Investigating subsidence characteristics of Kyoto imperial garden cultural heritage shaped by historical landscape construction, through remote sensing

Abstract The Kyoto imperial gardens, regarded as “second nature” shaped by human transformation of the natural environment, include four of the most representative sites that serve as exemplary cases for land subsidence research. Analyzing subsiding characteristics is crucial for effective conservation. This study utilized time series Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to analysis and verified with GNSS data. Further investigations of the construction methods and garden history revealed: Sites whose foundations follow traditional Kyoto-palace practices may be susceptible to subsidence due to their placement within of thin Holocene sedimentary deposits; Landscapes constructed through lake excavation, hill construction, and stonework, may experience subsidence caused by thick Holocene deposits; Gardens following natural topography may undergo land deformation due to groundwater and pore pressure redistribution. This study integrates traditional construction and remote sensing, offering a reference framework for the monitoring and protection of heritage.