the architectural and landscape heritage of significant cultural interest that is in a state of abandonment. The case study application is the church of San Michele Arcangelo in Brendola (Vicenza), known as the “Incompiuta” (“Unfinished”). The case study proposed is an interesting exemplar of ecclesiastical architecture, designed by engineer-architect Fausto Franco, in which its characteristics of being unfinished and in a state of ruin contribute to redefining the image of a work that fits in a historical context of architectural and technical experimentation, where the reference to historical architecture is mediated by contemporary forms and by the use of modern building materials, among which, the use of reinforced bricks is noteworthy. The research activity, which is taking place in the context of the COVID-19 health emergency, aims at putting a series of strategies and operational practices based on the digitisation of data to the test, so as to allow increased interoperability and sharing through the building of an online open data repository addressed to the actors involved in the conservation process and to the community. In the processes of conservation and valorisation, in-depth knowledge and documentation of the materials and construction techniques involves multidisciplinary areas; effectively organising them in a system that regulates their collection, cataloguing, processing and archiving according to shared procedures, therefore becomes a fundamental prerequisite for the development of operational planning of the valorisation strategies. All the instruments that make it possible to collect data and reach a true knowledge of the object therefore become indispensable. From this point of view, the push towards the digitisation of the data that emerged during the pandemic phase plays a fundamental role in the range of application possibilities, from the survey to the mechanisms for the conservation and management of the cultural heritage.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Butnariu

Preserving the past is an important task of the current generation because of the rapid changes that influence our society. There are certain objects or traditions that make us feel as though we are part of something and—a country, a way of life. The term ‘cultural heritage’ has seen many changes over the last decades and can be evaluated from a tangible or intangible point of view. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has seen an increased importance. ICH includes goods that can express the idiosyncrasy of certain groups, represent a specific skill, or tradition. This paper presents a working methodology on a structured approach to ICH elements, as well as a case study of such an object. At the same time, this paper proposes a new method of artifacts research, an approach that brings, in addition to engineering, expertise from several fields: Mechanics, construction, material resistance, flow of fluids, heat transfer, ICT, and virtual reality.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1079-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Clementi ◽  
Enrico Quagliarini ◽  
Francesco Monni ◽  
Ersilia Giordano ◽  
Stefano Lenci

Background:In October 2016, two major earthquakes occurred in Marche region in the Centre of Italy, that resulted in widespread damage. The second one strokes Norcia, Visso, Arquata del Tronto, Accumoli and Amatrice, causing a lot of damages to cultural heritage of the cities of Tolentino, San Severino, Camerino and Ascoli Piceno, where the church ofSanta Maria della Caritàis located.Introduction:The church has high historical, architectural and social value for the city of Ascoli Piceno, because it is the only one that is opened to the devotees all time in the day and night. From the structural point of view, the church has a long and important annex to the north, which was later built with respect to the church, and after the L’Aquila earthquakes (2009) damages, the church was subjected to a retrofit intervention, in order to obtain a better “box-like behavior”.Objective:This paper addresses how the relevant annex influenced the seismic response of this historical complex and how, more generally, this kind of asymmetric mass may affect the behavior of historic churches.Results and Conclusion:The results indicate that the presence of annex plays a significant role in the dynamic response of the church and affects the distribution of damages in the whole building. The results of the seismic simulation agree with the observed damage.


Author(s):  
Chris Dijkshoorn ◽  
Lora Aroyo ◽  
Guus Schreiber ◽  
Jan Wielemaker ◽  
Lizzy Jongma

Author(s):  
Victor de Boer ◽  
Jan Wielemaker ◽  
Judith van Gent ◽  
Michiel Hildebrand ◽  
Antoine Isaac ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
M. Van Ruymbeke ◽  
P. Hallot ◽  
R. Billen

Modelling cultural heritage and archaeological objects is used as much for management as for research purposes. To ensure the sustainable benefit of digital data, models benefit from taking the data specificities of historical and archaeological domains into account. Starting from a conceptual model tailored to storing these specificities, we present, in this paper, an extended mapping to CIDOC-CRM and its compatible models. Offering an ideal framework to structure and highlight the best modelling practices, these ontologies are essentially dedicated to storing semantic data which provides information about cultural heritage objects. Based on this standard, our proposal focuses on multiple interpretation and sequential reality.


Author(s):  
Nuno Freire ◽  
Enno Meijers ◽  
Sjors de Valk ◽  
Rene Voorburg ◽  
Antoine Isaac ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna K. Matusiak ◽  
Ling Meng ◽  
Ewa Barczyk ◽  
Chia-Jung Shih

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore multilingual access in digital libraries and to present a case study of creating bilingual metadata records for the Tse-Tsung Chow Collection of Chinese Scrolls and Fan Paintings. The project, undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, provides access to digital copies of calligraphic and painted Chinese scrolls and fans from the collection donated by Prof Tse-Tsung Chow (Cezong Zhou). Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the current approaches to multilingual indexing and retrieval in digital collections and presents a model of creating bilingual parallel records that combines translation with controlled vocabulary mapping. Findings – Creating multilingual metadata records for cultural heritage materials is in an early phase of development. Bilingual metadata created through human translation and controlled vocabulary mapping represents one of the approaches to multilingual access in digital libraries. Multilingual indexing of collections of international origin addresses the linguistic needs of the target audience, connects the digitized objects to their respective cultures and contributes to richer descriptive records. The approach that relies on human translation and research can be undertaken in small-scale digitization projects of rare cultural heritage materials. Language and subject expertise are required to create bilingual metadata records. Research limitations/implications – This paper presents the results of a case study. The approach to multilingual access that involves research, and it relies on human translation that can only be undertaken in small-scale projects. Practical implications – This case study of creating parallel records with a combination of translation and vocabulary mapping can be useful for designing similar bilingual digital collections. Social implications – This paper also discusses the obligations of holding institutions in undertaking digital conversion of the cultural heritage materials that originated in other countries, especially in regard to providing metadata records that reflect the language of the originating community. Originality/value – The research and practice in multilingual indexing of cultural heritage materials are very limited. There are no standardized models of how to approach building multilingual digital collections. This case study presents a model of providing bilingual access and enhancing the intellectual control of cultural heritage collections.


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