Digital preservation and development of architectural heritage from a virtual perspective: a systematic review

Abstract Over the past decade, virtual technology has become a key tool in architectural heritage conservation and communication, producing a large but fragmented body of research. This study aims to systematically organize this knowledge base, analyze research trends, and identify challenges and opportunities for future investigations. Employing a systematic review methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches, we analyzed 328 journal articles sourced from the Scopus and the WOS database. Our findings indicate that future research directions in architectural heritage, in the context of virtual technology, primarily concentrate on three key areas: (i) the development of adaptive management system paradigms that integrate multiple technologies and methodologies; (ii) the construction of multi-scenario relationships between virtual technology and physical architectural heritage; and (iii) the exploration of user-centered architectural heritage experiences. These insights provide a roadmap for advancing the field of digital preservation in architectural heritage studies.