محمدحسن طالبیان

The convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, or the World Heritage Convention (1972), is now considered the most remarkable international tool to protect and identify the shared heritage of humans. Inscription of a site on the World Heritage List is a function of regulations that are specified by the 1972 World Heritage Convention and its operational guidelines. According to the convention, the member states selected sites within their geographical expanse as nominees to enter the world heritage list according to the regulations of the convention. In the years that followed the formation of the convention, the increasing influence of politics made many countries see the world heritage list as a tool to achieve their political, economic, and cultural goals. Thus, the selection of the sites is now a function of multiple factors that make the process of inscription complicated and, in some cases, costly. The present study aimed to answer the following question: “What factors influence the selection of site processes for inscriptions on the world heritage list?” The goal was to identify the explicit and implicit factors so that more successful and cost-effective decisions could be taken from a domestic policy perspective. As a result, the influential components were identified and explained by a descriptive-analytical investigation of the texts related to the convents and a select group of 10 countries with distinguished performance in the process using content analysis, and their relationships were interpreted. Investigations showed that the factors that influenced the process were placed in three layers: the central layer was the requirements of the convention, the middle layer was the constraints of inscription, and the prioritized themes, and the external layer was the factors that influenced the method of selection adopted by countries that included items ranging from their governmental structure to their macro-scale policies in the international arena (among others).

It has been nearly fifty years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proposed the idea of registering valuable cultural monuments. This idea is still considered an effective policy in many countries because of the notable effect of a registered monument on the surrounding communities in terms of sustainable economic development. One of the motivations for the world inscription of heritage could be the development of the tourism economy. In this regard, the UNESCO logo is used as a commercial brand and marketing tool. Also, in order to increase the number of visitors, the monument is directly promoted. Tourists should receive more offers from the resources that have become a product in that territory. These resources should indicate the uniqueness of the destination and lead to attracting more visitors. UNESCO is an institution that facilitates the creation or stabilization of tourist market destinations through the world heritage brand and the permission to use it. Therefore, it is necessary to study the principal factors of such expenses by tourists to guide the private sector and those who are responsible for the establishment of tourism policies.In the present study, the effect of the world inscription on the number of domestic and foreign tourists in the historical context of Yazd has been investigated. A comparative method and difference-in-difference (DiD) strategy have been used to control the intervening variables. For this purpose, the historic context of another city, Hamadan, was chosen as a comparable competitor. Also, tourist data of the two cities, considered as control (Hamadan) and treatment (Yazd) have been collected from 2009 to 2019. Then, a linear regression model has been used to analyze the collected data of the two cities before and after the world heritage inscription. The main idea in this method is that if two cases showed a similar trend for some years, and at a certain time, a specific event or policy has been implemented only in one case and the trend starts to change, this variation can be attributed to the effects of that event or policy. However, this conclusion can be drawn only by assuming the stability of all other conditions for both cases.According to the results, the inscription of Yazd historic context as a world heritage has been an effective measure to increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists. It can be concluded that the World Heritage Inscription of a city can provide the required coordination between different factors at both the governance and local community levels to improve tourism conditions. At the same time, World Heritage can create a brand that is decisive for hesitant tourists in choosing a destination. In conclusion, it should be also mentioned that the cases which create the synergy between heritage conservation, community development and tourism on their agenda lead to economic growth.This article was derived from the PhD thesis entitled Fundamentals of cultural heritage economy, submitted to the doctorate program of "Restoration and Conservation of Historic Buildings and Fabric", the University of Tehran.

Today, architectural heritage management faces many challenges due to the extent of assets, limited financial resources, development threats and change in concepts and social values. Accordingly, comprehensive principles are essential for integrated management and conservation prioritization. Most developed or developing countries in the region have reached a logical framework for the classification of immovable cultural heritage as an instrument for management and conservation, But in Iran, an independent policy and approach in this field has not been presented yet. This study tries to develop theoretical concepts in the field of classification system by reviewing the constitutions, national guidelines and experiences of countries of the common cultural field of Iran in East and Central Asia. The main question is the types of approaches, Classification levels and how to evaluate the assets in the decision-making process in the countries of the region. Due to the subject, the research approach is qualitative and with the method of documentary study, first, policies and actions are reviewed and regulated and then the content analysis done by descriptive-interpretive and comparative. According to the research findings, achieve an appropriate mechanism to prioritize the level of conservation for the implementation of integrated policies in order to raise awareness of local communities and economic participation, respect the rights of private owners and facilitate future decisions, has been the main aims of classification. Architectural heritage classification in case countries is done with a Managerial- Conservative approach in a specific system. In this process, after comprehensive identification and listing, based on criteria of Cultural Significance, Historical and Architecture importance, Outstanding Values, Uniqueness, Authenticity and Integrity, Aesthetic features and at risk, by the advisory committee in the presence of government officials, experts and stakeholders, level of assets is evaluated and determined. Finally, classification is considered as a tools to explain the management approach and level of conservation.

