A flexible multidimensional evaluation model for the dynamic values of traditional villages: Empirical study of cases in Northern Shaanxi

Abstract

In the process of rural revitalization, it is of great social relevance to comprehensively and systematically identify the dynamic values of traditional villages and evaluate them objectively and effectively. In the face of the diverse and dynamically evolving traditional villages, the traditional standardized evaluation system can hardly adapt to the changing development reality, so the construction of a more flexible evaluation model is a key technical problem that needs to be solved. This study aimed to identify the composition, relationships, and characteristics of dynamic values from three aspects: spatial functions, landscape imagery, and humanistic spirit. A multidimensional evaluation framework including resource value, element continuity, dynamic conditions, functional adaptation, dynamic effects, and development potential was constructed, and a flexible evaluation model consisting of 3 types and 50 indicators was formed. The study used 54 national-level traditional villages in Northern Shaanxi as cases for validating the model. The study results show that: 1) Five characteristics of the dynamic values of traditional villages are distinctive, which include multiplicity, integrity, dynamicity, vulnerability, and adaptability. 2) The flexible multidimensional assessment model results basically conform to the development reality in Northern Shaanxi, and show significant differences in different evaluation dimensions, highlighting the unique values of different types of traditional villages. 3) In a comprehensive analysis, the dynamic values of the 54 national-level traditional villages in Northern Shaanxi are in the range of 42.42-83.60, with an average score of 62.55, and the percentage of traditional villages with high dynamic value and above is about 39%, and the percentage of traditional villages with average dynamic value and below is about 61%, so the problem of insufficient level of development of the dynamic values of a large number of traditional villages still exists in the region. The flexible multidimensional evaluation model of the dynamic values of traditional villages has the characteristics of wide applicability and representativeness, is applicable to the actual situation of traditional villages of various types, and can accurately and objectively reflect the value assessment in multiple dimensions, which is better adapted to the realistic needs of rural revitalization and heritage conservation at the present stage. This research enriches and promotes the theoretical study and practice of the value evaluation of traditional villages by exploring the technical improvement from unidimensional static evaluation to multidimensional dynamic evaluation.