Digitalization as a tool for Redevelopment – The Finiq case

Finiq, a rural town in the south of Albania, is experiencing a major demographic crisis. The lack of economic opportunities and difficult access to services discourage people from settling there. The various problems that characterise Finiq are mainly is isolation as it's difficult to reach it; the lack of identity due to depopulation and the lack of economic activities; the poor development and preservation of historical heritage as well as the deterioration of the landscape due to climate change and unsustainable human activities. Intervention in the landscape and cultural heritage can play a crucial role in mitigating these problems. Creating connecting paths, parks, rest areas, restoring historical buildings and monuments, together with the development of cultural programmes, could on the one hand provide Finiq residents with a sense of Identity and belonging to the area thus contributing to the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage; on the other hand, stimulate tourism and investments which would be beneficial to the local economy. Digitalisation, in particular the use of blockchain technology, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (loT) could further mitigate these issues. Blockchain can be used for the provision of a secure and transparent register of historical and cultural heritage, thus facilitating access to information and knowledge about this heritage by citizens and tourists. At the same time, BIM can digitally represent the various areas of the city for easier and more timely planning of interventions in the landscape, built environment and cultural heritage. Creating a Digital Twin of the city of Finiq allows the different stakeholders to collaborate and exchange detailed and up-to-date information on the city's infrastructure and heritage, thus ensuring the quality of interventions and better management of the heritage itself. loT, through sensor technology, would enable the collection of real-time data on the state of preservation of cultural heritage and the use of resources. The data collected and exchanged with and certified by a blockchain platform would increase transparency and citizen participation in cultural heritage management. Furthermore, loT can provide information on weather conditions and the impact of human activities on cultural heritage, serving as a useful tool for informed, datadriven decisions towards heritage conservation and enhancement. In summary, digitisation, in particular the proposed technologies, could prevent the deterioration of cultural heritage, promote its knowledge and optimise the management of resources while promoting sustainable development. The creation of digital management systems for heritage and tourism activities is envisaged. However, the use of such technologies presents some barriers including the lack of adequate technological infrastructure and the need to train people involved in the use of such tools. The redevelopment of Finiq requires a balance between using the technology and understanding its limitations while analysing the needs and concerns of the community.