Iran's unique geographical position, as a crossroad between various Eastern and Western civilizations, has made it a significant land with important routes throughout different historical periods. Caravanserais, which some of them are registered in the UNESCO list of World Heritage, are an important heritage of historic roads. In the route of the Khorasan or Eastern highway, a branch is located in the north of Khorasan. The historical route from Jorjan to Nishapur has been a point of reference since the 4th to 9th centuries. Only a few caravanserais in Iran remain from before the Safavid period. Since chain caravanserais were likely built simultaneously due to their continuous function of providing shelter for travelers, their chain analysis holds a special position in the studies of architectural patterns. In this research, firstly, using interpretive-historical methods, the route, resting places, and caravanserais from the 4th century onwards were identified. In the next step, relying on the theory of Space Syntax and the resulting justified graphs, the spatial relations of these caravanserais were analyzed, and the governing patterns of these relations were interpreted using logical reasoning methods. The findings indicate that the entrance point to the buildings is unique and serves as the main gateway. Hashti or octagonal vestibule serves as a pivotal communication space in the intermediate area. The stable has access through Hashti, and the tower has access through the stable. Hashti is connected to the entrance courtyard. The rooms are arranged around the courtyard, with the iwan (semi-open vaulted hall in the middle of each side of the rectangular courtyard) serving as the pivotal space between the rooms and the courtyard. The distinguishing feature of the buildings is the presence of additional sections such as the stable and their method of connection to Hashti. Thus, while following a unified pattern, the layout of these buildings is unique for each structure, with considerations such as the number of rooms, Hashti, and stable shape.

The formal advisory bodies of the World Heritage Committee (ICOMOS and IUCN) evaluate all the nominations of properties for inscription on the World Heritage List. These evaluations help the World Heritage Committee to decide which properties to inscribe on the world heritage list. However, it is the World Heritage Committee that makes the final decision, which can be contrary to the recommendations of the advisory bodies. Therefore, there may be many properties on the list that have not necessarily been approved by the advisory bodies. The review and technical evaluations carried out by the advisory bodies can reveal deficiencies in the nomination dossiers, which may be overshadowed by the committee’s decisions. Nevertheless, understanding the approach of these bodies and their evaluation methods can be taken into consideration in the preparation of nomination files and avoid heavy costs in the process. The following research offers a review of the Iranian cultural and natural property nominations for inscription on the World Heritage List and analyzes the issues and deficiencies of these nomination files through the lens of the advisory bodies. To carry out this research, all the evaluation reports of the advisory bodies regarding Iran’s World Heritage nomination dossiers have been analyzed using qualitative content analysis. This study found that the main focus ofICOMOS lies on the “justification” section, while IUCN mostly concentrates on “justification” and “management” sections. The review also shows that the main challenges in the evaluation stage are due to a lack of mutual understanding between the nominating State Party and the advisory bodies. In general, the advisory bodies consider the most important issues in Iran’s WH nomination dossiers to be the information provided in the sections of justification (Outstanding Universal Values), conservation, and comparative analysis.

One of the most important international tools for conserving, identifying, and managing humanity's shared heritage is the World Heritage Convention of 1972. This convention is the outcome of years of international efforts to safeguard humanity's shared heritage. Several factors have influenced the processes of the convention over time. These factors aid in understanding the primary purpose of the convention and, eventually, the proper direction for its policies. The present paper presents a descriptive-historical study of the events surrounding the development of the World Heritage Convention through three periods (early twentieth century until World War I, World War I to World War II, and post-World War II until the adoption of the World Heritage Convention in 1972) to identify and explain the factors that influenced it. The findings reveal that conserving humanity's shared heritage has been the basis of all efforts since the convention's adoption. Identification of heritage properties has been at the center of these efforts and has followed three factors: threats, heritage definition, and the link between cultural and natural heritage. According to historical studies, the conservation of this shared heritage is based on three components: each country’s internal conservation structures (including laws and institutions), international conservation bodies, and international financial assistance.

