Space observation for the sustainable utilization of world heritage sites along the silk roads : the routes network of Chang’an-Tianshan corridor

Abstract

Urban development under a changing climate pose threats to heritage conservation, necessitating vigilant monitoring of human activities and natural disasters. This study proposes a dynamic monitoring and risk assessment technology aimed at identifying interferences to heritage sites along the Silk Road. The characterization of land use was investigated, and changes within the protected areas were extracted using an object-based deep learning method to reveal instances of human interference. Nighttime light changes were analyzed to assess socio-economic development in heritage regions and cross-referenced with results indicating human interference to examine the relationship between urban development and heritage conservation. Additionally, we extracted various environmental and climate variables to evaluate the risk of flood disasters for these heritage sites. The findings suggest that heritage sites along the Silk Road are generally in good condition. Nevertheless, the substantial increase in construction land highlights challenges in heritage conservation and economic development. This study highlights the importance of vegetation coverage and water diversion measures to prevent floods, emphasizing the effectiveness of space observation in identifying risks. Such observation can help the government manage and protect valuable sites, advancing heritage protection within the framework of sustainable development goals (SDGs).