Sustainable Reuse of Industrial Heritage Buildings: A Novel Framework

Researchers at the China University of Mining and Technology have developed a comprehensive framework to evaluate the visual perception and reuse potential of coastal water heritage sites in eastern China. By integrating objective and subjective analysis, the framework aims to enhance both the visual quality and sustainable reuse potential of these historically significant buildings. The study, published in Scientific Reports, proposes a scalable and practical tool for policymakers and designers to contribute to broader cultural sustainability goals.

Key Takeaways:

• The framework combines objective analysis (drone photography, digital twin modeling, and semantic segmentation) with subjective data on perceptual dimensions (space, color, texture, uniqueness, culture, history, aesthetics, and pleasure) to evaluate the visual perception and reuse potential of 32 coastal water heritage sites.
• The objective analysis extracted six key visual indicators: Green Vegetation Index (GVI), Water Surface Index (WVI), Sky Coverage (SKVI), Hard Surface (HVI), Building Visibility (BVI), and Other Artificial Structures (OVI).
• Subjective data was collected via video-loop surveys (120 students) and online questionnaires (3,840 respondents) using a 5-point Likert scale.
• Multiple linear regression revealed that scenic beauty scores were most strongly predicted by GVI (b = 0.28, p < 0.01).
• The proposed framework offers a practical tool for policymakers and designers to enhance both the visual quality and sustainable reuse potential of linear industrial heritage.

Statistics:

• 32 coastal water heritage sites in eastern China were evaluated using the proposed framework.
• 3,840 respondents participated in online questionnaires.
• 120 students participated in video-loop surveys.
• The study found a strong correlation between GVI and scenic beauty scores (b = 0.28, p < 0.01).
• The framework was designed to be scalable and practical for policymakers and designers working with linear industrial heritage.

Sources:

• NewsRx. "Findings from China University of Mining and Technology Provide New Insights into Sustainability Research (Sustainable reuse evaluation framework for coastal industrial living preservation of heritage buildings based on visual perception driven)". Ecology, Environment & Conservation, October 31, 2025; p 88.
• Xiang Meng et al. "Sustainable reuse evaluation framework for coastal industrial living preservation of heritage buildings based on visual perception driven." Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):35859.