The World Heritage of Gonbad-e Qābus tower, as one of the architectural masterpieces of the Islamic period of Iran, has been exposed to various biological growths and invasions in the open air. This study aims to identify the type of biological agents living on the ancient brick surfaces in Gonbad-e Qābus tower in Gonbad-e kāvus city in Golestan province. In this research, using field observations, in-site macroscopic observations, microscopic methods, and library studies, biological factors were identified and influenced on the brick surface of the Qaboos dome in three parts: foundation, body, and dome. Based on this, the biodeterioration factors were divided into two sampling groups. The first group includes macro-organisms, which was done to prevent damage based on the identification method based on documentation and camera photography. The second group is the sampling of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, microalgae and cyanobacteria, lichens, which are sampled from the brick surface with sterile tweezers and then transferred into the microtube and by the method morphology, culture and microscopy were identified. In general, nine groups of organisms responsible for biodeterioration were identified in this study, among their main groups are bacteria, cyanobacteria and algae, fungi, lichens, mosses and plants, insects and small animals. Macro-organisms increase and decrease with changes in humidity and are therefore effective in the mechanical destruction of substrate components. Among the macro-organisms, plants and mosses were known to be the most important enemies of the existing brick substrate of Gonbad-e Qābus tower. Microorganisms are able to form clones and biofilms on the surface of the brick substrate. They secrete acids that break down the minerals that make up the brick substrate and thus play an important role in the biodeterioration of the building. In general, the bricks of the exterior walls of the building are exposed to the attack of various biological and non-living factors and generally show less resistance to the activities of wear factors. Humidity, temperature and light and urban dust pollution are potential factors in increasing the factors involved in biodeterioration can be discussed in future researches.

The city of Istakhr, located in a distinct natural bed between Rehmat Mountain and Polvar River, is considered the mother city of the Sassanids and the seat of their ancestors. But little information about the architecture and design of this important city is available. The research problem is the ambiguity in the structure of the city of Istakhar due to the lack of remains on the ground, limited and scattered excavations and individual researches. In the framework of pre-Islamic architectural studies in Fars, this research has chosen a mixed method with a qualitative approach. First, the historical sources have been analyzed with the interpretive-historical method, and the excavation reports and new researches based on today’s technologies have been reread in order to extract the hypothetical map of the city. This map shows that the structure of Sassanid city with northwest-southeast direction is in the form of checkered grid in the western part, which follows the natural form of the defensive wall and becomes radial in the corners. The gates are located along the main streets. The Polvar river is a natural barrier in the north, with bridges along the gates. The early Islamic city destroyed the central core of the Sassanid city and was located on top of it. The irregular and compact network is oriented in the north-south direction and is limited by a square surrounding wall. The city center was around the mosque and the bazar was located next to it. A case-by-case comparison of some important elements or features of the city of Istakhr with similar works such as Bishapur has helped to complete the findings. It seems that the seat of Sasanian government or ritual zone is located in the center of the city. The western part contains large-scale Sasanian ritual remains. Outside the city wall, the outskirts of the city are located, and parallel to the corridor of the Polvar River and the slopes of Takht-e-Rostam, gardens and fields have been expanded in combination with architectural works. Therefore, it seems that the city of Istakhar in the Sassanid period displayed the characteristic of a ritual-governmental city and in the early Islamic period, the characteristic of a spontaneous city.

The World Heritage Convention was set up in 1972 and was welcomed by many countries, becoming an international instrument for identifying, preserving, and managing common heritage of mankind. However, after a few years, significant gaps in the World Heritage List emerged due to imbalances in geographical distribution or specific subjects. For instance, Europe, historic cities and religious buildings, and Christianity compared to other parts of the world, other relics, and other religions, respectively, had far many inscriptions. Furthermore, there were far too many historical periods in comparison to the prehistoric period and the twentieth century, and “Elitist” architecture was inscription far too often in comparison to indigenous architecture; in general, traditional and alive cultures were given very few places on the list. Therefore, the World Heritage Committee launched a plan known as the Global Strategy in order to identify and bridge the gaps in the List in an attempt to create a representative, balanced, and credible World Heritage List. In this regard, ICOMOS and IUCN reviewed the World Heritage List using specific methods to identify the gaps. ICOMOS used typological, chronological-regional, and thematic frameworks to analyze the World Heritage List and the Tentative List until 2004. The typological analysis analyzed the properties based on form and structure, just as the World Heritage Committee has done since the World Heritage List was established. ICOMOS classified the world into various regions and identified historical periods in each region using a chronological-regional framework. The relationship between man and his surrounding environment was highlighted in the thematic framework, and his response to his surroundings was analyzed in the formation of tangible properties in historical periods. As a result, after ICOMOS and IUCN presented their reports on the gaps in the World Heritage List to the World Heritage Committee, the Committee imposed a restriction on annual inscription by countries, and countries were asked to identify the gaps in their World Heritage List using the evaluation methods introduced by ICOMOS and IUCN, and propose new nominations with the goal of filling the gaps in the overall list as well as each country's list. Using the ICOMOS's method and focusing on cultural heritage, this study reviewed the World Heritage List and tentative list of Iran to identifying the gaps in the lists. In doing so, all Iranian inscriptions on the World Heritage List as well as Iran's tentative list, were reviewed, and all ICOMOS's classifications were applied based on the information in the case of these works. The analysis in the typological framework was carried out for Iran and the world through analytical comparison of the status of each category in order to make a comparison between Iran's status and the current situation in the world, using the most recent information published by the Committee. The results showed that the World Heritage List of Iran has significant gaps in categories such as natural heritage, transnational and transboundary properties, geographical distribution, and special types of heritage such as industrial heritage, 20th-century heritage, or subjects such as utilizing natural resources, movement of peoples, and developing technologies.

