Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024

Taking 992 world cultural heritage (WCH) sites as the research object, the spatial distribution and evolution characteristics of WCH were analyzed by kernel density analysis, mathematical statistics, standard deviation ellipse, among other methods, and nine correlation factors were selected to explo...

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Main Authors: Yangyang Lu, Qingwen Han, Zheng Zhang, Zhong Sun, Jian Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/5/190
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author Yangyang Lu
Qingwen Han
Zheng Zhang
Zhong Sun
Jian Dai
author_facet Yangyang Lu
Qingwen Han
Zheng Zhang
Zhong Sun
Jian Dai
author_sort Yangyang Lu
collection DOAJ
description Taking 992 world cultural heritage (WCH) sites as the research object, the spatial distribution and evolution characteristics of WCH were analyzed by kernel density analysis, mathematical statistics, standard deviation ellipse, among other methods, and nine correlation factors were selected to explore the mechanism underlying the spatial and elevation-dependent distribution patterns of WCH and their sensitivity to climate change by using geographic detectors and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models. The results show the following: (1) The spatial distribution type of WCH is aggregation, and 80% of WCH are clustered below 500 m, with Europe and Asia-Pacific as the primary hotspots. (2) The distribution of WCH tends to be global and in the direction of “W-WN” to “E-ES”, and the average center movement direction is “E → EN → ES → E”. There is a trend of positive east–west distribution on the whole. (3) Road density, per capita GDP, and other factors are the dominant factors affecting the spatial pattern of world cultural heritage, and the interaction between the factors shows a nonlinear enhancement or two-factor enhancement trend. (4) There are spatial differences in the mechanisms of the factors, with river density contributing positively, aspect rate and forest cover contributing negatively, population density, per capita GDP, and road density mainly contributing positively to the spatial distribution of the WCH, annual precipitation mainly contributing negatively, and the positive and negative effects of altitude and GDP being comparable. Based on the above-mentioned differences in spatial distribution, evolutionary characteristics, and mechanism of action, the causes are discussed, and some suggestions for developing and protecting the world cultural heritage are presented.
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spelling doaj-art-292a248bd89c4b1cabe38f74e66d86882025-08-20T03:14:39ZengMDPI AGISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information2220-99642025-04-0114519010.3390/ijgi14050190Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024Yangyang Lu0Qingwen Han1Zheng Zhang2Zhong Sun3Jian Dai4Department of Urban Construction, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaCollege of Architecture, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang 473006, ChinaCollege of Architecture, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang 473006, ChinaCollege of Architecture, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang 473006, ChinaDepartment of Urban Construction, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaTaking 992 world cultural heritage (WCH) sites as the research object, the spatial distribution and evolution characteristics of WCH were analyzed by kernel density analysis, mathematical statistics, standard deviation ellipse, among other methods, and nine correlation factors were selected to explore the mechanism underlying the spatial and elevation-dependent distribution patterns of WCH and their sensitivity to climate change by using geographic detectors and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models. The results show the following: (1) The spatial distribution type of WCH is aggregation, and 80% of WCH are clustered below 500 m, with Europe and Asia-Pacific as the primary hotspots. (2) The distribution of WCH tends to be global and in the direction of “W-WN” to “E-ES”, and the average center movement direction is “E → EN → ES → E”. There is a trend of positive east–west distribution on the whole. (3) Road density, per capita GDP, and other factors are the dominant factors affecting the spatial pattern of world cultural heritage, and the interaction between the factors shows a nonlinear enhancement or two-factor enhancement trend. (4) There are spatial differences in the mechanisms of the factors, with river density contributing positively, aspect rate and forest cover contributing negatively, population density, per capita GDP, and road density mainly contributing positively to the spatial distribution of the WCH, annual precipitation mainly contributing negatively, and the positive and negative effects of altitude and GDP being comparable. Based on the above-mentioned differences in spatial distribution, evolutionary characteristics, and mechanism of action, the causes are discussed, and some suggestions for developing and protecting the world cultural heritage are presented.https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/5/190world cultural heritageGIS-based analysisspatial distributionaffecting factorsgeographic detectorMGWR
spellingShingle Yangyang Lu
Qingwen Han
Zheng Zhang
Zhong Sun
Jian Dai
Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
world cultural heritage
GIS-based analysis
spatial distribution
affecting factors
geographic detector
MGWR
title Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024
title_full Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024
title_short Spatiotemporal Distribution and Evolution of Global World Cultural Heritage, 1972–2024
title_sort spatiotemporal distribution and evolution of global world cultural heritage 1972 2024
topic world cultural heritage
GIS-based analysis
spatial distribution
affecting factors
geographic detector
MGWR
url https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/5/190
work_keys_str_mv AT yangyanglu spatiotemporaldistributionandevolutionofglobalworldculturalheritage19722024
AT qingwenhan spatiotemporaldistributionandevolutionofglobalworldculturalheritage19722024
AT zhengzhang spatiotemporaldistributionandevolutionofglobalworldculturalheritage19722024
AT zhongsun spatiotemporaldistributionandevolutionofglobalworldculturalheritage19722024
AT jiandai spatiotemporaldistributionandevolutionofglobalworldculturalheritage19722024