Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Contemporary Digital Landscape: A Scoping review of literature on methods and challenges

Abstract

Cultural heritage preservation involves actions to maintain longevity and safeguard values. Recently, its relevance to image analysis, machine intelligence, and computer vision has raised interest in digitization, which enables digital representations and helps preserve knowledge. This study examines digital technologies in cultural heritage development and highlights challenges in literature. A systematic search across Scopus, Google Scholar, and Emerald Insight using terms related to digitization and digital preservation identified 52 relevant studies from over 400 papers. The review found that technologies such as 3D scanning, photogrammetry, GIS, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and digital repositories have advanced documentation, conservation, and accessibility of heritage. However, challenges remain, including obsolescence, resource constraints, ethical and copyright issues, data security, and difficulties with intangible heritage. Digital preservation is a multidimensional, socio-technical process that requires innovation, infrastructure, governance, collaboration, and community engagement to ensure future accessibility.