Management Science seminar: Tools and Methods for Multi-Dimensional Landscape Assessment

Event Date: 26 November 2025

Speaker: Sebastiano Barbieri, Polytechnic University of Turin.

Time: 1.00-2.00pm

Location: Strathclyde Business School, SW108

Cultural landscapes included in the UNESCO World Heritage List have outstanding universal value (OUV), but their management requires addressing complex social, economic, and environmental challenges. This research proposes a methodological framework to guide the selection of the most suitable decision support tool for both candidate sites and those already included in the World Heritage List.

The study begins with an examination of existing literature and the spatial and political context in which these sites operate. This makes it possible to outline the main challenges they face and the methods and tools useful to address them. What emerges from the literature is that assessments are often handled with traditional or fragmented approaches, so this research looks at more advanced and integrated methods - such as multicriteria analysis and spatial analyses supported by GIS - that offer a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of these landscapes. The aim is to provide researchers, professionals, and public authorities with a clearer and more structured framework for choosing and applying evaluation methods that truly support solid and context-aware decisions in the long-term management of UNESCO cultural landscapes.

Published: 18 November 2025