Evaluation of Underground Space Resources in Ancient Cities from the Perspective of Organic Renewal: A Case Study of Shaoxing Ancient City

Abstract

China has entered a period of urban renewal, with the focus shifting from large-scale incremental construction to both upgrading existing building quality and adjusting incremental structures. There are three main types of urban renewal: demolition and reconstruction, comprehensive improvement, and organic renewal. The latter systematically optimizes and enhances urban functions, spaces, and culture through gradual renovation methods and is, therefore, suitable for use in ancient cities. To promote organic renewal, the problem of limited space resources must first be addressed, which can be resolved to a certain extent by the moderate development of underground spaces; preliminary evaluations of the development potential are also required. In consideration of the demands of organic renewal, we constructed a novel indicator system for evaluating underground space development potential (USDP) in ancient cities that assesses two dimensions: development demand and development suitability. A multi-factor comprehensive evaluation method was adopted to quantify the indicators of USDP, taking Shaoxing Ancient City (SAC) as the case study. According to the USDP evaluation, SAC can be divided into four kinds of areas: high-potential, general-potential, low-potential, and prohibited development areas. High-potential areas accounted for 16.38% of the total evaluation area and were primarily concentrated in or near key locations: train transit stations (Shaoxing Railway Station), public service facilities, evacuated land, and cultural and tourism facilities around historic districts (Shusheng Guli Historical and Cultural Street). The proposed development strategies for these areas included the interconnection of metro stations, redevelopment of relocation-related and vacated land, construction of underground cultural corridors, and supplementation of parking facilities. For developed underground spaces with low utilization efficiency, functional renewal and management improvement measures were put forward. Our method of evaluating the USDP of ancient cities and the strategies proposed to optimize the utilization of underground space can provide reference examples for SAC and other similar ancient cities.

1. Introduction

Urban renewal is a strategic process used to improve specific areas of a city that are poorly developed or underdeveloped. Many attempts at urban renewal were made by developed nations during the late 19th century, and a particularly intense phase of renewal occurred in the late 1940s under the rubric of reconstruction [1,2]. There are three main types of urban renewal: “demolition and reconstruction”, “comprehensive improvement”, and “organic renewal”. “Demolition and reconstruction” is based on the demolition of large-scale, old buildings and the construction of new ones. “Comprehensive improvement” focuses on upgrading the existing structures and public spaces without full-scale demolition, including repairs to aging components, the modernization of facilities, and environmental enhancements to improve livability [3]. “Organic renewal” is a renovation approach based on the principle of respecting historical heritage, featuring a “gradual, patch-like” method [4].

In China, the central government has vigorously advocated for the implementation of urban renewal, and all levels of government have responded accordingly since 2022. It must be stressed that the renewal of ancient cities, as important components of urban civilization, is a key aspect of both urban renewal promotion and the optimization of urban stock space, allowing both the development and traditional memory of a city to be recorded [5]. Compared with newer urban areas, ancient cities may present problems such as narrow roads, poor traffic flow, unsatisfactory living conditions, and relatively insufficient public service facilities. Therefore, in order to improve their citizens’ quality of life, the organic renewal of ancient cities is a frequent topic of debate in China [6]. In the late 1970s, Wu [4] proposed the concept of “organic renewal” to address the contradictions between urban construction and historical preservation in China. Unlike the traditional approach of large-scale demolition, which destroys the historical and cultural heritage of ancient cities, organic renewal is carried out with the core aims of respecting history, protecting cultural heritage, inheriting urban memory, focusing on sustainable urban development, and satisfying residents’ needs [7,8]. This concept can effectively balance the protection of ancient culture with the expansion of spatial functions, providing a theoretical foundation for evaluating the underground space available in ancient cities. This approach also seeks to overcome the limitations encountered during the development of ancient cities, and to achieve the goal of expanding their functions and reshaping their space.

However, the organic renewal of ancient cities is constrained by the limited development space available on the ground in China [9,10]. Therefore, developing new methods to unlock the urban land use potential of ancient cities is crucial in order to optimize their urban functions, enhance their vitality, and surmount the limitation of insufficient ground space. Underground space, as an important component of strategic national land resources [11], has been utilized in the efficient and sustainable development of urban land resources worldwide [12]. International metropolises such as New York, London, Paris, and Chicago have developed and utilized their underground space to build rail transit systems, thereby alleviating traffic pressure in central urban areas and improving residents’ quality of life [13,14,15]. In ancient cities, underground spaces have become the preferred area of development for uses such as rail transit, commercial streets, infrastructure, logistics, and museums in order to alleviate operational pressure as they do not occupy ground-level space [16,17]. In the process of renewing ancient cities, the orderly and prudent development of underground spaces can promote the further upgrading of their functions, improve the comprehensive utilization efficiency of urban land, effectively avoid damaging the street layout and style of historic urban areas while making up for their lack of public infrastructure [18,19], bring vitality to the city, and effectively promote its revitalization.

