Can immersive technologies rebuild heritage and sense of place? Examining virtual Reality's role in fostering community resilience in post-disaster Italy.

Abstract

Disasters disrupt not only physical environments but also socio-cultural identities and sense of place. This study explores the role of Virtual Reality (VR) in post-disaster recovery, focusing on the earthquake-affected towns of Amatrice and Accumoli, Italy. Using a techno-ethnographic methodology, we integrated video interviews, 3D digital reconstruction, and co-creation to examine how immersive technologies facilitate emotional reconnection and community resilience. Findings suggest that VR environments can serve as spaces for mourning and re-familiarisation, helping individuals reconnect with lost surroundings. Multi-sensory elements (i.e. lighting, soundscapes, and everyday material details) proved crucial in fostering virtual place attachment. Intergenerational use of VR supported memory transmission, as younger community members relied on elders to interpret pre-disaster environments. However, trauma sensitivity remains essential, underscoring the value of community-centred, iterative design. This study contributes to digital heritage research by showing how VR can go beyond documentation, supporting storytelling and story-sharing, memory work, restauration of sense of place, and resilience-building, while calling for further study of its long-term impacts.