Towards a Data Management System for Historic Hajj Pilgrimage Routes: Lessons for Managing Serial Transnational World Heritage Nominations

Abstract. This paper addresses the current lack of a transnational data management system to support the management of historic Hajj Pilgrimage Routes, which hold significant cultural value and cross multiple national boundaries in the Arab States region and beyond. A data management system that integrates geospatial and visual information, historical documentation, and continuously generated new data types, such as multimedia recordings of intangible cultural heritage practices associated with the Hajj Pilgrimage Routes, is envisioned. The study aims to develop the theoretical knowledge necessary for designing such a data management system. In its first stage, the paper conducts a literature review and case study analysis of existing heritage data management tools, including those employed in academic research, national heritage inventories, and comparable UNESCO World Heritage serial transnational sites. This analysis assesses the technological strengths and limitations of market-available platforms, including Arches, an open-source geospatial inventory and digital archiving platform, and custom-built spatial information systems. The research employs a comparative analysis of these platforms based on key criteria for effective data management, including general functionality, compliance with international standards, customizability, cost, accessibility, community support, and scalability. The results of this analysis indicate a preference for Arches as the selected platform for hosting the Hajj Routes data management system due to its open-source nature, user-friendliness, robust community support, and ability to manage large datasets. Future directions include designing and implementing a workflow for transnational data management and establishing a large dataset encompassing the Hajj Routes and their associated cultural heritage.