Assessment of World Cultural Heritage in conflict zones by integrating physical monitoring and public perception

Escalating armed conflict threatens World Cultural Heritage sites with irreversible damage. This study develops an integrated risk assessment framework that combines physical monitoring and public perception analysis for heritage sites in conflict zones. The framework uses multi-modal data, including remote sensing imagery for building damage detection, open-source intelligence for armed conflict events, and social media texts for public attention analysis. We construct three indicators: Building Damage Intensity Index (BDII), Conflict Intensity Index (CII), and Public Attention Volume (PAV). The framework is applied to 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel/Palestine and Ukraine during 2018–2024. Results show that spatial encroachment on heritage buffer zones, rather than the absolute intensity of damage or conflict, is the main trigger of global public attention. This finding suggests that threats closer to heritage boundaries amplify international concern. The framework offers evidence-based support for heritage risk identification and intervention prioritization.