Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Flickr Photographic Activity in Sleman's Temple Heritage Landscape
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24114/jg.v18i2.75454Keywords:
Cultural Tourism, Spatiotemporal Analysis, Flickr, Temple Heritage, IndonesiaAbstract
Yogyakarta's Sleman Regency contains the Prambanan Temple Compounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a wider network of temple-related heritage locations whose spatiotemporal photographic patterns remain poorly characterized. This study analyzes 5,858 geotagged Flickr photographs recorded between 2005 and 2025 within analytical buffer zones for 13 temple-related heritage locations. Four complementary methods were used: quadrat density analysis, Getis-Ord Gi*-based Optimized Hot Spot Analysis (OHSA), Emerging Hot Spot Analysis (EHSA) through a Space-Time Cube, and HDBSCAN density-based clustering. Flickr photographic activity concentrates strongly in the Candi Prambanan analytical zone, which accounts for 82.14% of retained records. A Spearman rank-order comparison with 2023 official visitor statistics (rs = 0.979, p < 0.001, n = 9) supports consistency in relative site prominence between the two data sources, though this result reflects rank-order agreement rather than validation of Flickr photographs as a direct measure of visitor volume. OHSA identifies a statistically significant hot spot at the 99% confidence level centered on the main temple precinct, with cold spot detection in peripheral areas sensitive to grid resolution. Within the Candi Prambanan analytical zone, EHSA classifies 372 locations, comprising 365 Oscillating Hot Spots and 7 Sporadic Hot Spots, indicating endpoint-dependent temporal fluctuation rather than sustained directional growth. HDBSCAN identifies 17 interpretable photographic clusters within the Candi Prambanan analytical zone corresponding to recognizable heritage features and visitor-use spaces, including the main temple core, eastern circulation corridors, the Archaeological Museum, Candi Lumbung, and the Ramayana Open Air Theater. The findings demonstrate that multi-year spatiotemporal analysis produces substantially different site characterizations than static hot spot mapping alone. The results support candidate prioritization for field-based visitor monitoring but should not be interpreted as direct evidence of visitor pressure, dwell time, or physical deterioration at any site.
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