Core Insights - Digital technology is not a panacea for heritage protection but can open doors to a more comprehensive, dynamic, and inclusive approach to safeguarding world heritage [1] Group 1: Digital Heritage Protection - The global focus is on how to utilize technology for the protection and management of world heritage, with over 50 years of development leading to a technical system encompassing recording, monitoring, and display [1] - Despite advancements, many countries, including developed ones, lack mature experiences in handling large-scale, living heritage digital protection [1] - The UNESCO Sites Navigator, launched during the 47th World Heritage Conference, reflects the current level of digital heritage protection, primarily focusing on information integration and basic services [1] Group 2: Case Study - Grand Canal of China - The Grand Canal, including the Beijing-Hangzhou and Sui-Tang Canals, was successfully listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in June 2014, with Hangzhou being a key city along the route [2] - The "Smart Canal" system in Hangzhou is set to complete project acceptance by the end of 2023, achieving real-time data sharing across seven departments and twelve data categories, significantly reducing the workload for annual monitoring reports [2] Group 3: Technological Innovations - The breakthrough value of Hangzhou's "Smart Canal" lies in its multi-collaborative monitoring and early warning information platform, utilizing technologies like "water-land-air-star collection," "3D holographic visualization," and "digital twin" [3] - China's application of digital technology in cultural heritage protection has expanded across various fields, creating a complete system from technology development to application [4] Group 4: International Perspectives and Challenges - Concerns about digital technology potentially undermining the authenticity of cultural heritage are addressed through the evolution of international heritage protection documents [4] - The key lies not in the technology itself but in its application, with three proposed pathways to mitigate digital risks: maintaining core values, integrating material and immaterial elements, and establishing a collaborative mechanism among government, community, market, and experts [4] Group 5: Community Engagement - Digital tools can enhance the active authenticity of cultural practices when community residents document their cultural experiences [5] - The dual innovation of "technology + concept" in Hangzhou serves as a practical example of international heritage protection theory and offers a replicable model for similar heritage sites globally [5]