From corridors to networks: Public participation driven reconstruction of heritage corridor networks

Abstract

Constructing heritage corridor networks is an important pathway for the integrated conservation and sustainable development of heritage resources. Using Miyun District, Beijing, as a case study, this study sought to fill the gaps in existing heritage corridor research, particularly the insufficient consideration of public participation and the failure to establish a network. Kernel Density Estimation was employed to reveal the spatial distribution characteristics of different heritage types. Circuit theory was then used to construct an initial corridor network. Subsequently, photo check-in data from the Liuzhijiao platform were used to identify Public Participation Source Point (PPSP) through the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), based on which the initial corridor network was refined. Finally, the corridor network was graded using a Multiple Centrality Assessment (MCA) model incorporating corridor resistance as an additional indicator. The results show that: (1) the heritage distribution in Miyun District exhibited a pattern of three cores and one belt, shaped by both natural environmental constraints and clear functional orientation. (2) The corridor network was concentrated along the Great Wall distribution belt, with particularly high densities in the western and northeastern areas. (3) High grade corridors were mainly distributed to the north, east, and northwest of the reservoir, where they functioned as key links among major heritage clusters. The findings provide a scientific basis for heritage conservation and adaptive reuse in Miyun District, while the proposed analytical framework may also serve as a useful reference for heritage corridor network construction in other regions.