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Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites

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A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Underwater Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 28261

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fabio Bruno

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Department of Mechanical, Energy, and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy
Interests: 3D recording; underwater technologies; virtual reality; augmented reality
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Dr. Barbara Davidde

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Director of National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Rome, Italy
Interests: archaeology; underwater restoration; policies
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Dr. Pari Kalamara

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Director of Maritime Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, Athina, Greece
Interests: protection and promotion of cultural heritage; history; archaeology
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Dr. Angelos Manglis

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Founder of Atlantis Research, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: policies and strategies; management models for AUCHS

Dr. Dimitris Kourkoumelis

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Guest Editor

Underwater Archaeologist, Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, Athina, Greece
Interests: protection and promotion of cultural heritage; history; archaeology

Dr. Michela Ricca

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
Interests: cultural heritage; characterization and diagnostics of stone building materials and their decay processes; experimentation of innovative protective products for materials; archaeometry; underwater archaeology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This SI is dedicated to the theme of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) and all the related research topics, which are generally linked with archaeology, history, marine sciences, remote sensing, digital technologies, robotics and sustainable tourism. Since 2012, the European Blue Growth Strategy, as well as the related policies, strategies and resources brought into play for its implementation, supports the sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. So, on the one hand, the underwater cultural and natural heritage should create benefits; on the other hand, such benefits should preserve and not create any damage to the marine ecosystem, also including UCH lying there.

This Special Issue is open to all potential authors and encourages the submission of contributions presented at the 2^nd International Conference Dive in Blue Growth on the Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites, to be held virtually on 12th–14th May 2021. Dive in Blue Growth is organised in the framework of MeDryDive (https://medrydive.eu/), an EU project co-financed under the COSME Programme that is developing various digital content to promote the sustainable tourism in the Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites of the Mediterranean Sea.

This Special Issue intends to collect original and high-quality research devoted to the knowledge of UCH sites, by promoting innovative researches and practices and improving the development of emerging solutions on all the related subjects.

Contributions are welcome to provide the research community with a multidisciplinary forum in the themes related to underwater studies, involving the large community of experts from around the globe working in the specific field and also drawing attention to the operation of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites (AUCHS) and their promotion as a means for their sustainable protection. The Special Issue also encourages studies related to innovative solutions and best practices developed and adopted by local, regional, national or transnational actors on their respective regulatory frameworks and concerning the protection of UCH, including the ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Contributions are invited on the following topics:

Technologies and approaches for the in-situ promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites (AUCHS);
Dry dive technologies: dematerializing Underwater Cultural Heritage to make them accessible to everybody;
Best Practices and Strategies for the promotion and protection of AUCHS;
The response of the public to the opening of the AUCHS;
New technologies, tools, and advanced materials to protect underwater cultural sites;
Characterization and diagnostics of underwater sites and materials;
Blue growth and sustainable underwater tourism;
Surveying solutions for UCH;
Evaluation and Management of UCH.

Prof. Dr. Fabio Bruno
Dr. Barbara Davidde
Dr. Pari Kalamara
Dr. Angelos Manglis
Dr. Dimitris Kourkoumelis
Dr. Michela Ricca
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. Heritage 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 1600 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.

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Roadmap for the Sustainable Valorization of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites

by Angelos Manglis, Anastasia Fourkiotou and Dimitra Papadopoulou

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4700-4715; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040259 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3103

Abstract

This paper presents a roadmap to enable the adoption of the BLUEMED model; an integrated plan developed within the BLUEMED project that promotes underwater cultural heritage (UCH) to both divers and non-divers and aims at sustainable tourism development in coastal areas and islands. Through augmented and virtual reality technologies, one can experience wet and dry diving to accessible underwater cultural heritage site(s) (AUCHS), through a physical dive at the sites or a virtual tour at Knowledge Awareness Centers (KACs). The roadmap provides guidelines, so that relevant stakeholders and competent authorities can implement the BLUEMED model and consider the various environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic factors of the area (locality), to ensure viability in the long-term. The roadmap focuses on the policy and technical parameters, including the cultural and environmental features of the site, the legislative framework, funding issues, the integration of technologies, the prospects for sustainable tourism development in the area, the stakeholder engagement, and the cooperation framework within a top-down or a bottom-up initiative, as well as the establishment and operation of the KACs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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18 pages, 7860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Augmented Reality Storytelling Submerged. Dry Diving to a World War II Wreck at Ancient Phalasarna, Crete

by Gunnar Liestøl, Michael Bendon and Elpida Hadjidaki-Marder

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4647-4664; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040256 - 11 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4428