In metropolitan areas of China, the abovementioned underground development projects have been implemented as a result of these areas’ limited overground space resources. However, in ancient cities, extreme caution should be exercised when implementing those projects by prioritizing the protection of historical heritage. Furthermore, compared to other regions, the probability of historical relics residing beneath ancient cities is higher. Therefore, conducting a scientific assessment of their underground space development potential has become a prerequisite for organic renewal [20], so as to better develop and utilize the space and provide reasonable planning support for developers. At present, most studies on the development of underground space resources, both at home and abroad, primarily focus on engineering-related factors such as engineering geology, hydrogeology, site stability, geological disasters, topography, and geomorphology [21,22]. However, factors related to organic renewal, such as ecological sensitivity, historical and cultural protection, the current status of underground spaces, overground construction conditions, and land use, have been neglected. These factors should be considered together to evaluate underground space development potential (USDP), especially in ancient cities. By doing so, the negative impacts of underground space development (USD) will mostly be eliminated, and the feasibility of the corresponding projects will be improved [23].

In consideration of the practical needs of organic renewal in ancient city areas, we constructed a novel indicator system for evaluating USDP in two dimensions: development demand and development suitability for underground space. Using a multi-factor comprehensive evaluation method, a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, and a GIS spatial analysis method, we evaluated the USDP of Shaoxing Ancient City (SAC) by classifying, analyzing, and visualizing its spatial distribution characteristics. Later in this article, we will propose principles and strategies for optimizing the utilization of underground space in SAC, which can act as a reference for underground spaces in other ancient cities or historic districts.

2. Literature Review

The evaluation of USDP, an important component of underground space resources, refers to a comprehensive assessment of potential supply capacity and development value. It reflects the supply–demand matching relationship for underground space resources and includes two dimensions: suitability evaluation (from the supply side of USD) and development value (from the demand side) [24]. The suitability evaluation is an overall judgment on the engineering difficulties of USD and utilization, which must be carried out after fully exploring the area’s geology, hydrology, and terrain and determining the current status of the underground space’s development and utilization [21]. The development value of underground space refers to the comprehensive manifestation of economic benefits, social utilities, environmental benefits, and strategic significance that can be generated through the development and utilization of urban underground space resources. Many scholars in China have already conducted evaluations of underground space potential, but most studies have focused on engineering conditions. For instance, in his research on the comprehensive potential evaluation model for underground space development in coastal cities, Li [25] only focused on factors such as the geological environment, while in a study on models and strategies for the development of underground space in ancient cities, Hong [26] emphasized that while organic renewal has become the core framework for ancient city protection in China, its integration with underground space evaluation remains relatively weak and necessitates in-depth exploration.

In terms of evaluation indicators, scholars have conducted extensive research in the field of urban USDP evaluation. For example, Sterling et al. [27] summarized their research on Minneapolis–Saint Paul in the United States, described the distribution range and specific forms of resources that can be developed and utilized in the area, and provided a distribution map of subsurface space resources that can be effectively utilized. Youssef et al. [28] conducted a suitability study for the development and utilization of underground space, considering the impact of potential geological engineering conditions and hazards on underground projects. Doyle [29] studied the city of San Antonio, Texas, by evaluating the undeveloped underground resources in the area and obtaining a corresponding resource potential map. Most of these studies discussed either the potential value or the suitability of USD, with only a few studies involving a comprehensive evaluation of the difficulty of development and the demand for space from residents. Regarding the specific content of indicators, most scholars have focused on the geological engineering perspective, covering aspects such as topography, geomorphology, hydrogeological engineering conditions, unfavorable geology, and disasters [30]. In recent years, some authors have further considered existing construction restriction factors, including the presence of existing structures, control and protection areas as designated in urban planning, population density, traffic conditions, urban land prices, and socio-economic factors. Overall, there is still limited systematic consideration of overground environment demand factors for underground space.

The evaluation methods for underground space mainly include weighting methods and mathematical evaluation models. Most studies use the Delphi method (the expert scoring method), the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, or a combination to assign weights to indicators in order to evaluate urban USDP. Based on the AHP method, some scholars have used entropy weight [31] and principal component analysis [32] in the process of assigning weights. In terms of mathematical evaluation models, scholars have widely applied methods such as comprehensive indexes, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation [33], multi-objective linear weighting function [34], grey evaluation [35], and extension evaluation [36] to evaluate USDP. At present, expert scoring, the AHP, and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation are the most mainstream methods [37], which have been used to explore index systems, methods, and other related aspects of USDP evaluation. However, on the whole, the evaluation of urban USDP is still at an exploratory stage, especially in special areas such as ancient cities, historical and cultural blocks, and ecological protection areas.

At present, in terms of the index systems used and the technical level of USDP evaluation in ancient cities, most studies have focused on historical and cultural blocks and their surrounding areas. Zhang [33] established a system for evaluating the quality of underground space resources by taking the historical blocks in the old urban area of Yangzhou City in China as the study area, highlighting elements such as cultural relic protection. Wang [38] constructed an index system based on four aspects, including protection restrictions and the external environment, and carried out an empirical evaluation of the historical and cultural blocks in Tianjin City, China. Zhu [39] analyzed multiple influencing factors and clarified the grading standards and methods for USD. However, few relevant studies have focused on an entire ancient or historic city. Furthermore, the construction of evaluation systems for ancient cities still neglects the USD demands regarding organic renewal.

