APPLICATION OF OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY AND GIS TECHNOLOGIES IN THE INTEGRATED CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORIC CITIES IN CHINA: PRACTICES IN SHIGATSE, TIBET AND QUANZHOU (ZAYTON), FUJIAN

Abstract. Historic city, as the human settlement space developed in the earliest stage of a city, is the area that best demonstrates the profound cultural significance and urban spatial characteristics of a city. It is also an important and complex type in the field of international cultural heritage conservation. With China’s rapid urbanization in the last 30 years, large numbers of Chinese cities are becoming victims of urban problems. Both urban managers and researchers in related fields are well aware that urban development in the new era needs to be coped with from the perspective of leveraging existing stocks. The historic areas of a city make up a valuable stock of land in the city and an important spatial resource. A series of research topics arise in its wake: how to best preserve the characteristics of their historic layout, and avoid losing their identity; how to present its distinctive style with meticulous care; and how to make up for their deficiencies in infrastructure, public service, and environmental quality etc., while stimulating and evoking pride from city managers and the people in their historic city. The application of three-dimensional oblique photogrammetry and GIS technology in historical cities has provided more intuitive graphic support, more accurate spatial positioning, and more convenient data query and statistics for the conservation and development of historical cities. These not only facilitate better research, planning and design for professionals, but also assists city managers to make more adequate decisions.