Geo-Visualization of Tourism-Based Landscape Change and Stone Heritage Decay in Petra, Jordan
Heritage tourism represents a complex social phenomenon involving intensive human/environmental interaction in inherently fragile landscapes. As a Fulbright Scholar, my research explored this relationship in Petra, Jordan by utilizing complementary rapid field assessment techniques: repeat photography, the Cultural Stone Stability Index, and various geospatial technologies. Based on that research, I produced a book centered on visualizing changes in Petra over a century. The extent to which tourism activity influences physical landscape change, whether beneficial or detrimental, remains important for any highly-touristed location, but especially so in fragile, multi-use environments like Petra. To read more about my specific experience, review my blog contribution on the Jordan Fulbright Commission's webpage, and then check out my (colorful yet very affordable) BOOK.
