Digital preservation revitalizes Gulangyu Island's architectural heritage

Professor Li leads the students on a field trip to investigate the architecture of Gulangyu Island. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]

Li Yuan, a professor at Xiamen University's (XMU) School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, has pioneered a new model for cultural heritage preservation through digital technology with his team over the past decades.

Their work has not only safeguarded the endangered architectural legacy of Gulangyu Island but also facilitated global cultural exchanges, revitalizing the island's story in the digital age.

Gulangyu Island, spanning just 1.88 square kilometers, is home to over a thousand buildings, with more than 1,000 recognized for their historical significance. Among these, 53 have been designated as crucial UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Professor Li introduced a course titled "Architectural Heritage Preservation", encouraging students to actively engage in heritage conservation and digital technology. His team overcame interdisciplinary barriers to develop patented technology, addressing challenges in scanning hard-to-reach corners of ancient structures and enhancing the accuracy of digital models.

By integrating advanced technologies such as 3D laser scanning, drone-based oblique photogrammetry, and Building Information Modeling (BIM), they transformed high-tech tools into instruments for protecting Gulangyu Island.

The team established an extensive spatial database for the island, creating a holographic digital archive for the iconic Bagua Building. This archive has been included in the Ministry of Education's "Digital China Case Database" and the "Chinese Heritage Case Database".

In addition, they have developed an accessible metaverse education platform, transforming Gulangyu Island's case studies into engaging narratives for students, tourists, and the public. Through these efforts, Professor Li and his team have not only preserved the island's rich history but also have opened a perpetual window for global cultural dialogue.



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