To summarize, while existing studies on urban USDP have laid a certain foundation in terms of evaluation methods and engineering indicators, research related to organic renewal has also confirmed its significance for ancient city protection by emphasizing incremental, heritage-respecting renewal models. However, three key gaps remain in the current literature: first, most USDP evaluations prioritize engineering feasibility but overlook demand factors derived from organic renewal; second, studies mostly focus on small-scale areas such as historical and cultural blocks, lacking systematic evaluations on the scale of an entire ancient city; and third, the integration of organic renewal concepts into USDP evaluation frameworks is insufficient. Against this backdrop, this study takes SAC—a national-level historic and cultural city with limited aboveground development space and an urgent need for organic renewal—as its research object. Focusing on an entire ancient city and using the demands of urban organic renewal as a guide, this study integrates multi-factor comprehensive and fuzzy evaluation methods to construct a new evaluation framework for USDP. We conduct corresponding empirical research using GIS spatial analysis technology, ultimately providing scientific references for the development and utilization of underground space in the study area and in other similar ancient cities.

3. Study Area and Data Source

3.1. Study Area

Situated in the Yuecheng District of Shaoxing City in China, the study area is the central urban area of Shaoxing City, also known as SAC, a national-level historic city approved by the State Council of China. The study area is defined by the outer banks of the ring moat in the Yuecheng District of the city, covering an area of approximately 9 km². This ancient city’s USD began in the early 1970s, primarily driven by civil defense initiatives. Currently, SAC has an extensive network of underground spaces, totaling approximately 993,700 square meters, distributed across 110 sites. Although some progress has been made in construction over the last four decades, the underground spaces in SAC are mainly used as parking facilities. In addition, there is a lack of organic linkage between the aboveground and underground spaces in SAC. Consequently, there is substantial potential for optimizing the use of these developed underground resources (refer to Figure 1).

3.2. Data Sources

The data used in this study include information on land use, hydrological and geological engineering, current underground spaces, building boundaries, and road networks, all of which were obtained from the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Shaoxing City. The specific information used is shown in

Table 1. Summary of the USDP data evaluation.

Data	Spatial Resolution	Acquisition Date	Data Sources
Land use data	Vector Data	2022	Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Shaoxing City
Engineering hydrological	Raster Data (5 m × 5 m)	2020
Geological data	Raster Data (5 m × 5 m)	2020
Current underground space data	Vector Data	2022
Building boundary data	Vector Data	2022
Road network data	Vector Data	2022

. The Shaoxing Historic and Cultural City Protection Office provided historical and cultural heritage inventories and the corresponding conservation plans. Population data from the Seventh National Census, provided by local street offices, was also utilized. Additionally, data on residents’ demands were collected through on-site visits and interviews.

Given the complexity of the evaluation indicators and the inconsistency in scales, the evaluation was carried out using the ArcGIS 10.8 platform since it is capable of utilizing spatial relationships to assign values to land characteristics, facilitating spatial-scale and data-type transformation and employing spatial analysis functions to evaluate USDP.

4. Methodology

4.1. Scope and Objectives of the Evaluation

Due to the constraints of ancient city protections and the currently limited accuracy and construction levels of geological surveys, when developing underground spaces deeper than −30 m, it is not only difficult to avoid damaging the historical architectural style and spatial pattern of an ancient city, but also hard to ensure both safety in construction and cost-effectiveness. Thus, this research focused on evaluating USDP at depths ranging from 0 to −30 m in SAC. Underground space in this depth range is commonly utilized for developing urban infrastructure such as subway systems, underground parking facilities, utility tunnels, and civil air defense projects [40]. Through this evaluation, we systematically classified and graded USDP in SAC, thereby providing a scientific basis and reference for future USD [41].

4.2. Evaluation Model

In consideration of the demands of urban organic renewal, we established an indicator system for evaluating USDP in two dimensions: development suitability and development demand. When assessing development suitability, the primary focus must be on policy considerations such as protecting cultural relics, historical districts, and underground archaeological sites so as to minimize impacts on the authenticity of urban heritage. Additionally, the scale of USD is constrained by ecological protection areas, including green spaces and water bodies. Zhao [42] emphasized the importance of the ecological environment and the historical and cultural dimension when assessing underground space resources. Wu [43] incorporated environmental factors and humanistic factors into a suitability assessment of underground space resource engineering. From the perspective of engineering conditions, the geotechnical conditions that may impact the development and utilization of underground spaces include unstable geological conditions, geological hazards, and groundwater conditions. From the perspective of engineering activities, the impacts that the subsurface foundations of existing buildings and developed underground spaces can have on underground space resources should not be underestimated.

In addition to respecting history, protecting cultural heritage, and inheriting urban memory, the organic renewal of cities also aims to improve urban quality by using a person-centered approach [8]. The four aspects of “spatial quality improvement, transportation efficiency enhancement, spatial value increment, and functional deficiency remedying”, respectively, correspond to optimizing living environments, resolving resource misallocation, activating spatial potential, and meeting people’s livelihood needs. Together, these four aspects form a concrete system for organic renewal in the field of underground space, with clear targets. Scholars such as Chen [44], You [45], and Wu [46] have researched the core dimensions of this approach, including traffic efficiency, spatial value, and functional gap-filling, when evaluating the development value of urban underground space (the demand-side evaluation of urban USD). Therefore, under the dimension of people’s needs, we evaluated the demand for USDP in terms of four aspects: spatial quality improvement, transportation efficiency enhancement, spatial value increment, and functional deficiency remedying. Based on the suitability and demand for development, our evaluation system framework for USDP was constructed as illustrated in Figure 2.

