Religious Cultural Heritage: Diagnostics, Documentation and Valorization

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65408/cird868863

Keywords:

Religion, Culture, Heritage, Informatics, Diagnostics, Documentation, Valorization, Conservation, Archaeology

Abstract

Religious cultural heritage encompasses sacred architecture, archaeological sites, monuments, manuscripts, artworks, music, rituals, and living traditions that embody humanity’s diverse spiritual and cultural experiences. Its preservation requires interdisciplinary approaches integrating scientific diagnostics, digital documentation, conservation practices, and Heritage Informatics. This collection, Religious Cultural Heritage: Diagnostics, Documentation, and Valorization, examines how technologies such as non-invasive imaging, laser scanning, photogrammetry, LiDAR, building information modelling, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and digital archives support the investigation, recording, conservation, and interpretation of religious heritage. Its contributions explore diverse contexts, including religious music, medieval madrasas, Buddhist traditions, prehistoric landscapes, post-Byzantine monasteries, Gothic epigraphy, and digital knowledge systems. Together, they demonstrate the potential of technological innovation to improve documentation, knowledge access, and public engagement while addressing challenges of authenticity, sustainability, and cultural continuity. The volume advocates responsible valorization grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical practice, and community participation, ensuring that heritage remains a meaningful resource for future generations.

Author Biographies

  • Olimpia Niglio, University of Pavia

    Prof. Olimpia Niglio is a Professor of Architectural Restoration and Cultural Heritage at the University of Pavia, Italy. She serves as President of ICOMOS-PRERICO (International Scientific Committee on Places of Religion and Ritual) and is a former Vice President of the Asian Cultural Landscape Association (ACLA), which has an international network spanning Korea, Japan, India, and Italy. She is also President of the International Scientific Committee of EdA – Esempi di Architettura, based in Rome, and International President of RWYC (Reconnecting With Your Culture), an international cultural and educational initiative associated with European cultural heritage programmes. Furthermore, she serves as Vice-Chairman of the Heritage Informatics Advisory Committee (HIAC) of the Centre for Informatics Research and Development (CIRD), Thiruvananthapuram, India. Her scholarly output comprises 774 publications, including journal articles, books, and edited volumes (Source: IRIS University of Pavia, CINECA). Her research focuses on the history of architecture, cultural landscapes, heritage conservation, and sacred landscapes, exploring cultural and architectural connections between the Far West and the Far East.

  • Gireesh Kumar T K, Banaras Hindu University

    Gireesh Kumar T K is a faculty member in the Department of Library and Information Science at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Under the Global Experience Faculty Program (GEFP) and BHU’s Institution of Eminence initiative, he served as a Visiting Professor and Lead Researcher at the University of Pavia, Italy, focusing on interdisciplinary applications in civil engineering and architecture. He is also a course instructor for the NPTEL–SWAYAM platform under India’s Ministry of Education. He represents India on the editorial board of e-LIS and holds a PhD from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, specializing in open-source software. His professional excellence has been recognized with the Best Young Teacher Award (2021) and the Young Librarian Award (2018) from the Madras Library Association. With a portfolio of over 60 scholarly publications, his research expertise encompasses Heritage Informatics, Cultural Heritage Information Systems, and Digital Humanities.

References

Donatella Fiorani (2009). Restauro e tecnologie in architettura, Roma, Carocci Editore.

Giorgio Torraca (2002). Lezioni di scienza e tecnologia dei materiali per il restauro dei monumenti, Roma, Università La Sapienza.

Gireesh Kumar T. K. and Olimpia Niglio (2025). Cultural Informatics: Challenges and Prospects. Rome: Aracne Editrice.

Mauro Matteini e Arcangelo Moles (1990). Scienza e restauro. Metodi d’indagine, Firenze, Nardini Editore, 1990

Olimpia Niglio (2004). Tecnologie diagnostiche per la conservazione dei beni architettonici, Padova, Il Prato Editore, 2004

Olimpia Niglio (2022). Regenerating Cultural Religious Heritage. Intercultural Dialogue on Places of Religion and Rituals, Singapore, Springer Nature.

Olimpia Niglio (ed.) (2026). Ereditare il patrimonio culturale religioso. Lomello e la Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Roma, Aracne Editrice.

Paul Schafer. (2026). The Cultural Age: Heart, Soul, and Centre of the World. Rock’s Mills, ON, Canada: Rock’s Mills Press.

18th-century Bishop’s Chapel, Archibishopric of Lucca. Photo by: Olimpia Niglio, October 2026

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Published

2026-11-08

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2026): Religious Cultural Heritage: Diagnostics, Documentation and Valorization

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Olimpia Niglio, Gireesh Kumar T K

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