VGI to enhance minor historic centres and their territorial cultural heritage

Abstract

The advent of Web 2.0 and the development of information and communication technologies represent an opportunity to reduce the spatial distances and enhance fast access to any type of information. In particular, in recent years, the spread of Smart Mobile Applications and an increasing accessibility to social networks has provoked a growth of exchanged information and shared knowledge. Among the multiple applications, for spatial planning disciplines, it is interesting those related to the city and to urban and regional development's processes. The processes of e-planning and e-participation for enhancing minor historic centers and their territorial cultural heritage have a particular interest. This paper will try to understand what are the new strategies for development and enhancement of cultural territorial systems through the use of these tools and what are the perspectives for development. In particular, in the first part of the work we try to understand what are the new tools available for the construction of knowledge and the enhancement of cultural heritage, while in the second part we define possible uses for these tools and why these technologies can be an opportunity for minor historic centers and their surrounding landscapes. Finally, in the last part we bring the reader's attention to a series of international case studies of particular interest in order to understand whether these new tools can be an effective support for decision-making processes and for the preparation of plans and projects of regeneration and enhancement of minor historic centers and their territorial cultural heritage. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.