The Medes are known as the first unified and central government of Iran. The historiography of this government faces many uncertainties, but there is no doubt that they were able to establish a unified government in Iran for the first time. The Median period is one of the least well defined periods of Iranian Archeology and Architecture. To speak of Median Art means, first of all, mentioning the huge gaps in our knowledge of Median history. However, architecture in the Medes Dynasty is surrounded with ambiguity due to limited explorations and ambiguous dates. An important part of the Medes architecture is devoted to places of worship. The central shrine of Noushijan Tappe is one of the most important ritual spaces of the Medes, and as a result of excavations and observation of the fillings, it was found that this shrine was sealed without the slightest damage. Further excavations in the territory of the Medes, revealed other sites with the same conditions as Noushijan Tappe. It was believed that these shrines had a similar fate as the central shrine of Noushijan Tappe. In this research, which is based on a descriptive-analytical method and a case study, with the aim of studying architecture from the concept of design to the function of ritual spaces of the Medes, an architectural comparison is made between  the central shrine of  Noushijan in Malayer, Zarbolagh shrine in Aliabad Qom and Ozbaki shrine in Nazarabad, in order to reach a design pattern specific to  these places of worship. The research concludes that most of the religious buildings built at the time of the Medes Empire were blocked during the Achaemenid rule. The Achaemenids only hindered access to the Medes places of worship and did not destroy them. It seems that the (XPh) inscription of Xerxes and the law against atheistic religions in the Achaemenid period caused these shrines to be blocked. We find that these religious buildings used a special architectural pattern and this pattern is repeated in different forms in most of the religious buildings constructed under the rule of the Medes. It is understood that while the function and architectural concepts remain the same in these buildings, each shows a different architectural design. The architects of that period designed the building in such a way that the sacred space is separated from the main building. Not everybody was allowed into the sacred parts, and those who wished to enter had to wait beforehand in a spare room.  Some constructs had a window built in the spare room that gave the person-in-waiting a view to the sacred room.  Unfortunately, some of the religious buildings of this historical period were destroyed after many years, which made it difficult to identify this architectural concept in them. Finally, the paper will highlight similarities between the western shrine of Noshijan Tappe and Vasun stone building in Kahak and Takhcharabad shrine in Birjand and Hajikhan shrine in Famenein with the above sites.

One of the most destructive disasters of cultural heritage that can quickly and widely damage these structures is fire. In recent years, fire accidents have been devastating immovable cultural assets both nationally and internationally. The crucial and irreparable damages of these accidents have emphasized the necessity of considering preventive actions and solutions to deal with the issue of fire in architectural heritage. This research aims to propose guidelines to conserve architectural heritage in fire accidents by applying an analytical approach and based on investigating existing international experiences in this field, along with studying the standards of developed countries. These conservation guidelines can be implemented to conserve architectural heritage before, during, and after fire accidents. Accordingly, the National Museum of Brazil, the Glasgow School of Art (Scotland), the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (France), and the Shuri Palace in Japan are investigated as international experiences of fire accidents in this research. Finally, general guidelines have been proposed for international experiences with a focus on conserving architectural heritage from fire disasters. The results indicate the importance of integrated architectural heritage documentation in all stages of fire accidents in the conservation of architectural structures, including preventive actions, firefighting, and post-fire conservation plan. According to the studies conducted in previous research in the field of cultural heritage protection, international experiences, codes, and instructions, it is necessary to provide two categories of instructions appropriate to the characteristics of each building and the context in which it is well constructed. In the first category, general instructions can be used for all architectural heritage. In this category, basic instructions are used in each historical site. The second category includes instructions that are provided directly depending on the context of the building. In this article, the goal was to provide an introduction to protecting historical monuments against fire in the form of instructions. In the private category of this recipe, it is an obligatory issue to understand each building and its specific condition. Therefore, to have a complete understanding of each building, it is recommended to prepare a database for the building. In the preparation process of the building documentation and registering it in the database, it is possible to know the condition of the building during the fire. This knowledge increases accuracy during the accident and improves the protection measures of the building during the fire. This database also increases the possibility of reconstructing the building after the fire. Also, it can increase the efficiency of reconstruction even more. If there is a lack of documentation, it may not be possible to reconstruct the building. Thus, this study suggests that a database be created for architectural heritage to protect them in such accidents and it is always possible to reduce degradation and reconstruction. The database can contain all maps, historical documents, photographs, videos and registration documents. This data is categorized in a database and provides a comprehensive source of information for any historic building. The database should be available to search in different formats and types.