4.3. Evaluation Indicators of Development Demand Levels

Spatial Quality Improvement Needs: Areas with cultural and tourism characteristics and spaces of urban renewal can promote the integrated use of aboveground and underground spaces. On the one hand, underground spaces offer good protection and environmental stability, which are highly beneficial for the display and preservation of historical artifacts. On the other hand, from an urban renewal perspective, redevelopment or minor renovations in land use correspond to underground spaces with significant development potential. An analysis of these quality enhancement factors is presented in

Table 2. Factors influencing demand for quality improvement.

Location	Components
Key development areas	Protection and Utilization of Ancient Cities “14th Five-Year Plan”: Key renewal areas proposed in the planning and ancient city renewal action plan
Ancient city functional axis	Key location impact (subway line intersections), the main development axis of the ancient city
Ancient City Cultural Ring	The core cultural display belt of the ancient city (including historical and cultural blocks, historic buildings, and other special spaces)
Other characteristic elements	The ancient city’s characteristic elements outside the ring
Area without characteristic elements	Other urban areas

.

Transportation Efficiency Enhancement Needs: An efficient underground railway network and convenient transportation connectivity contribute to rapid urban development. In terms of transportation facilities, our analysis of the impact range of rail transit stations indicates that the core station catchment area is within 300 m (see Figure 3). During the protection and development of historic cities, constructing a convenient subway system helps preserve the ground environment and historical characteristics of the districts [47].

Spatial Value Increment Needs: Value addition needs reflect the shift in demand from aboveground to underground space, primarily considering socio-economic benefits. This encompasses three factors: population density, land value, and land use functions. Population density, defined as the ratio of the number of people to the land area within a given region, indicates the intensity and concentration of demand for spatial resources and municipal facilities per unit area of land.

Benchmark land value is a crucial factor in assessing the value of underground space from the perspective of land resources. Underground space can be valuable for its extension and the expansion of urban land resources, offering capacity enhancement and agglomeration effects [48].

Urban land use types determine the comprehensive benefits of spatial resources and influence the types and values of underground spaces. The impact of various land uses on the demand and development value of underground space is detailed in

Table 3. Analysis of land use functions.

Nature of Land Use	Ground Land Use Function	Corresponding Underground Functional Facilities	Development Value
B	Commercial service facility land use	An underground complex combining a commercial business center and a transportation hub, providing three-dimensional transportation	High
A	Cultural facility land use	Underground exhibitions, underground collections, or underground cultural activities	High
A1	Administrative office space	Underground administration, underground parking system	Higher
S	Land for road and traffic facilities	Rail transit, integrated pipe gallery, or underground public service facilities combining commercial and transportation functions	Higher
G	Green spaces and squares	Underground parking or semi-underground public space for public interaction	Higher
A3	Education and scientific research land use	Underground pick-up space	Medium to high
A5	Medical and health land use	Underground medical space	Medium to high
R	Residential land use	Underground parking system, underground infrastructure, or innovative underground neighborhood space, supporting facilities for community life circle	Medium
U	Municipal public facility	Underground municipal utilities or integrated pipe gallery	Medium
W	Logistics and warehousing land use	Underground warehouse or underground logistics system	Lower
M	Industrial land use	Underground warehouses or special industrial workshops that require underground environments	Lower

.

Functional Deficiency-Remedying Needs: Historic cities, often characterized by lower elevations and long-term static protection, frequently suffer from outdated infrastructure and are prone to disasters such as urban flooding. Where conditions permit, constructing underground sponge complexes can enhance stormwater management and increase the resilience of historic cities to flooding and water-related disasters. In addition, conducting on-site visits and interviews can improve scientific understanding of the area’s actual shortcomings in the demand for support facilities in various streets and communities. Therefore, the rational development and utilization of underground space will help ameliorate issues such as the inadequacy of facilities in the ancient city.

4.4. Evaluation Indicators of Suitability Levels

Historical Protection Conditions: Historical and cultural resources within historic cities are categorized into two spatial forms: points and areas. Point resources include national, provincial, and municipal cultural heritage sites, as well as ancient bridges, notable trees, and buried archaeological remains. Area resources encompass the core protection areas of historical and cultural districts, construction control areas, and scenic coordination areas, along with buffer zones around the Grand Canal National Heritage Protection Area. The scope and protection levels of these various spatial elements differ, as outlined in

Table 4. Underground space historic preservation element analysis.

Category	Ancient City Protection Factors Related to Underground Space Construction
points (Cultural relics, ancient bridges, ancient trees)	National cultural relics protection units (buffer zone 30 m)
	Provincial cultural relics protection unit (buffer zone 20 m)
	Municipal cultural relics protection units and sites (buffer zone 10 m)
	Ancient bridges, ancient trees, and famous trees (buffer zone 10 m)
	Underground archaeological sites
areas (Protection area, construction control area, and landscape control area)	Core protection area of historical and cultural blocks; Grand Canal National Heritage Protection and Control Area
	Historical and cultural block construction control area
	Historical and cultural district style coordination area

. It is particularly important to note that core protection areas for historical artifacts and buildings, as well as underground archaeological sites, were designated as prohibited areas for development during the evaluation.

Ecological Protection Conditions: Green spaces and water bodies are crucial components of urban ecological systems. The development and construction of underground spaces can impact the ecological environments of surface water bodies and interrupt their relationship with groundwater replenishment; therefore, a certain buffer zone should generally be maintained around water bodies [49]. Additionally, the scale and depth of USD in green areas are influenced by ecological protection levels, primarily those affecting the normal growth of plant root systems.

