Evaluation of the Suitability of Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization in the Process of Underground Space Development: A Case Study of Xuzhou City

Utilizing underground space has become a means to address urban issues; however, heritage protection in underground development has become an unavoidable challenge. Whether to proceed with underground development in a heritage site requires a suitability study that considers various influencing factors to guide comprehensive protection planning. Therefore, conducting a suitability study for underground development in heritage sites is a critical issue that must be addressed before policy and planning decisions. Based on preliminary research, this study identifies and summarizes the influencing factors of underground heritage development suitability, innovatively constructs the “Underground Resource Development Suitability Index System of Cultural Heritage, URDSIS-CH”, and employs the “Dependency Analytic Process, DAP” method for evaluation. It explores spatial development issues arising from underground heritage development and clarifies the relationship mechanisms between relevant influencing factors. This study seeks to resolve the contradiction between underground space development and cultural heritage protection through technological and methodological approaches, providing insights for a more scientific approach to underground heritage preservation and utilization.