The present study aimed to provide a conceptual framework of adaptability to the landscape approach in reusing the heritage of Abadan oil industry. This research is based on a mixed method in two phases, qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data were collected through qualitative content analysis of written sources, case study and semi-structured interviews with 21 experts in the field of industrial heritage and landscape. Then, the data were analyzed by the grounded theory method during three stages of open, axial and selective coding and 347 open codes, 28 concepts and 9 categories were extracted. Finally, according to the codes obtained from the written sources, case study and interviews, the theory of industrial heritage adaptability to the landscape approach was presented. To validate the model resulting from this theory, the structural equation modeling approach was used using the partial least squares method in the confirmatory factor analysis phase. Quantitative findings showed that economic, cultural, social, historical, environmental, physical, technological, infrastructure, laws and policy categories have a positive and significant relationship with the adaptability to the landscape approach in reusing the heritage of Abadan oil industry. This study considers the use of landscape approach in the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage as a way to improve the quality of the eco-revelatory that by balancing the man-made environment with nature and ecological functions, it leads to stimulating a sense of appreciation for the natural environment and revealing the natural infrastructure of the city and exposing natural systems to human perception and experience.

The industrial heritage buildings and sites can be a stage for people to meet, which create memorable experiences. Adaptive reuse of such buildings by applying the experience economy can provide more suggestions so that they can be exploited appropriately by designing different experiences.

In the present research, related documents and theories are studied by the lense of logical argumentation strategy. "personal context", "social context" and "physical context" based on the theoretical framework of the research have been emphasized.

The design of experience in Rey Cement factory has been done based on these three components using four realms of Pin and Gilmore. Therefore, proposed uses have been defined according to the principles considered in this research, considering the authenticity of the industrial site and the production of new collective experiences, the result of which is the coexistence of different uses in this site.

The industrial heritage of is the basis for the growth and development. Nowadays, conservation and adaptive reuse of such buildings can be in line with their previous goals in economic development. experience design is one of the newest ways in economics. The results of the research show that experience based design can be a useful tool for heritage conservation. And this research tries to deal with heritage tourism from an experience-based perspective based on the criteria obtained from the conceptual framework of the research. And to better explain the approach, suggestions have been made for the experience-based design of Ray Cement Factory.

Traditional survey and 3D documentation methods of Architectural Heritage are challenging, tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone due to the spatial geometry, ornament, and texture complexity in most of these structures. Recent developments in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) photogrammetry technology have provided a precise, rapid, and cost-effective method to generate accurate 3D models of Architectural Heritage for documentation and conservation operations, individually or in combination other methodologies. This study aims to evaluate the ability of UAV photogrammetry to produce a 3D model of a relatively complex Architectural Heritage. Deir-e Gachin Caravansary is one of the 56 Caravanserais in the Persian Caravanserais file -nominated in the UNESCO World Heritage List- which has specific architectural features chosen for this study. This caravansary is situated on the ancient route from Ray to Isfahan, located in the center of the Kavir National Park. This building bears several structural interventions during the past centuries and witnesses historical phases, from its construction in the Sasanian era to its abandonment and negligence in the late Qajar era, right up to the 21st century, when restored and adaptively reused as a tourism destination. The general workflow of this study contains three steps. The first step involves drawing data acquiring plans. Considering the features and complex characteristics of Deir-e Gachin and the possible presence of obstacles at this site to be surveyed is decided to employ aerial and terrestrial platforms to gathering photogrammetric images. In order to acquire complete documentation of the caravansary for photogrammetric purposes, two right cross flights with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 2 cm are planned. On the other hand, four epochs are determined to acquire terrestrial photogrammetric images. At the second step, the aerial data acquisition of the rooftop and site plan is carried out by a fixed-wing UAV equipped with a non-metric camera. Afterward, two terrestrial photogrammetric processes are applied to acquiring the exterior and central courtyard facades pictures. To be able to record the exact geographic positions of the images, a post-process kinetic (PPK) GPS is attached to the camera during the terrestrial photogrammetric survey. The captured Aerial images are geotagged using the flight logs. The third step is the photogrammetric process to create an integrated and textured 3D model. In this step, aerial and terrestrial images are aligned separately by the software. The outputs of this process were two individual sparse points clouds. Then each aerial and terrestrial dense points clouds are created. Eventually, the aerial and terrestrial meshed surfaces aligned and merged to create an integrated coarse 3D model. After applying texture to the beforehand produced 3D model, the caravansary`s textured model is created. Accuracy evaluation of the result using GCPs shows an accuracy of ±2 cm in the 1:200 scaled 3D model of Deir-e Gachin caravansary. This study demonstrates the high potential of UAV photogrammetry as a fast, accurate, and reliable data acquisition method in producing a detailed exterior 3D model of Architectural Heritage structures, containing high resolution spatial, spectral, and textural information.