Engineering Conditions: Soil and rock masses serve as the foundation for urban underground spaces. Geotechnical conditions directly affect the construction difficulty, cost, and subsequent maintenance of USD. Geological hazards can increase the risks associated with underground space construction, with significant hazards including fault zones and subsidence areas [50]. The type, depth, and corrosiveness of groundwater also have a substantial impact on the development and utilization of underground spaces.

Engineering Activities: Unlike engineering conditions, engineering activities focus on the impact of the built environment—both aboveground and underground—on the quality of underground spaces. This includes factors such as the number of building floors, the structural design, and the current state of existing underground space excavation. The number of floors in buildings can restrict USD, and existing underground spaces can affect the safety of building foundations and site conditions. The greater the number of aboveground building floors, the larger the impact on the underground space [51].

4.5. Evaluation Method and Weights

The evaluation of USDP is a multi-dimensional and multi-attribute problem focused on complex environments. Thus, a multi-factor comprehensive assessment method was employed, combined with a dominant factor evaluation approach. In terms of evaluation methodology, the expert scoring method was used to establish the allocation of weights, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was applied for unifying the dimensions and standardizing the indicators. Additionally, various techniques and methods used in natural resource surveys and assessments, such as element analysis and exclusion methods, multi-factor comprehensive assessments, and parcel unit overlay methods, were integrated into the evaluation process [52].

4.5.1. Evaluation Indicator Weights

Based on the framework for evaluating the USDP in historic cities, specific representation factors were selected for each evaluation criterion. Six experts from the fields of urban and rural planning, historical heritage protection, and underground space engineering were invited to participate. These experts, having a thorough understanding of the concept of USDP in historic cities, provided professional evaluations with significant reference value. After calculating the weights and conducting consistency checks, those weights that passed the examination were averaged arithmetically to obtain the final composite scores and establish the total ranking of each evaluation criterion. The specific evaluation elements and their relative weights are detailed in

Table 5. Aspects and weights of elements for evaluating the potential for USD.

Target Layer	Criteria Layers and Weights	Evaluation Indicators	Evaluation	Relative Weight
Demand factor indicator	Spatial quality improvement (0.3)	Ancient city cultural tourism characteristic space (X1)	Characteristic spatial structure and potential underground cultural tourism service connection points	0.12
		Key land for renovation (X2)	Idle and inefficient land use, renovation, and high-rise relocation	0.18
	Transportation efficiency enhancement (0.2)	Transportation facility connection (X3)	Public transport transfer points	0.2
	Spatial value increment (0.3)	Floating population density (X4)	Tencent Yi Travel Data	0.1
		Land value (X5)	The benchmark land price for commercial and service land is high	0.1
		Current land use function (X6)	Developing the value of underground space	0.1
	Functional deficiency remedying (0.2)	Resilient security (X7)	Waterlogging points and flood control and drainage demand points	0.1
		Residents’ demands (X8)	High permanent population density and lack of facilities	0.1
Suitability factor indicator	Historical preservation constraints (0.265)	Historic preservation resources (Y1)	Sum of the points and areas of historical and cultural resources within the plot	0.265
	Ecologically sensitive constraints (0.13)	Ecologically sensitive areas (Y2)	High ecological protection level and ecological service capacity	0.13
	Engineering conditions (0.3)	Rock and soil bearing capacity (Y3)	Poor suitability for engineering construction and low bearing capacity	0.095
		Geological disasters (Y4)	Area highly prone to disasters	0.1
		Single well water yield (Y5)	Unfavorable hydrological conditions	0.105
	Engineering activities (0.305)	Building height (Y6)	Basic occupation area	0.108
		Building structure (Y7)	Areas with high vulnerability of surface building structures	0.1
		Status of underground space (Y8)	Underground built areas	0.097

.

4.5.2. Quantification of the Evaluating Indicators

Based on the assigned weights, the evaluation units and standard quantification methods are defined as follows.

Evaluation Units: The basic evaluation unit selected was parcels of land. This approach allows for the integration of various data types and eliminates those differences in land types and heterogeneity that occur in grid-based evaluations, thereby enhancing the dimensionality of the evaluation unit attributes.

Quantification and Standardization: All indicators were subjected to quantification, standardization, and normalization processes. For measurable indicators, normalization was performed. Scoring values were established for different value ranges, based on the relevant regulations, standards, and engineering practices. A linear interpolation method was employed within the [0, 10] range to determine the scores (Equation (1)).

$$x^{\ast }={\displaystyle \frac{x-min}{max-min}}$$

(1)

For qualitative evaluation indicators that could not be directly quantified, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and expert assessment methods were used to determine the levels. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, based on the membership function of fuzzy mathematics, converts qualitative assessments into quantitative evaluations by categorizing the variation range of the assessed objects into different levels, thereby integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

In the assessment of underground space resources in historic cities, calculations involve indicators from various dimensions, including qualitative evaluations of historical and cultural elements and quantitative data related to engineering and hydrological geology. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method effectively addresses the challenge of unifying qualitative and quantitative indicators. The quantified score boundaries for each level were set at 10, 8, 6, 4, and 2. Detailed quantification standards for the relevant evaluation indicators are provided in

Table 6. Quantitative standards for USD indicators in the ancient city of Shaoxing.

