Unraveling the revitalization suitability of Great Wall fortress heritage via RSI

As a living heritage and a pivotal hub of the Great Wall, the revitalization and utilization of its fortresses are essential for both ensuring the sustainable development of the heritage and facilitating rural revitalization. This study takes Miyun District, Beijing, as a case study. A five-dimensional framework was developed to identify Undocumented Fortress Heritage (UFH). Furthermore, the Revitalization Suitability Index (RSI) with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)–Entropy Weight Method (EWM) combination weighting as its core is proposed to unravel renewal suitability. The results show that a total of 10 UFHs were identified in Miyun District. Based on the evaluation results, they were classified into three categories: priority renewal, conditional renewal, and conservation. These findings provide theoretical support and practical guidance for revitalizing the Great Wall fortresses in Miyun. Moreover, this study establishes a generalizable framework that can serve as a reference for heritage identification and fortress revitalization strategies in other regions.