Despite the importance, position and high role of the city of Hamadan in the political, economic, social and cultural developments of Iran during the Qajar era, targeted studies that determine the spatial organization and social structure of this city during that period have not been carried out, and there are many questions regarding the nature of the changes in the context. Its history remains unanswered. The current research seeks to answer questions about the transformation and development of the spatial structure of Hamedan city during the Qajar era by relying on written sources, architectural works and archaeological evidence. In order to achieve this goal, while using all the written sources related to this city in the mentioned period, the changes of the urban context and the structural characteristics of its spaces were determined and the factors affecting the growth and development of the city were determined during this period. The result of the research made it clear that due to its ancient background, special geographical location, benefiting from suitable environmental capabilities such as abundant water resources, and also due to its location on the path of important trade-pilgrimage routes in the Qajar period, Hamedan was one of the cities with social and economic importance and status. It has gained merit and accommodates a relatively large population and has attracted the attention of various social groups, especially merchants. Thus, suitable conditions have been created for the construction and discovery of numerous architectural works and monuments with different functions (defense facilities, residential neighborhoods, squares and plazas, markets and caravanserais, mosques, schools, baths, churches, etc.) and the urban space, especially in aspects The south and southeast have developed and expanded significantly.

Protecting and improving values is among the major purposes pursued by cultural heritage conservation and requires a proper understanding of cultural heritage. The Persian Qanat is a valuable heritage inscribed on the World Heritage List. Because of their close ties with human settlements and the environment, Qanats have many values associated with them. Although there are different classifications of heritage value in national and international documents and research findings, little or no research is yet conducted on the values of Persian Qanats, a comprehensive classification, and a theoretical framework that could be applied to conservation practices. This research aims to identify and classify the values of the Persian Qanat and develop a theoretical framework. Three questions were posed in this study: a) What are the principal values of the Persian Qanat? b) How are these values related to the classification of values in national and international literature? c) What are the relationships between these values in the theoretical framework? This study adopts the qualitative approach and content analysis strategy to explore existing research. It later draws on logical reasoning to develop a theoretical framework.  The Persian Qanat was nominated for inscription based on two of the six criteria of the World Heritage Center; however, its true values excel well above those and are associated with the sociocultural context of Iran. Optimal conservation of Qanats calls for an understanding of all these values. According to the findings of this study, seven value groups for the Persian Qanat are presented and defined: aesthetic, sociocultural, economic, technical and engineering, ecological, and functional, and their related sub-categories are also explained.

Cultural economics considers heritage as a form of cultural capital which generates public revenue and creates economic cycle. However, in our country, this issue has been neglected so far and its consequence is the increasing burden of conservation practices for the government and the passivity of the local community to historical monuments. The purpose of this article is to identify potential factors of cultural heritage in improving local economies. After reviewing international documents and well-known theories in this field using the interpretive-qualitative approach and content analysis, five factors are introduced: urban regeneration, investment opportunities, creative and cultural industries, tourism, and job creation. Each of these factors has components that show the strategies of utilizing cultural heritage for sustainable economic development. The introduced factors would be adjusted to any built heritage and its surrounding areas according to the fundamental principles of conservation. This research shows that the sensitive integration of cultural heritage in development strategies and actions is a suitable way for the multifarious utilization of heritage. In this way, the conservation of cultural heritage is not considered an elitist act, but rather a leading contributor to and a driver of sustainable economic development. The proposed framework will be beneficial for policymakers and stakeholders in the cultural heritage arena.

