Cultural heritage is the legacy of tangible artifacts and intangible features of a group or society that are transferred from past generations, maintained in the present, and granted for future generations to benefit from their advantages (Unesco.org, 2017). In recent years, there is widespread interest in digitizing heritage information for preservation in various countries around the world. Even though the rapid development that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is currently witnessing in the urban field, many heritage buildings suffer from a lack of attention and conservation (Scth.gov.sa, 2020). This paper presents a research approach for creating a holistic heritage digital record system that integrates information about the tangible and intangible aspects of heritage buildings in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this paper is to establish a framework to improve the recording process of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia heritage buildings’ tangible elements and intangible attributes to conserve and promote them locally and internationally in a digital format. This framework will help in seeking to achieve the direction of the vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030 third level goals assigned to the quality of life program in culture and heritage sector (The Quality of Life Program , 2020). Such a framework relies upon the intense digitalization of heritage buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of a holistic digital platform for voluntary public records. This platform will include tangible and intangible data of heritage buildings in KSA for digital documentation, digital reconstruction, and digital dissemination. Such a framework and platform are supported by novel fieldwork techniques such as digital photogrammetry and laser scanning in combination with intangible attributes acquired from archival records and documents from governmental, academic, and local parties. This framework for the future will ensure a flexible repetition of documentation and conservation of a unique data environment to be accessible digitally whenever, wherever, and whatever is needed.
Walaa Taha Ahmad Albouraee is a Lecturer in the interior design department at Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia; and a PhD student in ImaginationLancaster exploring how to create open interactive digital record of tangible elements and intangible attributes information of heritage buildings in Saudi Arabia. Her research interests include intangible and tangible heritage and emerging digital tools such as laser scanner and digital photogrammetry (LIDAR). In 2018, she worked as head of the interior design department and a member of advisory teams for innovation management and entrepreneurship at Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia. In 2016, she has a master’s degree in design with distinction in the field of heritage building information modelling from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK. In 2010, she has a BA degree in interior design with first-class honours from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Her graduation project won the Prince Sultan bin Salman award for urban heritage, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.