Problems of Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Context of Urbanisation and Global Changes

Abstract

The unprecedented intensity of urbanisation processes and global climate change creates complex threats to cultural heritage sites. The purpose of the study is to determine the real impact of urbanisation processes and global changes on the state of cultural heritage sites in Kazakhstan to form scientifically based approaches to their protection. The methodology is based on an integrated approach using field surveys from 27 cultural heritage sites, conducting 16 expert interviews, analysing 8 city master plans, and using geographic information systems to map the spatial distribution of threats. As a result, three key categories of threats to cultural heritage were identified: anthropogenic (commercial construction with a prevalence of 81.5%), ecological (continental climate with a prevalence of 74.1%), and socio-economic (insufficient funding with the highest prevalence of 85.2%); it was determined that 77.3% of the custodians of intangible heritage note a narrowing of the scope of non-material practices in the urban environment; it was demonstrated that the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose damage to architectural monuments reduces the detection time of destructive processes by 68%, and biofiltration systems for facade protection reduce the accumulation of pollutants by 42%. The identified patterns justify the need to create a differentiated system of monument protection, an integrated strategy for preserving intangible heritage, and ensure equal access to innovative technologies for different regions. The results are of practical importance for cultural heritage protection authorities, local administrations and urban planners in developing effective strategies for preserving historical and cultural assets in conditions of intensive urbanisation.