Management and prioritization of architectural heritage conservation in Iran is one of the main challenges of this field due to lack of financial resources. Since the enactment of the Preservation of National Monuments and Antiquities law (1309 AS), architectural heritage has never been evaluated or graded methodically, i.e., within a codified framework and with a conservation approach based on significance. This has led to the lack of comprehensive principles for integrated management, coordinated decision-making, and prioritization for conservation purposes, while most developed or developing countries have developed such a logical framework. One of the tools for conservation management of architectural heritage in Europe is classification. The main purpose of this research is to identify the classification system proposed in European policies in order to outline an operational and generalizable model at the national level. Aims and objectives affecting the European architectural heritage classification system is the main question of this research. To find it through document research and library studies, the available data including laws, policies, and experiences were collected and analyzed through a descriptive-interpretive and comparative method using the qualitative approach. According to the research findings, the main purpose of classification has been to reach a management mechanism based on an hierarchical system that improves policies for the protection of heritage resources and the use of authorities in architectural heritage conservation. For this, architectural heritage is classified into three levels: national, regional, and local. The approach and decision-making methods for classification are determined based on consultation with experts and authorities and according to relevant criteria and components, including uniqueness; significance; qualification for protection; ownership; and historical, architectural, artistic, scientific, aesthetic, and social qualities. The classification system in Europe is considered an important factor of economic development and improvement of living conditions.

In the middle of the city of Ardeshir Khoreh (the city of Gur), there is a rectangular tower, a circular structures, as well as a fort and a circular moat, which are considered to be the most prominent structures of this city; But in the northeastern part of the city of Ardeshir Khoreh, a place called "Takht-i-Nishin" (throne room) remains in the form of a platform of heavy dressed stone and a hollow or pit in the form of a reservoir, which has been studied by different scholars from the early centuries of Islam until now. However, there are still differing views on this complex; For example, the four-arched structure located on a flat platform is called by the names of Atashgah, Qasr, Tarbal, Atashkadeh, Dekan, Atashkhaneh, Kooshak, Irankiakhareh, Ivan, Dekeh, Irangardeh, palace, mansion, tower, house, and ziggurat. In addition, the reservoir next to the platform is also called Cheshmeh, Ghadir, Hoz Ab (water pool), AbAnbar (water reservoir) and Abnama (fountain). Therefore, attributing various names to this complex indicates the ambiguity in the nature of the constructions. The demolition the complex’s most buildings and the coverage of its remains bu rubbles over time, has caused less attention to this building in various documents and sources. Therefore, by interpreting the different views that exist around the structures of this building, this study aims to recognize the function of the Takht-i-Nishin complex, how the spaces are related and why it was built in the middle of the city of Ardeshir Khoreh. In order to achieve this goal, the interpretive-historical method have been used and library resources such as archaeological reports and historical documents were studied. Also, more accurate and up-to-date information was obtained through field visits and surveys, which paved the way for research. Then, by physical and spatial analysis of similar buildings such as the Anahita temple in Bishapour, a comparative comparison of the combination of four arched structure or Chartaqi and the water basin in the middle of Ardeshir Khoreh city has been conducted. As a result, the research findings show that the building on the platform is in the form of a cruciform hall with a four arched pattern and is located in an adjacent bed overlooking the man-made pond in the middle of the city of Ardeshir Khoreh. According to Ibn Balkhi, and the remains of debris visible on the ground, there was probably a similar quadrangle in front of the second basin or behind the available one. Hence, these Chartaqi, as a continuous fireplace connected to the water basin, have created a structure that shows a common pattern in the formation of Sassanid period religious collections related to water and sacred fire. The findings indicate that it can be a place of worship for the goddess Anahita in a ritual complex by being located next to the holy water pool and fire place

