Digital Heritage as a Pillar of Urban Resilience: A Cross-National Study of Digital Humanities in Post-Disaster and Rapid Urbanization Contexts

Abstract:

This study investigates the role of digital humanities (DH) in safeguarding urban digital heritage (UDH) and enhancing urban resilience across 15 countries, focusing on post-disaster recovery and rapid urbanization scenarios. By analyzing 42 DH projects implemented between 2021–2024, the research identifies four core functions of DH: UDH documentation and preservation, community-centered disaster response, adaptive urban planning, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Findings indicate that DH-enabled UDH initiatives strengthen cities’ social, cultural, and physical resilience, though effectiveness is mediated by institutional support, community engagement, and technological adaptability. The paper proposes a resilience-oriented UDH framework to guide cross-sector collaboration in diverse urban contexts.