The utilization of recycled materials has emerged as a pivotal strategy for mitigating resource depletion and reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry. However, existing reviews predominantly focus on specific technical aspects, often overlooking the interdisciplinary complexities associated with recycled materials as a systems engineering challenge. This study systematically reviews 1533 documents from the Web of Science Core Collection, integrating quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches to assess the current state and future trajectory of the field, thereby addressing existing research gaps. The findings highlight the substantial evolution of recycled building materials from waste recovery to a multifaceted domain encompassing value assessment, circular economy principles, advanced technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long-term societal benefits. This study identifies six key research themes in recycled building materials: life cycle assessment, biological and natural materials, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt and building infrastructure, construction and demolition waste, and environmental impacts with composite factors. Furthermore, current research is categorized into two primary dimensions: value strategies and technological tools. The analysis of future research directions underscores the potential of AI-driven innovations and their role in enhancing human living environments. However, developing countries continue to face critical challenges, necessitating further interdisciplinary integration and knowledge exchange. Finally, this study proposes a comprehensive and systematic disciplinary framework that offers valuable insights for future strategic planning and technological advancements in the field.

Virtual exhibitions of cultural heritage (CH) have become a key means for preservation, education, and global dissemination in the digital era. This study provides a comprehensive systematic review and bibliometric analysis of CH virtual exhibition research from 1999 to 2025. A total of 651 valid records were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Three tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix) support stronger analysis. Results reveal that the field’s knowledge structure can be organized into the following three interrelated layers: (1) a technology-driven layer (laser scanning, photogrammetry, VR/AR, and multimodal interaction), (2) a systemic application layer (curatorial workflows, digital museums, and immersive storytelling), and (3) a user experience layer (educational impact, gamification, and trust building). These dimensions form a cyclical pyramid framework linking innovation, interpretation and perception. The study identifies persistent regional disparities, with China and Italy leading in publication volume, while countries such as Denmark and Australia achieve higher citation impacts due to advanced policy support and digital strategies. Emerging trends highlight the growing integration of gamified learning, AI-assisted curation, and immersive narrative design. These reflect a paradigm shift from technological demonstration to cultural interpretation. This study establishes a holistic analytical framework for understanding the evolution and future directions of CH virtual exhibitions, providing an essential reference for researchers, curators, and policymakers in the heritage informatics domain.

Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) has emerged as a key tool in advancing heritage conservation and sustainable management. Preceding reviews had typically concentrated on specific technical aspects but did not provide sufficient bibliometric analysis. This study aims to integrate existing HBIM research to identify key research patterns, emerging trends, and forecast future directions. A total of 1516 documents were initially retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using targeted search terms. Following a relevance screening, 1175 documents were related to the topic. CiteSpace 6.4.R1, VOSviewer 1.6.20, and Bibliometrix 4.1, three bibliometric tools, were employed to conduct both quantitative and qualitative assessments. The results show three historical phases of HBIM, identify core journals, influential authors, and leading regions, and extract six major keyword clusters: risk assessment, data acquisition, semantic annotation, digital twins, and energy and equipment management. Nine co-citation clusters further outline the foundational literature in the field. The results highlight growing scholarly interest in workflow integration and digital twin applications. Future projections emphasize the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in HBIM, while also recognizing critical implementation barriers, particularly in developing countries and resource-constrained contexts. This study provides a comprehensive and systematic framework for HBIM research, offering valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers involved in heritage preservation and digital management.

The Western and Eastern Han dynasties marked a crucial transitional stage in the development of Chinese jade culture. Building upon the traditions of the pre-Qin period, jade art of the Han era gradually formed an aesthetic system and expressive language distinctive to its time. As an important component of jade ornamentation, animal motifs not only demonstrate the remarkable craftsmanship of Han jade artisans but also serve as material carriers of the spirit of the age and prevailing cultural concepts. From the perspective of design studies, this paper conducts a systematic comparison of animal motifs in jade artifacts of the Western and Eastern Han dynasties from three dimensions—modeling techniques, compositional principles, and aesthetic style—thereby providing an in-depth interpretation of the stylistic transition from the "representational design" of the Western Han to the "decorative design" of the Eastern Han.

Under the impetus of the ritualmusic system and prevailing social customs, dance and music in the Tang dynasty flourished to an unprecedented degree. Against this background, female music-and-dance figurines unearthed in the Henan region emerged as important carriers that combined ritualcustomary functions with artistic significance. These figurines not only recreate the dynamic scenes of dance and musical performance but also embody, through their figurative design, the cultural construction of female identity and temperament. Taking the question of why dance and music as its central concern, this paper examines the types, forms, and design language of music-and-dance figurines from Henan, exploring how dynamic aesthetic qualities of dance and music are expressed through posture, costume, and accompanying instruments, as well as how the spirit of music and dance is conveyed through facial expression and narrative composition. In doing so, the study reveals a form of female consciousness shaped by the coexistence of ritual discipline and individual expression. These figurines thus serve as a vital medium for understanding the aesthetic sensibilities, institutional logic, and cultural spirit of Tang dynasty society.