Digital Heritage from a Socio-Technical Systems Perspective: Integrated Case Analysis and Framework Development
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Digital heritage (DH) research serves as a bridge between technological applications and broader cultural, social, and policy issues. A comprehensive understanding of DH requires the integration of multiple fields. To address this, this work applies a socio-technical systems (STS) perspective to DH as a strategy to bridge the technological and social aspects. It first examines how DH functions as STSs, analyses the dynamic interactions between technological and social subsystems, and explains the need to achieve joint optimisation to tackle the complexity of DH research. Second, a comparative analysis of six STS models is conducted, using the Venice Time Machine project as a representative case, to explore both the potential and limitations of STSs as a theoretical framework for DH. Third, STS theory is applied to emphasise that the approach needs to incorporate cultural expression, technological feasibility, diverse stakeholder interests, and long-term adaptability in order to address the complexity of current DH challenges. Finally, an STS-DH framework is proposed to guide the design, implementation and evaluation of DH projects using the elements identified through the present analysis. This work extends STS theory applications to cultural heritage digitisation; provides stakeholders with new practical tools; recognises the lack of empirical research in this field and highlights the need for further research.
Source: Heritage
Authors: Junwen Lu, Guillermo García-Badell, Joan B. Rodriguez
Institution: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,930
OpenAlex ID: W4413796002