Research status and development direction of smart heritage: a bibliometric review (1994-2024)

Abstract

Smart heritage, an emerging and sustainable paradigm, utilises technology to conserve and enhance cultural heritage. Despite integration into smart city development, full implementation remains unrealised. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the status and trends of smart heritage research, explore the development direction of smart heritage, bridge existing knowledge gaps, and guide its integration into smart city development. This study employs a bibliometric analysis method, supported by machine algorithms, to obtain scientific and quantifiable results. The study utilises the bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace 6.2R6 to analyze 981 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection, covering 1994 to 2024. We observe a notable increase in scholarly output over time, especially in smart cities and digital cultural strategies, where smart heritage has emerged as a research hotspot across various disciplines and domains. Smart heritage crosses three stages: digital technology application, technology integration, and multidisciplinary integration, showcasing diverse technological applications, service scenarios, and application domains. Moving forward, we must prioritize a comprehensive research agenda, including theoretical constructs, smart cultural infrastructure, robust policy, public engagement, and expanded application realms. Additionally, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between international entities and driving technological innovation is vital for promoting the sustainable development of cultural heritage.

Keywords

• smart heritage
• smart city
• bibliometric review
• sustainable development