Abstract

Underwater heritage and archaeology is, in general, limited to the few who have permission, and the means to actually dive on location and experience the submarine sites. Dry dive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) now offer unprecedented opportunity to change this situation. This paper explores the use of AR storytelling with regard to a World War II landing craft at Phalasarna, Greece. Tank Landing Craft A6 (TLC) was sunk by German aircraft while evacuating Allied troops from Crete in 1941. Its remains still lie just off the coast in a few metres of water. This project revolves around the development of a 3D–animation to make the site more accessible to those who cannot dive. By visually reconstructing the dramatic event of the craft’s final moments under German attack before it settled to the seabed, as well as the site’s present condition, visitors can experience and learn more about both the vessel itself and the historical context. The Indirect AR simulation contains two main modes: a dry dive reconstruction of the wreck as it looks today with detailed multimodal explanations based on historical and archaeological research, and an animation sequence that reconstructs the actual German attack on the ship. This article presents detailed descriptions of the site’s historical background, of the vessel and the design challenges involved in the production process of the app itself. Feedback provided by visitors who recently tested the AR simulation on location is also reported here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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13 pages, 933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementing Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Selection of AUCHS for the Integration of Digital Technologies into the Tourism Offering: The Case of MeDryDive

by Angelos Manglis, Paschalina Giatsiatsou, Dimitra Papadopoulou, Vasiliki Drouga and Anastasia Fourkiotou

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4460-4472; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040246 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3091

Abstract

Focusing on both physical and virtual accessibility, this paper presents the methodology developed by MeDryDive for the selection of AUCHS (Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites) in Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro. MeDryDive is a project that aims at the promotion of AUCHS in the Mediterranean as distinctive tourism destinations through personalized dry dive experiences. The candidate sites are assessed in order to be included in the transnational thematic tourism product “Dive in the Past” and promoted through Creative and Cultural Industry (CCI) applications, including a Serious Game, Augmented and Virtual Reality applications, and promotional videos, all developed in the context of the project. The main goal of the methodology is to meet the requirements for both the sustainability of the thematic tourism product and the digital applications’ development. The assessment of AUCHS is based on specific criteria that result from setting weighing factors and classifying indicators as either critical or non-critical. The criteria are categorized into core (feasibility) criteria and complementary (appropriateness) criteria for determining the total level of readiness. This set of criteria enables site selection through an elimination method, identifying the suitable pilot and follow-on sites for the integration of digital technologies into the tourism offering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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16 pages, 4167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dive in the Past: A Serious Game to Promote the Underwater Cultural Heritage of the Mediterranean Sea

by Marco Cozza, Salvatore Isabella, Paola Di Cuia, Alessandro Cozza, Raffaele Peluso, Vincenzo Cosentino, Loris Barbieri, Maurizio Muzzupappa and Fabio Bruno

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4001-4016; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040220 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4265

Abstract

In the last decades, the popularity of video games has been increasing thanks to their unique ability to engage their audience and create empathy. Among them, serious games have additional purposes besides entertainment, such as learning and behaviour change. Serious games, in fact, have been successfully applied to different fields, including education, health, tourism, and cultural heritage. In this context, the paper describes a novel serious game developed for increasing awareness and promoting the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH). In particular, the paper focuses on the Dive in the Past Serious Game which allows users to simulate a virtual dive into the Mediterranean Sea to explore accurate and life-sized 3D reconstructions of underwater archaeological sites. The purpose of the game is twofold: to engage diver and non-diver tourists into a virtual interactive exploration of underwater sites through digital storytelling and challenges; to increase awareness and knowledge on Mediterranean UCH. This work has been carried out in the context of the MeDryDive project, an EU co-funded under the COSME Programme, which aims to create personalized dry dive experiences for the promotion of Mediterranean UCH sites as distinctive tourism destinations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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28 pages, 3260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable and Resilient Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) in Remote Mediterranean Islands: A Methodological Framework

by Dionisia Koutsi and Anastasia Stratigea

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 3469-3496; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040192 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3076