Parsa, which we call Takht-e-Jamshid and westerns call it Persepolis, is the most important heritage of the Achaemenids. The complex is a series of buildings and palaces dating from 510 to 330 BC. It has emerged as an administrative, governmental and ceremonial complex on a huge man-made rocky platform. One of the basic measures taken to protect buildings on the platform of the Persepolis from the mountain floods and provide drainage for the buildings is the construction of about two kilometers of water canals under the platform. The canals are partly dug into the rock or built over the bed of the platform and run from north to south and west to east to gather the water of 125,000 square meters of palaces and administrative or service buildings. Sometimes these canals are up to 6 meters deep and are generally not less than one meter wide and covered with thick stone slabs. Various archaeologists, such as Schmidt (1939), Tajvidi (1355 solar), Askari (1383-85, solar) Asadi (1395 solar), and scholars such as Hakim, Reza, and Zare have studied the water canals of Persepolis. However, a study of architecture, construction and spatial features of canals is still necessary. This study, has monograph research method which starts from review of first-hand library resources specifically archeological reports and continues with field surveys. It first attempts to integrate the complex network architecture of the canals in interaction with terrain topography, heights of platforms, and 12 monuments over the ground. It Identifies the function of each canal in relation to roof surfaces, walls and open courtyards. The research has classified the canals based on their different characteristics. Functional canals were first divided into four categories: 1. vertical drainage transfer 2. Over ground water transfer 3. Secondary and short waterways 4. Main waterways. They were then divided into three categories based on their form: 1. Open canals that starts through the Gate of Nation 2. Covered canals with or without ventilating holes. The final categorization was carried out according to the method of stonework of the canals, which is the unified stone with smooth carving or coarse carving. It seems that the smooth carvings belong to the first period of construction in Persepolis in the time of Darius, 515 to 490 BC under Apanada Palace. Some of the canals were created not by digging directly the rocky mountain but by arranging rocks on top of each other. Morphological study of the canals shows that there are two important east-west canals which pass through Apadana palace and residential palaces, reaching to a north-south canal adjacent to the mountain at the east of Persepolis platform. The height difference of the longest canal is -7 meters. The average slope is 2% but some have more than 30 %slope to be able to provide the desired depth and homogeneous system of water flow. As a conclusion, after examining the gradual process of formation of Persepolis, archaeological hypotheses suggested by Hertzfeld and Schmidt on the impact of canals on unified planning of Persepolis from the beginning of construction are reviewed.

Dynamic cultural World Heritage Sites, as irreplaceable resources with tangible and intangible dimensions, have been shaped by a result of the processes of sociocultural production and experiences in the temporal and spatial context and are going through a series of changes over time. The main purpose of this research is assessing the state of conservation of dynamic cultural World Heritage Sites, which is one of the most fundamental issues in the World Heritage monitoring process.

This study elaborates on applied-developed research methods, using an analytical descriptive method in two sections. The theoretical section is based on the logical reasoning method and technique of content analysis and logical inference; and the practical section is based on the survey method and analytic hierarchy process technique.

Achieving the effective assessment for the state of conservation of dynamic cultural World Heritage Site is based on two substantial criteria: 1) “securing and conveying cultural significance of the heritage site” with the sub-criteria of “integrity” and “authenticity”; 2) “heritage site experience” with the sub-criteria of “perception of cultural significance” and “experience of authenticity”.

The results show that the “sense of place attachment” indicator is the most important factor in assessing the state of conservation. And periodic use of this proposed model in the monitoring process provides a coherent platform for measuring the efficiency of the study heritage site management system. The developed framework might be used by Tehran Beautification Organization and Tehran Municipality in culturally-rich sites of Tehran.

The tomb complex and building known as the Kaaba of Zoroaster was built in Naqshe-e Rostam in the Achaemenid period. Naghsh-e-Rostam collection, especially the Kaaba of Zoroaster as the spiritual heritage of the Achaemenid kings, has continuously played a dynamic role in the religious, political and spiritual structure of the post-Achaemenid period, which is rooted in the ancient pre-Achaemenid traditions in the ancient Middle East particularly during the Elamite period. The closest interpretation of the function of this building in relation to the Achaemenid tombs and its connection with the Persepolis throne can be meaningful. Understanding the spatial relationship between Naqsh-e-Rostam and Persepolis is functionally significant. Persepolis was formed in the heart of a city and Achaemenid palaces were part of this city. This research, accomplished via a descriptive and analytical method and relying on library data, has sought to examine the environmental zone around Persepolis, known as the city of Parseh, and has made the hypothesis of reconstructing the historical city of Parseh within the range of the 1st degree of Persepolis more conceivable. The findings of the research indicate that according to the surviving works and inscriptions, the collection of works of Naghsh-e Rostam in the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian and Sassanid periods has continually been applied and honored. In the Achaemenid period, the connection of Naghsh-e-Rostam tomb complex as a chief and functional part of Parseh city was related to Persepolis. The tradition of burying the deceased king was performed according to Zoroastrianism and after the burial of the king. the enthronement of the new king was performed in the monument and holy shrine of the Zoroastrian Kaaba.

1- An investigation of the location of Naqsh-e-Rostam and the Kaaba of Zoroaster and the reasons for its dependence on the city of Parseh based on geophysical studies.  2- A study on the function of the Kaaba of Zoroaster from the Achaemenid period to the end of the Sassanid period.

Research questions:

 1- What are the usages of the Kaaba of Zoroaster in diverse historical periods? 2. What information do geophysical studies provide about the location of the Kaaba of Zoroaster and its dependence on the city of Parseh?