A study on the visual defensive system of the Moluo Tower Village, Western China, based on a multi-dimensional model

• Published in: Heritage science 2024-04, Vol.12 (1), p.120-19, Article 120
• Main Authors: Xiong, Wei, Wang, Licheng, Tu, Mengyuan, Li, Xiang, Jiang, Siwei, Liu, Qinglin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Authenticity; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cultural heritage; Culture; Defense; Defensive systems; Digitization; Economic factors; Effectiveness; Field study; Landscape architecture; Materials Science; Rural areas; Rural environments; Rural settlements; Social factors; Towers; Towns; Valleys; Villages; Visibility analysis
• ISSN: 2050-7445; 2050-7445
• DOI: 10.1186/s40494-024-01234-0

Scientifically validating the value of rural heritage and exploring construction wisdom has emerged as a significant challenge in the study of rural settlements worldwide. Rural heritage shows significant differences according to the natural environment, history, culture, and socio-economic factors. However, the assessment of the authenticity and effectiveness of heritage values have yet to be quantified due to the difficulty in obtaining evidence directly from samples. By constructing a multi-dimensional model of villages for quantitative analysis, we proposed a multifaceted spatial visibility analysis method based on individual and combined defense structures to empirically study the remains of eight towers in Moluo village, western China. This study demonstrated that towers serve as regional defense structures and are essential for constructing a comprehensive and effective visual defensive system (VDS) in Moluo village, a typical military defense village. The effectiveness and coverage of the towers vary depending on their location, height, type, and other factors. They form a complementary and synergistic relationship, playing a dual mechanism of public and private, local and overall defense. In summary, this method enables the feasible quantification and analysis of the functional value of rural heritage through landscape visual analysis. It provides a new perspective for studying the authenticity of heritage functions.