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Rock art CARE: A cross-platform mobile application for crowdsourcing heritage conservation data for the safeguarding of open-air rock art

Mark Turner (School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Stephen Dowsland (School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Aron Mazel (School of Arts & Cultures, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Myra Giesen (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

ISSN: 2044-1266

Article publication date: 12 April 2018

Issue publication date: 13 November 2018

230

Abstract

Purpose

Crowdsourcing heritage information has enormous potential to help gather data needed to make decisions over the deployment of resources and heritage conservation funding. Taking advantage of the rapid proliferation of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, packed with sensors to record data about the real world, and the global growth of mobile app stores, reaching potential crowdsourcing volunteers is easier than ever before. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a mobile application known as Rock Art CARE (condition assessment risk evaluation) to crowdsource heritage conservation data, in the context of rock art conservation.

Design/methodology/approach

As with conservation efforts of any kind, accurate information is vital to make informed triage decisions over where to route effort, resources and funding. The Rock Art CARE application is a cross-platform mobile application for crowdsourcing information about rock art carvings, where the collated data are stored in a central location for access by different stakeholders.

Findings

The paper goes on to detail the web portal with its application programming interface and database schema, and how the collected data are passed on to policy and decision makers to aid in the identification and conservation of the carvings most at risk.

Originality/value

The paper presents a method of harnessing common technology to forge a link between the mobile devices of the general public and key stakeholders responsible for the preservation of the UK’s rock art.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Science and Heritage Programme (AH/K006320/1). Thanks are due to following people who have worked on the CARE project: Professor David Graham, Peter Lewis and Dr Patricia Warke. The authors also acknowledge the public participants in CARE workshops and the app testers.

Citation

Turner, M., Dowsland, S., Mazel, A. and Giesen, M. (2018), "Rock art CARE: A cross-platform mobile application for crowdsourcing heritage conservation data for the safeguarding of open-air rock art", Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 420-433. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-09-2017-0064

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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