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Digital Heritage as a Catalyst for Urban Circular Economy: A Cross-National Study of Cultural Preservation and Resource Circularity

Received: 10 December 2025
Published: 08 December 2025

Abstract

This study explores the role of digital humanities (DH) and urban digital heritage (UDH) in advancing urban circular economy (UCE) across 18 countries, focusing on three core UCE pillars: resource reuse, low-carbon transition, and circular governance. By analyzing 48 DH projects implemented between 2021–2025, the research identifies five synergistic mechanisms through which UDH enables circularity: cultural heritage-driven resource optimization, digital documentation of traditional circular practices, participatory circular governance via UDH platforms, low-carbon preservation technologies, and circular economy (CE) value creation through heritage digitization. Findings reveal that context-adaptive DH initiatives integrate cultural preservation with resource efficiency, though effectiveness is mediated by policy integration (e.g., national CE strategies), technological adaptability, and cross-sector collaboration. The paper proposes a UDH-UCE Integration Framework to guide inclusive, culturally sensitive circular urban development.

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