Indicator Name	Evaluation Criteria
	2	4	6	8	10
X1	None	-	Characteristic space outside the ring belt	Core cultural circle	Urban development axis
X2	Other areas	-	-	-	Belonging
X3	Other areas	-	Transportation hub within 500 m	-	Transportation hub within 300 m
X4	Min-max standardization
X5	Min-max standardization
X6	Waters	Warehousing and industrial land	Municipal facilities, residential land	Public administration and public service land, land for transportation facilities	Commercial and service facilities, cultural facilities, green plaza land
X7	Other areas	-	-	-	Areas prone to disasters such as rainstorms and floods
X8	Min-max standardization
Y1 1	Min-max standardization
Y2	-	Parkland	-	Ecological and protective green space	Waters
Y3	Good suitability	-	-	-	Poor suitability
Y4	Areas not prone to land subsidence	-	-	Land subsidence prone areas	-
Y5	<100	[100, 400)	[400, 700)	[700, 1000)	[1000–3000)
Y6	Min-max standardization
Y7	Concrete structure	Hybrid structure	-	Brick structure	Wooden structure
Y8	No underground space	-	-	Single layer	Two floors and above

Note: ¹. In the evaluation scoring process, 3 points were assigned to the national cultural relics protection units, core protection areas of historical and cultural neighborhoods, and protection and control areas of the national heritage of the Grand Canal; 2 points were assigned to the provincial cultural relics protection units and construction control areas; 1 point was assigned to the municipal cultural relics protection units, historic buildings, ancient bridges, and ancient and famous trees, and corresponding buffer zones were set up according to the level of protection in order to summarize the cumulative scores of the historical and cultural resources of each parcel.

.

4.5.3. Evaluation of Demand Levels

The expression for evaluating the demand level (X) of underground space resources in SAC (Equation (2)) is as follows:

$$L_1=C{\sum }_{i-1}^n{a}_i{u}_i$$

(2)

where $L_1$ represents the evaluation value of the potential resource value, $a_i$ denotes the score of the i-th factor, $u_i$ is the weight of the i-th factor, and $C$ is the depth impact coefficient. Since only shallow underground space resources are evaluated without dividing by depth, and $C=1$.

4.5.4. Evaluation of Suitability Levels

For evaluating the suitability of underground space resources, we employed a multi-factor weighted indicator function method, with the weights for each factor determined through expert scoring. The expression for the underground space resource suitability evaluation model (Y) (Equation (3)) is as follows:

$$L_2=C{\sum }_{i-1}^n{b}_i{v}_i$$

(3)

where $L_2$ denotes the evaluation value of resource suitability, and a higher $L_2$ value indicates a higher control level and weaker suitability for development, $b_i$ denotes the score of the i-th factor, and $v_i$ is the weight of the i-th factor.

4.5.5. Evaluation of Development Potential

The suitability of USD reflects the supply capacity of underground spaces, while the demand level for USD represents the demand side. The level of matching between these two factors indicates the USDP. When there is a high level of matching between supply and demand, the development potential is high. Conversely, when there is a low level of matching, the development potential is low. When there is a mismatch between supply and demand, the development potential is moderate (see

Table 7. Evaluation of the potential for USD, based on matching the level of development needs and the degree of suitability.

	Suitability	I (High)	II (Low)
Demand Level
I (High)		Great development potential	Average development potential
II (Low)		Average development potential	Low development potential

).

5. Results and Analysis

5.1. Single-Factor Evaluation

The ArcGIS platform was used to quantify the 16 factors of USDP, with parcels acting as the evaluation units. The results of the single-factor evaluation are illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5.

5.2. The Evaluation of USD Demand Levels and Suitability

The evaluation results of USD demand and suitability, synthesized from the single-factor evaluation results, are illustrated in Figure 6. The assessment of USD demand reveals a spatial layout of “two axes and one ring” in areas with high development demand in the ancient city, influenced by cultural tourism connections, policy factors, and spatial positioning. The “two axes” include the urban development axes along Jiefang Road and Shengli Road, while the “one ring” refers to the inner ring of the core cultural exhibition area of the ancient city. These areas connect most of the historic districts and distinctive spaces, indicating a demand for additional tourism service functions underground.

High-demand areas for USD include inefficient areas (such as the old East Bus Station), areas undergoing policy-driven renovation (such as the relocation site of Beihai Primary School), open spaces left after the evacuation of high-rise buildings, and the gateway areas of the ancient city and the spaces at the entrances of scenic spots. High-demand areas for underground spaces in transportation hubs are located near metro stations and water bus stops. Those areas with high social and economic benefits from USD are concentrated at the intersection of Jiefang Road and Shengli Road, where population density is high, facilities are highly concentrated, and land values are elevated.

The results of our USD suitability evaluation in the ancient city reveal that the suitability of USD is divided into four levels. (1) Fourth-Level Areas: Regions such as the ancient city walls, canal control areas, core areas of historical and cultural protection, and areas prone to disasters. Underground construction is generally prohibited in these areas. (2) Third-Level Areas: These are mainly located on the eastern side of Jishan Mountain, in the eastern part of the ancient city close to the Pingshui River’s ancient riverbed and along Zhongxing Road. These areas are affected by factors such as geological load-bearing capacity, geological disasters, groundwater emergence, existing construction, and historical preservation controls. If development is pursued in these areas, thorough investigations into geological and historical preservation must be conducted, and the corresponding measures must be implemented to ensure the safety of USD. Development in these areas should generally be limited to shallow depths. (3) First- and Second-Level Areas: These areas are considered suitable for USD. They feature favorable geological engineering conditions, minimal impact from surface construction, and fewer restrictions related to historical and cultural resources.