Abstract

The impacts of mass tourism and COVID-19 crisis demonstrate the need for healthy, peaceful, and authentic recreation options, giving prominence to emerging destinations, such as remote Mediterranean islands. These, although endowed with exquisite land and underwater cultural heritage (UCH), are confronted with insularity drawbacks. However, the exceptional land and especially UCH, and the alternative tourism forms these can sustain, e.g., diving tourism, are highly acknowledged. The focus of this paper is on the power of participation and participatory planning in pursuing UCH preservation and sustainable management as a means for heritage-led local development in remote insular regions. Towards this end, the linkages between participation and (U)CH management from a policy perspective—i.e., the global and European policy scenery—and a conceptual one—cultural heritage cycle vs. planning cycle—are firstly explored. These, coupled with the potential offered by ICT-enabled participation, establish a framework for respective participatory cultural planning studies. This framework is validated in Leros Island, Greece, based on previous research conducted in this distinguishable insular territory and WWII battlefield scenery. The policy and conceptual considerations of this work, enriched by Leros evidence-based results, set the ground for featuring new, qualitative and extrovert, human-centric and heritage-led, developmental trails in remote insular communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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17 pages, 5213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Innovative and State of the Art Public Access Management of Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage

by Timmy Gambin, Maja Sausmekat and Darko Kovacevic

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 3365-3381; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040187 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2381

Abstract

The obligation to preserve underwater cultural heritage is a core principle of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. A key element of this obligation is a balance of scientific research, protection, and the promotion of responsible access to underwater cultural heritage sites. Such a balance requires the setting up of a network of communication between the tourism and heritage sectors on the one hand and the maritime and diving communities on the other hand. A variety of approaches have been developed to promote responsible access to underwater cultural heritage sites, and since the vast majority of the public does not dive, this also includes the development of virtual access. In Malta, maritime archaeology can be traced to humble and sporadic beginnings in the 1950s. The following decades brought a growing interest in diving activities and a rising number of diving schools and clubs. Whilst Malta has today established itself as a diving tourism destination, responsible access to underwater cultural heritage sites was not always entrenched in dive operations or institutionally recognized. The protection and management of underwater cultural heritage has recently been firmly established within Heritage Malta, the national agency for museums, conservations, and cultural heritage. This paper is intended to outline the trajectory of Malta’s underwater cultural heritage management and to present the innovative and state of the art public access system that is managed by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit within Heritage Malta. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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14 pages, 6690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Discovery to Public Consumption: The Process of Mapping and Evaluating Underwater Cultural Heritage in Malta

by Timmy Gambin, Alberto Bravo-Morata Rodríguez and Maja Sausmekat

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 2732-2745; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040154 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2205

Abstract

The in situ promotion and preservation of underwater cultural heritage sites is one of the main ideas of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. Currently, most shipwrecks are found in water shallower than the 50 m contour. The continued technological advances and increases in technical diving and deep-water exploration point towards a shift in this statistic, which is set to increase exponentially in the not-too-distant future. Thus, it is imperative to look at ways in which such directives can be implemented. This paper will highlight the synergy between existing remote sensing technologies and the management of underwater cultural heritage with examples of on-going research projects, such as Malta’s approach to surveying and implementing a scoring system for historic wreck sites based on local and global considerations of historic and natural conditions of site elements. Such an approach allows for the scaling of sites based on a number of parameters and provides instructive information for the creation of management strategies. The intention here is to demonstrate how large-scale remote sensing surveys can make major contributions to site management, which, in turn, facilitates the decision-making process in terms of how and what information is transmitted to divers and members of the public. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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15 pages, 820 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Underwater Cultural Heritage as an Engine for Social, Economic and Cultural Development. State of Research at the University of Cadiz (Andalusia, Spain)

by Carlota Pérez-Reverte Mañas, Felipe Cerezo Andreo, Pablo López Osorio, Raúl González Gallero, Luis Mariscal Rico and Alicia Arévalo González

Heritage 2021, 4(4), 2676-2690; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040151 - 26 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3836

Abstract

Public access to underwater and maritime cultural heritage has proven to have a very positive effect on the local economy. This type of heritage is very attractive for the cultural tourism sector in general and for active and diving tourism. The Nautical and Underwater Archeology Line of the University of Cadiz, within the framework of the TIDE Project (Interreg Atlantic Area) and Herakles Project (FEDER-UCA18-107327) have been working on the enhancement of maritime and underwater heritage through the application of new technologies. In this paper, we will present the advances in the project in the Strait of Gibraltar, based on the first phase of scientific analysis and on the definition of a common working methodology that has resulted in a toolkit for the development of tourism activities linked to the MCH and UCH. Pilot activities under development are focused on accessible underwater heritage routes, VR applications to create Dry Dive experiences and the streaming of underwater archaeological works, thanks to a bottom-surface acoustic communication buoy. Results show that these types of outreach solutions and, by extension, of tourism application, must be preceded by a rigorous archaeological research process, a study of the target audience and the evaluation of the carrying capacity of the sites, to avoid falling into the mercantilisation or deterioration of the UCH. On the other hand, virtual or indirect access solutions are very useful, but always through the correct interpretation of the heritage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dive in Blue Growth – Protection and Promotion of Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites)

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