Preliminary Study for Developing a Digital Data Platform for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Vachiraphayaban Subdistrict, Dusit District, Bangkok

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a digital platform for documenting and sharing the intangible cultural heritage of Vachiraphayaban Subdistrict, Dusit District, Bangkok, through community participation. The platform was designed to increase public awareness, strengthen local cultural identity, and support the preservation of cultural heritage through digital technology. Vachiraphayaban Subdistrict has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional food, local crafts, and religious sites, many of which are not widely known outside the local community. This study adopted a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, involving researchers, community leaders, and local residents throughout the research process. The participants included people involved in the preservation and management of intangible cultural heritage in Dusit District. Using purposive sampling, 12 participants were selected, including government officials, academics, local administrators, community knowledge holders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from both the public and private sectors. In addition, 17 key informants took part in focus group discussions to provide information on the documentation, preservation, and promotion of local cultural heritage. Data collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed using triangulation and analytic induction. The findings identified two main categories of intangible cultural heritage: (1) social practices, rituals, traditions, and festivals, and (2) traditional craftsmanship, with a total of 11 heritage elements. Based on these findings, an interactive e-book was developed to present and preserve the documented cultural heritage. The e-book includes voice narration, video clips, accessibility features for people with visual impairments, privacy protection, mobile-friendly design, QR code access, and tools for tracking user access and download statistics. The study shows that digital technology, when combined with community participation, can support the documentation, preservation, and promotion of intangible cultural heritage while encouraging greater public engagement with local cultural resources.