A conceptual framework for the path of digital preservation of intangible cultural heritage: A thematic review

Abstract The digital preservation strategy could be concerned from the perspective of the life cycle of a digital resource, which includes creation, use, management, and preservation, which has been implemented widely for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding. Nonetheless, the depth of development of the metaverse, digital humanities, etc., raises the question of which direction the most up-to-date strategic and theoretical developments are headed in a wider context. As a result, this study will evaluate articles from 2018 to 2024 to determine the trends in digital preservation strategies at ICH. With a thematic review (TR) instrument, a total of 24 articles out of 129 peer-reviewed database articles from the WoS and Scopus databases were extracted and screened, which cover the application of digital preservation strategies in ICH conservation. ATLAS.ti 9, the analysis software, produced quantitative results showing trends in this study. The thematic analysis reveals four key themes: computer technology, cultural transmission, strategy implementation, and metadata preservation. The authors propose a conceptual framework that establishes the logical connection between the four themes and outlines the path for ICH digital preservation. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners involved in the digital preservation strategy of ICH, as well as mapping the scope, challenges, and practices of these initiatives.