a) not just the consideration of spatial patterns of tangible CH (points, lines and small surfaces) but
also the structure of different tangible and intangible features over a territory, in terms of
concentration (clusters and itineraries), and superimposition (diversity and homogeneity).
b) not just a recognition of heritage assets (patterns and structures) in the regions where they are
located, but also the identification of areas of impact which may again transverse regional
boundaries (functional entities);
c) not just a recognition of features regarding the asset itself but the combined evaluation of these
and socio-economic as well as organisational variables.
The identification and mapping of cultural heritage features is a first step in this more wide-
spanning approach. In fact this is already a problematic issue as the relevant data are hardly
available in a harmonised format over the European territory of EU27+2. Furthermore, the
complexity of combining geo-referenced data on heritage assets (with punctual spatial
connotations) with non-geo data (such as intangible cultural features, socio-economic trends) can be
very high. As a consequence a step-by-step approach should be followed, starting from the spatial
analysis of tangible, physical elements of the cultural space and then integrating it with fuzzier
elements of cultural activity and identity.
The endpoint would be the compilation of a list of regional indicators of the European CHI
encompassing issues such as heritage presence concentration and diversity, spatial patterns at the
local and cross-regional level, local embeddedness of intangible heritage assets, pressures on — and
potential for — development of heritage, and the orgware of the heritage.
3 INDICATORS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
3.1 Categories of cultural heritage and identity
We propose to subdivide cultural heritage and identity into four categories which differ for their
spatial aspects and the type of spatial effects that they generate.
A) TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
The tangible heritage landscapes include “immovable” assets like monuments, buildings, sites and
townscapes; these cannot be relocated or reproduced outside of their actual location without
changing their symbolic, aesthetic and economic value. They can also be enjoyed only in the actual
place where they have been originally erected (though interpretation centres and virtual access may
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