Mapping Heritage Engagement in Historic Centres Through Social Media Insights and Accessibility Analysis

Leticia Serrano-Estrada (), Pablo Martí, Álvaro Bernabeu-Bautista and Mariana Huskinson
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Leticia Serrano-Estrada: Urban Design and Regional Planning Unit, Building Sciences and Urbanism Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Pablo Martí: Urban Design and Regional Planning Unit, Building Sciences and Urbanism Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Álvaro Bernabeu-Bautista: Urban Design and Regional Planning Unit, Building Sciences and Urbanism Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Mariana Huskinson: Urban Design and Regional Planning Unit, Building Sciences and Urbanism Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: Accessibility to cultural heritage is crucial for fostering inclusive urban environments and preserving historical and cultural identities. This study addresses the gap between heritage conservation and urban accessibility with two objectives: (1) to identify tangible and intangible cultural heritage elements based on user preferences from the social media platform Foursquare, and (2) to assess the impact of accessibility on public engagement using Space Syntax analysis. The historic centres of Valencia and Alicante, Spain, were chosen as case studies for their rich cultural heritage and dynamic urban contexts. A novel urban cultural heritage (UCH) taxonomy was developed to categorise heritage elements into buildings, public spaces, elements, and events/festivities. Findings indicated that social media data offer valuable insights that complement official heritage catalogues, providing a richer understanding of cultural assets and public engagement. The results showed that higher public engagement was concentrated (1) in and around key heritage sites, (2) in heritage sites that combine cultural significance with multifunctional public use, (3) in public spaces and urban nodes that are highly accessible and well connected to the urban structure, (4) in areas where clusters of heritage elements are located close together, and (5) around sites of architectural prominence and cultural significance. This emphasised that accessibility is as important as historical significance for attracting public interest. The study suggested that improving accessibility and integrating social media data with traditional methods can enhance heritage conservation strategies and support sustainable urban development by fostering stronger identity values within cities.

Keywords: urban cultural heritage; social media data; accessibility analysis; historic city centres (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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