Using RS and GIS for risk management of natural disasters consequences: The case of cultural heritage in Jinan city, China

The preservation of cultural heritage is confronted with significant challenges due to its extensive history and the increasing impact of climate change, particularly natural disasters. Instead of solely investing resources in post-disaster restoration efforts, implementing a proactive risk-management strategy for natural disasters is a more effective approach. This study introduces an analytical and evaluative methodology grounded in remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to bridge the existing gap in understanding natural disaster risks to cultural heritage sites in Jinan, China. By leveraging a combination of RS data and established methodologies such as the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number, Maximum entropy, and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the risks posed by various disasters including floods, landslides, earthquakes, and erosion. Furthermore, GIS and the Analytic Hierarchy Process were utilized to facilitate the risk assessment. Detailed disaster risk maps based on these assessments were produced. Our findings revealed that approximately 28.95 % of Jinan's cultural heritage sites face moderate to severe risks from natural disasters. Cultural heritage sites in Changqing District, Gangcheng District, and Laiwu District are particularly vulnerable to such calamities. These outcomes serve as crucial references for enhancing the safeguarding and management of cultural heritage, while informing disaster prevention and mitigation strategies in Jinan.