Baku, July 20, AZERTAC
Students of the Baku Engineering University (BEU), who are taking part in the "International Summer School on Smart Cities" held at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA) in the People's Republic of China, have participated in further scientific, practical and educational events within the framework of the program.
Within the framework of the program, participants attended a lecture on the topic "Smart City and Cultural Heritage Revitalization: Scientific Research on the Revival of the Historical Architectural Heritage of the Summer Palace," delivered by Zhang Yingyi, associate professor of the Department of Urban and Rural Planning at BUCEA's Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning. The lecture explained the interrelation between the smart city concept and the preservation of cultural heritage, using the Summer Palace - one of Beijing's most renowned examples of historical and cultural heritage - as a case study. Participants received detailed information on the preservation of ancient architectural examples through modern technologies, the integration of historical sites into urban life, landscape architecture, spatial planning, and modern approaches applied in the field of sustainable urban development.
Afterwards, a presentation was held by Professor Fu Fan on Chinese landscape architecture, the ecological significance of urban green spaces, the protection of cultural heritage, and the role of landscape architecture in the sustainable development of the urban environment.
Within the framework of the summer school, BEU students also made a study visit to Shougang Park, an industrial heritage park located in Beijing. During the program held on the topic "Digitalization of Living Cultural Heritage and Joint Preservation of Industrial Heritage Memories," students became closely acquainted with the process of transforming the former metallurgical plant into a modern center of innovation, culture and technology. Participants received detailed information on the preservation of industrial heritage while acquiring new functions, the application of digital technologies in the presentation of historical sites, as well as the significance of Shougang Park - rebuilt for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games - in terms of urban planning and sustainable development.
One of the next events of the program was devoted to UNESCO's sustainable development approaches. Participants listened to a lecture by Professor Han Qunli, who has been represented in UNESCO's former leadership, on the topic "UNESCO's Scientific Cooperation for Global Sustainability." The lecture extensively discussed the importance of international scientific cooperation in achieving global sustainable development goals, as well as current issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, efficient management of water resources, and environmental sustainability.
Held within the framework of smart cities and sustainable development - among the main directions of the summer school - these programs have made a significant contribution to enriching BEU students' theoretical knowledge in the fields of cultural and industrial heritage preservation, landscape architecture and urban planning, as well as to their close familiarization with advanced international experience.