The Royal Albert docks were an important maritime centre and strategic war hub. Opened in 1846, the Docks has become iconic for its artistic attractions, bars and culture. The docks received royal recognition in 1988 for its maritime history and world heritage status in 2004. In recent years, it has hosted music concerts in the nearby M&S arena and the Eurovision Song contest by the waterfront.
Home of spectacular gladiatorial battles and spectacles, this structure is a reminder of the power of imperial Rome. Despite being damaged, ransacked and looted throughout time, the Colosseum still stands as one of the 7 wonders of the world and one of the most popular tourist destinations at that.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, located in the northeastern state of Maranhão, Brazil, is a unique protected area where vast, white sand dunes meet seasonal rainwater lagoons, creating an extraordinary desert-like landscape interspersed with freshwater pools. Spanning over 1,500 square kilometers, the park lies within the transition zone of the Amazon and Caatinga biomes and supports rich biodiversity, including fish, amphibians and migratory birds that take refuge in its lagoons during the rainy season. Despite its arid appearance, Lençóis Maranhenses is shaped by complex hydrological and ecological processes, with its lagoons replenished by rainfall and sustained by an underlying water table. This digital representation of Lençóis Maranhenses aims to showcase the park’s stunning natural beauty while raising awareness of the ecological sensitivity of this environment. As climate change threatens rainfall patterns and unregulated tourism poses risks to the landscape, public engagement becomes essential for its conservation. This contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, promoting the sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems and supporting local conservation efforts by promoting appreciation and responsible tourism in this rare and fragile habitat.
Aerial photography of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. White sand dunes meet seasonal rainwater lagoons, creating an extraordinary desert-like landscape interspersed with freshwater pools.
Federal level Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
The Brazilian Atlantic Islands, including the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Atol das Rocas Reserves, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites located off the northeastern coast of Brazil. These remote oceanic islands are recognised for their exceptional natural beauty and ecological importance. The region hosts some of the richest marine biodiversity in the South Atlantic, including critical breeding and feeding grounds for sea turtles, reef fish, sharks and marine mammals such as dolphins. The islands also support unique terrestrial species and nesting seabirds, many of which are endemic or threatened. These reserves offer a rare opportunity to observe natural ecological processes in action. However, they remain vulnerable to human activities, including overfishing, tourism pressure and climate change impacts such as coral bleaching and sea-level rise. This digital representation serves as an educational tool to highlight the ecological value and fragility of these islands and foster greater public engagement in marine conservation. It supports Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, which seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. Promoting awareness of these vital ecosystems is a key step toward ensuring their long-term protection.
Two Brothers Rock beach in Fernando de Noronha
Loggerhead sea turtle with diver in the background, Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park
A loggerhead sea turtle in Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil. These turtles are listed as vulnerable due to threats such as bycatch, habitat degradation and climate change. Fernando de Noronha serves as a crucial feeding and nesting area for several sea turtle species, protected under strict conservation regulations. Encounters like this highlight the importance of marine protected areas in supporting biodiversity and fostering sustainable ecotourism practices.
Beach located in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil
A group of capybaras, the world’s largest rodents. As highly social and semi-aquatic animals, capybaras are a common sight in this vast wetland, where they contribute to the health of the ecosystem through their grazing and interactions with predators.
A Hyacinth Macaw, the largest flying parrot species in its natural habitat, Brazil’s Pantanal. Natural to South America, the Hyacinth Macaw is a vulnerable species whose presence in the Pantanal reflects the region's vital role in supporting threatened wildlife and maintaining ecological diversity.
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism
Located in Ladakh, India, along the Zanskar River, the Zanskar Valley is a remote and pristine region known for its stunning landscape, rich Tibetan Buddhist culture, and unique ecological features. The high-altitude Himalayan valley is distinguished by dramatic gorges, ancient monasteries, and unique architecture. Its natural beauty and cultural importance make it a valuable heritage site, offering insights into the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature in an extreme environment.
The Phuktal Monastery is built around a natural cave, which is believed to have been visited by numerous sages, scholars, translators, and monks around 2,550 years ago. The remote location of the monastery was ideal for monks looking for peace and solitude to meditate. The present Phuktal Gompa, of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, was established in the early 15th century by Jangsem Sherap Zangpo, a disciple of Je Tsongkhapa. Tsongkhapa was the founder of Gelug, which is one of the newest schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
The heritage Sani Kani Khar was built date back to the time of the famous kushan emperor Kanishka in 2nd century AD and is said to be the oldest stupa of Ladakh. It is also believed that famous Indian mahasiddah Naropa 966-1041 AD who was a celebrated Indian Buddhist yogi from renowned Vikramshila University in Bihar meditated under the Kanishka Stupa. Sani is a sacred place due to its having been visited and blessed by Guru Padmasambhava who is said to have dwelt for 5 years in a small Gyamchot Lakhang. Annual Sani Nesjal festival is held in August every year during which sacred mask dance is performed besides monks from all the monestary of Zanskar assembled during Sani Kangyour in May and recite the whole volume of Kangyour.
