This book focuses on innovative strategies to manage and build software systems for generating new knowledge from large archaeological data sets The book also reports on two case studies carried out in real-world scenarios within the Cultural Heritage setting. The book presents an original conceptual framework for developing software solutions to assist the knowledge generation process in connection with large archaeological data sets and related cultural heritage information— a context in which the inputs are mainly textual sources written in freestyle, i.e. without a predetermined, standard structure. Following an in-depth exploration of recent works on the knowledge generation process in the above-mentioned context and IT-based options for facilitating it, the book proposes specific new techniques capable of capturing the structure and semantics implicit in such textual sources, and argues for using this information in the knowledge generation process. The main result is the development of a conceptual framework that can accommodate textual sources and integrate the information included in them into a software engineering framework. The said framework is meant to assist cultural heritage professionals in general, and archaeologists in particular, in both knowledge extraction and the subsequent decision-making process.

This book covers the topic of discourse and argumentation in archaeology with an aim to serve the archaeology community. The book presents discourse and argument analysis approaches and techniques in an affordable manner and applied to archaeological situations. It focuses on techniques and approaches that can be applicable to multiple situations, periods and cultures. The book begins with an introduction to discourse and argumentation analysis as a general field and also as an auxiliary technique to archaeology. The work includes conceptual applications, ranging from causality, ontological connections, vagueness, social production of discourse and public debates. The work also devotes a section to computational approaches and describes the specifics of some well-known families of algorithms such as lexical processing, information extraction or sentiment analysis. The conclusion comments on the future and which reflects on the previous chapters and discusses how the presented techniques and approaches should be adapted or improved for easier and more powerful application to archaeology. Contributing authors bring perspectives from archaeology, linguistics, and computer science.

21 papers present a holistic perspective on the research and public value of the site of Jericho – an iconic site with a long and impressive history stretching from the Epipalaeolithic to the present day. Covering all aspects of archaeological work from past to present and beyond, they re-evaluate and assess the legacy of this important site.

Today, online technologies are at the core of most fields of engineering and society as a whole . This book discusses the fundamentals, applications and lessons learned in the field of online and remote engineering, virtual instrumentation, and other related technologies like Cross Reality, Data Science & Big Data, Internet of Things & Industrial Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, Cyber Security, and M2M & Smart Objects. Since the first Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation (REV) conference in 2004, the event has focused on the use of the Internet for engineering tasks, as well as the related opportunities and challenges. In a globally connected world, interest in online collaboration, teleworking, remote services, and other digital working environments is rapidly increasing. In this context, the REV conferences discuss fundamentals, applications and experiences in the field of Online and Remote Engineering as well as Virtual Instrumentation. Furthermore, the conferences focus on guidelines and new concepts for engineering education in higher and vocational education institutions, including emerging technologies in learning, MOOCs & MOOLs, and open resources. This book presents the proceedings of REV2020 on “Cross Reality and Data Science in Engineering” which was held as the 17th in series of annual events. It was organized in cooperation with the Engineering Education Transformations Institute and the Georgia Informatics Institutes for Research and Education and was held at the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia in Athens (GA), USA, from February 26 to 28, 2020.

This two-volume set LNCS 11196 and LNCS 11197 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Digital Heritage, EuroMed 2018, held in Nicosia, Cyprus, in October/November 2018. The 21 full papers, 47 project papers, and 29 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 537 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on 3D Digitalization, Reconstruction, Modeling, and HBIM; Innovative Technologies in Digital Cultural Heritage; Digital Cultural Heritage –Smart Technologies; The New Era of Museums and Exhibitions; Digital Cultural Heritage Infrastructure; Non Destructive Techniques in Cultural Heritage Conservation; E-Humanities; Reconstructing the Past; Visualization, VR and AR Methods and Applications; Digital Applications for Materials Preservation in Cultural Heritage; and Digital Cultural Heritage Learning and Experiences.

Protected Area Governance and Management presents a compendium of original text, case studies and examples from across the world, by drawing on the literature, and on the knowledge and experience of those involved in protected areas. The book synthesises current knowledge and cutting-edge thinking from the diverse branches of practice and learning relevant to protected area governance and management. It is intended as an investment in the skills and competencies of people and consequently, the effective governance and management of protected areas for which they are responsible, now and into the future. The global success of the protected area concept lies in its shared vision to protect natural and cultural heritage for the long term, and organisations such as International Union for the Conservation of Nature are a unifying force in this regard. Nonetheless, protected areas are a socio-political phenomenon and the ways that nations understand, govern and manage them is always open to contest and debate. The book aims to enlighten, educate and above all to challenge readers to think deeply about protected areas—their future and their past, as well as their present. The book has been compiled by 169 authors and deals with all aspects of protected area governance and management. It provides information to support capacity development training of protected area field officers, managers in charge and executive level managers.

This volume examines evolving trends and transnational perspectives on public interpretation of archaeological and cultural heritage, as well as levels of communication, from local to regional, national and international. It is presented in the context of the evolution of cultural heritage studies from the 20th century “expert approach” to the 21st century “people-centered approach,” with public participation and community involvement at all phases of the decision-making process. Our premise is not just about bringing in community members to be partners in decision making processes; some projects are being initiated by the community--not the heritage experts. In some instances, community members are central in initiating and bringing about change rather than the archaeologists or heritage specialists. In several cases in the book, descendants take the lead in changing heritage narratives. The book addresses several central questions: Do these actions represent new emphases, or more fundamental pedagogical shifts, in interpretation? Are they resulting in more effective interpretation in facilitating emotional and intellectual connections and meanings for audiences? Are they revealing silenced histories? Can they contribute to, or help mediate, dialogues among a diversity of cultures? Can they be shared experiences as examples of good practice at national and international levels? What are the interpretation and presentation challenges for the future? Cultural heritage, as an expression of a diversity of cultures, can be an important mediator between pasts and futures. In the past, people in power from the dominant ethnic, racial, socio-economic, gender, and religious groups determined the heritage message. Minorities were often silenced; their participation in the building and growth of a city, county, or nation’s history was overlooked. New philosophical/methodological trends in public interpretation are reshaping the messages delivered at archaeological/cultural heritage sites worldwide. The role of the experts, as well as the participatory engagement of audiences and stakeholders are being redefined and reassessed. This book explores these processes, their results and effects on the future.