5.3. Identification of Areas with USDP

The identification of areas with USDP was carried out by matching the demand levels with the suitability levels. The evaluation results for the USDP of the ancient city of Shaoxing are shown in Figure 7. Based on the evaluation results, the USDP can be categorized into four areas: high-potential, general-potential, low-potential, and prohibited development areas, as illustrated in

Table 8. Evaluation results of the USDP of SAC.

Potential Area	Combination Type	Development Priorities/Feasibility Level	Area (m2)	Land Area Ratio (%)
High-potential area	High demand level and high suitability	Priority and key development area	1,489,000	16.38%
General-potential area	High demand level and low suitability	Coordinated development area	840,000	9.24%
	Low demand level and high suitability	Strategic reserve	2,630,000	28.95%
Low-potential area	Low demand level and low suitability	Not suitable for development	2,215,600	24.37%
Prohibited development area	Cultural relics and historic sites in an ecological bottom-line area	Development activities generally not permitted	1,915,000	21.06%

. The proportions of these areas are as follows: high-potential areas occupy 16.38%, general-potential areas cover 38.19%, low-potential areas account for 24.37%, and prohibited development areas make up 21.06% of the total area.

The identification and classification of USDP in the ancient city of Shaoxing can be divided into four distinct categories:

High-Potential Areas: These areas are characterized by a strong need for urban renewal that aligns well with the suitability of USD, particularly in terms of engineering feasibility and historical preservation. High-potential areas are mainly concentrated around the functional corridors of the old city, metro stations, key facilities, and historical and cultural protection areas. The spatial pattern is typically composed of clustered nodes, axes, and rings. Within these areas, moderate development of underground spaces is recommended, while ensuring their integration with existing underground infrastructure, such as pipelines and transportation systems. This development can be aligned with ongoing urban renewal plans.

General-Potential Areas: This category includes two types of combinations. In areas with high demand but low suitability, these spaces are often adjacent to high-potential areas and cover relatively small areas of the ancient city. Development here requires a careful balance between environmental adaptability, existing construction limitations, and socio-economic benefits. Conversely, those areas with low demand but high suitability are the largest in terms of coverage and are mainly distributed in residential districts to the southeast of the old city, near the Shaoxing University of Arts and Sciences to the southwest and the White Horse New Village community in the northeast. These areas are functionally independent and exhibit concentrated and contiguous distribution. They could be considered as reserved resources for future protection and management, with potential value to be explored in long-term adaptive redevelopment projects.

Low-Potential Areas: These areas exhibit both low demand and low suitability for USD and are typically unsuitable for large-scale development. This category includes ecologically fragile regions, cultural heritage and landscape preservation areas, areas designated for special purposes, and regions prone to geological or hydrological disasters. In principle, large-scale development in these areas is discouraged. However, there may still be certain needs for infrastructure, such as fire safety or civil defense facilities, which could be accommodated through the careful planning of municipal pipelines according to both wartime and peacetime requirements.

Prohibited Development Areas: These areas are defined based on the core protection areas of heritage sites, ecological red lines, and the core protection areas of the Grand Canal Heritage Corridor. The prohibited development areas include cultural relics and monuments and ecological bottom-line areas, where development activities are generally not permitted. These areas are aligned and coordinated with the various control boundaries delineated in the related planning documents for the ancient city.

By comparing the results of the USDP assessment with the relevant planning documents, it is evident that the high-potential areas show a clustered distribution, which corresponds closely with the “One Axis, Two Rings” framework proposed in the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Utilization of the Historic City.” This congruence validates the scientific rigor of the evaluation system. Additionally, there is a noticeable discrepancy between the currently developed underground spaces in Shaoxing and the areas identified as having high development potential. This discrepancy is primarily because much of the modern development in the ancient city began in the 1980s and 1990s, during which time USD was not given adequate consideration. Consequently, the existing underground spaces are concentrated in localized areas and are somewhat scattered in distribution. Moreover, past USD was often market-driven, lacking clear regulatory guidance and a detailed control plan, which mainly resulted in the relatively simple function of supplementing ground-level commercial and residential facilities.

6. Optimization Strategies

6.1. Optimization Strategies for Utilizing Developed Underground Spaces

Under the guidance of balancing organic renewal and the protection of the ancient city, and based on the evaluation of USDP, it is essential to implement differentiated classification and management strategies for both developed and potential underground spaces that are aligned with various levels of statutory planning, such as historical cultural city planning and detailed regulatory planning. To conduct a coupling study, an exclusive matrix was employed, integrating the current utilization of underground spaces with the evaluation of development potential. The coupling matrix allows for the classification of renewal and implementation measures for underground spaces that have already been developed. According to the multiplicative principle, a 3 × 3 matrix generates nine different types, as shown in

Table 9. Coupling matrix for evaluation of underground space utilization status and development potential.

