Complex System Conservation Technology for Spatial Cultural Heritage Networks: A Case Study of Qinghai Province, China

Abstract

Qinghai Province, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, hosts 517 national/provincial heritage sites across 720,000 km², with spatial dispersion challenging conservation. Shifting from single-site models, current research stresses interconnectedness and systemic risks but lacks dynamic modeling and value quantification. This study uses ArcGIS, spatial syntax, and AI-driven multidimensional models (cultural value, environmental vulnerability, social connectivity) to analyze spatial distributions. For the first time, we identify hierarchical structures and vulnerability patterns, yielding three outcomes: (1) a five-tier vulnerability classification framework; (2) a “Three Cores, Three Belts” conservation network; and (3) pathways for heritage activation. These findings advance UNESCO’s “Cultural-Natural Symbiosis” agenda, addressing plateau conservation challenges through an integrated technical system (spatial analysis, risk simulation, decision support), positioning Qinghai as a potential International Demonstration Zone for plateau heritage conservation.