Assessment of UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites Vulnerability through Multicriteria Analysis

Recognizing the inestimable value of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites for future generations, it is necessary to be aware of their vulnerability to multi-risks in the context of global climate change and the growing interest and engagement of citizens and stakeholders.

Romania is home to nine categories of cultural heritage sites (CHSs) – the Horezu Monastery, the Churches of Moldavia, the Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania, the Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains, the Wooden Churches of Maramureş, the Historic Centre of Sighişoara, the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape, the Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu, and the Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia.

This work has been partially developed in the frame of two projects: 10101/2024-UB SPAH, funded by the University of Bucharest, which emphasizes sustainable and participatory activities in heritage-aware communities facing geographical risks, and 395080/2024 GeoAlliance, titled “Driving Sustainable Urban Futures:  A Romanian-Norwegian Innovation Geophysical Alliance for Green Transition and SMART City Development”. Supported by the EEA and Norway Grants, the latest project provided geophysical data for representative sampling urban of cultural heritage sites, underscoring the significant role that geophysics play in enhancing urban resilience. Results were integrated within a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to assess the vulnerability of CHSs in Romania to both natural and man-made hazards. To apply the multicriteria analysis of CHSs vulnerability, a GIS database was developed with both natural and human-induced processes such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, that threaten the cultural heritage proprieties, being identified, mapped and ranked. This was followed by mapping the multi-hazard susceptibility features across the nine categories of the UNESCO World CHSs. The next step involved inventorying the specific attributes of each cultural heritage site that contribute to their vulnerability to various hazards and impact their resilience.  The vulnerability assessment considered several intrinsic factors that can increase exposure to hazards. Key factors include the age and the height of the structure, the elevation and the level of insulation, the used construction materials, and foundation depth. Additionally, the effectiveness of modern infrastructure, especially the underground water pipes and sewage performance, along with shallow hydrogeological and geophysical induced changes, significantly influences their risk. Other important considerations included visitor numbers and the degree of degradation of the construction, as well as ongoing consolidation and renovation efforts.

The findings from multicriteria analysis revealed the most susceptible cultural heritage sites to both natural and human-induced hazards. The paper emphasizes that although many heritage sites are highly exposed to multiple hazards, some of these sites have lower vulnerability despite being susceptible to these threats. Additionally, certain hazard processes that initially seem harmless to the CHSs are long-term damage. The results of the present work can serve as a valuable resource for site managers, enabling them to better understand where the vulnerabilities of their managed site reside and to intervene with higher efficiency in day-to-day monitoring and maintenance. Additionally, the insights can assist central and local authorities in comprehending financial requirements and allocating the necessary budget for protection and management efforts in order to strengthen CHSs protection.