Doe watching for danger. Grey Goral (Naemorhedus goral). Tsarap valley, Zanskar, India
Zanskar is a high altitude semi-desert lying on the Northern flank of the Great-Himalayan Range. This mountains range acts as a climatic barrier protecting Ladakh and Zanskar from most of the monsoon, resulting in a pleasantly warm and dry climate in the summer. Zanskar is a subdistrict of tehsil of the Kargil district, which lies in the Indian Union territory of Ladakh. The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the UT of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh. It covers an area of some 7,000 square kilometers, at a elevation of 3,500-7,135 meters. The first, the Doda, has its source near the Penzi-La mountain pass and then flows south-eastwards along the main valley leading towards Padum, the capital of Zanskar.
Subak, Ancient Water Irrigation System, Bali
The cultural landscape of Bali consists of lowland rice terraces and their temples, covering a 19,500-hectare area. The temples act as focal points within this cooperative water management system of canals and weirs, known as Subak. Although the exact date of its origin is unknown, evidence suggests the system has existed since 800 of the Saka Calendar, or 882 AD. Learning from the Subak system reflects the philosophical principle of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasises the balance between spirituality, the human world, and mother nature.
Fountain waterspout statues in Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave, a sacred bathing pool near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Pura Taman Ayun is a compound of Balinese temple and garden located in Mengwi district in Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia. Its water features are an integral part of the local Subak system
A beautiful and old Hindu temple which hosts rituals. The temple has holy springs in which devotees bathe.
The Jatiluwih rice terraces comprise over 600 hectares of rice fields following the flowing hillside topography of the Batukaru mountain range. These are well-maintained by traditional water management cooperatives dating back to the 9th century! Jatiluwih is derived from two words. Jati means “real” and Luwih means “good” or “beautiful”. So even the name in the local language lets you know this place is beautiful. When you drive the narrow, winding road to Jatiluwih, you’ll see the beautiful panoramas along the road. This area is the only place in the world that has three annual rice harvests.
Hongcun Village is an administrative village located in Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China. It sits at the foot of Huangshan Mountain in southern Anhui Province. On November 30, 2000, Hongcun was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The village is known for its well-preserved historical architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It features a unique water system and a distinctive layout resembling the shape of an ox, making it a representative example of traditional Huizhou residential design. With its elegant scenery and classic Hui-style architecture, Hongcun has long attracted artists from both China and abroad for photography and painting. In recent years, digital technologies have played an important role in the preservation and development of Hongcun, supporting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The Unity3D virtual reality engine has been used to integrate 3D modeling and other digital tools in the development of a digital display platform for the ancient village. This approach explores new strategies for showcasing intangible cultural heritage, offering innovative perspectives for the protection, inheritance, and revitalization of traditional villages.
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
West Lake, also known as Qiantang Lake, is located at No.1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. On June 24, 2011, the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou was inscribed on the World Heritage List. It is one of the first nationally designated key scenic spots in mainland China. It is also one of China’s major freshwater lakes. The West Lake combines natural and humanistic aesthetics. Since the 9th century, West Lake has been an inspiration for Chinese poets, painters, and philosophers. Mythological novels around the West Lake have also emerged in an endless stream, the most famous is the legend of the White Snake, which adds a different kind of mysterious color to the West Lake. At present, SDG goals have been achieved through relevant digital technologies for Sustainable Cities and Communities. For example, the West Lake Scenic Area has built a tourist flow monitoring system, which utilizes technologies such as real-time monitoring systems and infrared sensing. The sustainable development of the scenic spot is guaranteed. At the same time, through high-precision 3D scanning and modeling technology, the historic buildings and cultural landscapes of the West Lake are digitally archived, providing detailed data support for the restoration and research of cultural relics.
The Sichuan giant panda habitat(The Wolong National Nature Reserve)
The Sichuan Giant Panda Habitat consists of seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in Sichuan Province, China. Wolong National Nature Reserve, located in Wenchuan County, is one of them. It was established in 1963 to protect giant pandas and forest ecosystems. The Sichuan Giant Panda Habitat was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site on July 12, 2006. More than 30% of the world’s wild giant pandas live here, and the region boasts rich biodiversity — not only giant pandas, but also Sichuan golden monkeys, snow leopards, and other endangered species. In the Sichuan panda habitat, digital technology has been widely applied to support biodiversity conservation, contributing to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land. The Sichuan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau, together with Huawei and other partners, has developed a real-time forest and grassland fire monitoring system based on the Huawei Cloud platform. This system covers the province’s forest ecosystem, including the Giant Panda National Park. It has significantly improved the accuracy of fire warnings and monitoring, playing a vital role in protecting the panda habitat.
Immovable Culture Heritage,Movable Cultural Heritage
Hampi, situated in Karnataka, India, is a rich repository of India's historical and cultural heritage, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinary significance. Once a vibrant thriving capital of the Vijayanagar Empire between the 14th and 16th centuries CE, it stands as testament to the grandeur and sophistication of one the India's most powerful medieval kingdoms. Traversing an expansive 4,100 hectares, this archaeological wonder showcases a diverse collection of is structures that represents the pinnacle of architectural work and artistic excellence of the era. The site is well known for its monumental architecture, contains intricately designed temples dedicated to various gods/deities, sprawling royal complexes that once house of royal family and nobles, and civic buildings which supported the daily life of its citizens. These edifices are adorned by exquisite stone carvings and sculptures that emphasise the supremacy of Dravidian art. Beyond its artistic accomplishments, Hampi also exhibits advanced engineering through its advanced water management systems. These include meticulously constructed canals, tanks, and step wells that ensured efficient water supply and storage in a semi-arid landscape.