Mapping a dragon : using GIS software Arches to document intangible cultural heritage in Pokfulam Village, Hong Kong

Abstract

Proper documentation plays a key role in the conservation of cultural heritage. Methods of recording and inventorying information have evolved significantly over the past decades, influencing not only how heritage is documented, but also for what purpose. Technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionized the way cultural heritage is understood by allowing multiple elements to be viewed simultaneously, thus condensing space and time into easily read digital maps. Relationships between different cultural resources can be seen in the context of their surroundings, and this proximity may result in new understandings of local values and spatial arrangements. One GIS system, Arches, developed jointly by the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the World Monuments Fund (WMF), has the potential to enhance the GIS heritage database experience. Designed to be open-source, standards-based, and widely-accessible, Arches offers a powerful foundational system for any heritage inventory. Currently however, the software does not yet account for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). It is the intention of this dissertation to review the possibility of including ICH within a GIS software such as Arches. Research areas include the nature of ICH and the intentions of virtual databases. Consideration will be given as to how to translate intangible culture into representational digital displays. Lastly, a pilot study will test these theories against the Arches software. To conduct this pilot study, one sample ICH is chosen – the Fire Dragon Dance of Pokfulam Village, Hong Kong, which will be documented in a Hong Kong Heritage website using the Arches software. This will be the first attempt within Hong Kong to geospatially map Intangible Cultural Heritage. The objective of this study is to assess the merit of an intangible heritage component within Arches for potential future software development that encapsulates a more holistic representation of cultural heritage.