FROM CULTURAL DATA TO POLICY NARRATIVE: A SEMANTIC FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION

Abstract: Data-driven approaches increasingly inform urban policy, yet the integration of intangible cultural heritage remains limited due to object-centric documentation and the separation of tangible and intangible domains. Existing frameworks conceptualize data as static records, inadequately supporting the semantic articulation of cultural meaning within urban contexts. This paper applies a semantic narrative approach based on a triadic model linking physical elements, procedural knowledge, and social practices. The framework structures heterogeneous cultural data into interpretable relational sequences. Through ecclesiastical heritage in Karachi, Pakistan, the study shows improved coherence between cultural data and policy-oriented interpretation and contributes to knowledge applicable to urban transformation.