USDP	Status of Use
	I—Perfect Functions and Construction, High Current Level of Utilization	II—Functions and Environment Need to Be Partially Improved, General Current Level of Utilization	III—Idle or Waiting for Update and Reconstruction, Low Current Level of Utilization
A high	A I	A II	A III
	Micro-update optimization	Renewal and Transformation	Renewal and Transformation
B middle	B I	B II	B III
	Micro-update optimization	Micro-update optimization	Renovation
C Low	C I	C II	C III
	Micro-update optimization	Transformation development	Transformation development

. Utilizing principles from management science and the similarities between categories, these nine types are consolidated into three distinct types of renewal strategies. Developed underground spaces requiring renewal and transformation are mainly concentrated on both sides of the development axis of the ancient city, with relatively large plot areas; those spaces undergoing micro-update optimization are relatively scattered throughout the ancient city; finally, underground spaces requiring transformation are relatively scarce, with only three plots located in the northern part of the ancient city. The specific spatial distribution of the three categories is shown in Figure 8, and, based on the spatial layout, specific management strategies are proposed for each type of developed underground space.

Renewal and Transformation. The renewal and transformation of underground spaces can be achieved through various approaches, including the expansion and continuation of existing functions, the integration of old and new functions, and a shift toward entirely new functions [53]. For areas with high development potential but suboptimal current utilization, it is crucial to clarify ownership before proceeding with functional updates. Enhancing connectivity with surrounding plots is also vital. For instance, underground spaces in areas like the Fengyue Tourism Complex north of Yintai City and the urban square should be considered for functional upgrades that align with broader urban objectives.

Micro-update Optimization. Micro-update optimization is most applicable in areas where both the development potential and the current utilization levels are high, or where the existing usage is satisfactory but still falls short in terms of certain “resilience gaps” identified through the potential assessment. This approach is particularly relevant in scattered underground spaces within residential areas or office buildings. For example, where there is a lack of facilities for the elderly, underground or semi-underground spaces can be adapted to meet these needs by adding storage spaces or converting existing spaces into activity centers, community hubs, or even underground libraries, thereby enhancing community interaction.

Transformative Development. Transformative development is suitable for regions where the assessment indicates low development potential and where current utilization is also poor. These areas are often characterized by low suitability for engineering purposes and higher disaster risks. In such cases, underground spaces can be repurposed for municipal infrastructure. For example, the unused underground spaces northwest of the Old Town International Mall, which face significant disaster risks and have low engineering suitability, could be transformed to serve primarily as municipal facilities, addressing essential public service needs rather than pursuing traditional commercial or residential uses.

The ancient city’s underground spaces should be managed through a balanced approach that recognizes the diverse potential and constraints across different regions. A phased and context-sensitive strategy is recommended, one that aligns with the broader urban goals of preservation, sustainable development, and resilience. This comprehensive approach will ensure that the underground spaces contribute positively to the city’s long-term growth while safeguarding its rich cultural heritage.

Table 10. Optimized utilization strategy of underground space in SAC, based on the development potential evaluation.

Development Potential Evaluation	Optimized the Use of Partitions	Zoning Development Model	Segmentation	Strategies to Optimize Utilization
Developed area	Underground space renovation area	Renovation and reconstruction, micro-renovation and optimization, supplementation of disaster prevention facilities, etc.	Developed underground space (such as old residential areas, etc.).	Functional upgrading and transformation, enhancing interconnection, underground infrastructure, supplementing living facilities, etc.
			Developed civil air defense projects	Combining peacetime and wartime, coordinating with urban functions
High-potential area	Priority and key development areas	Explore pilot areas for USD, such as rail transit station areas and plots of land that have been renovated into commercial service industries, to achieve symbiosis between aboveground and underground development.	Rail transit stations surrounding	Improve interconnection and integrated development
			Renovation areas	Develop underground space in conjunction with urban renewal
			Historical and Cultural Tourism Portal	Place tourism distribution function and showcase the image of the portal
			Traffic Parking Complex Area	Relieve traffic problems and add parking facilities
General-potential area	Coordinated development area, strategic reserved area	Aboveground and underground integration, strategic reserve	Concentrated contiguous area	Address the shortcomings on the ground and make strategic reservations
Low-potential area	Not suitable for development	Protection and control	Engineering hydrogeology and other restricted areas	Safety risks must be eliminated during development
Prohibited development area	Prohibited development area	Protection and control	Ecological and historical protection areas	Strictly control USD and link it with relevant planning and control requirements

serves as a consolidated reference for these strategies, guiding planners and decision-makers in the effective management of Shaoxing’s underground resources.

6.2. Optimization Strategies for High-Potential Underground Spaces

Integrated Construction for Underground Space Connectivity at Metro Stations. The Shaoxing Railway Station currently lacks sufficient underground connectivity with its surrounding environment, relying heavily on aboveground connections. This has hindered the development of an integrated aboveground and underground transportation interchange system and has limited the station’s capacity to manage crowd dispersal effectively, leading to congestion issues. As the station undergoes renovation, there is a unique opportunity to link this project with the organic renewal and protection of the ancient city. The goal should be to create a comprehensive underground transportation and building complex that integrates multiple functions and spaces. This could include a combination of metro stations, shopping malls, bookstores, restaurants, underground parking, personnel shelters, and emergency supply depots. Additionally, adding multiple new entrances and exits to the metro station could extend its reach into surrounding areas, thereby reducing the surface traffic pressure. Underground pedestrian passages linked to the Shaoxing Metro Station could connect the underground parking lots at Margaret Commercial Center and Shuimu Qinghua to the railway station’s underground space, creating a cohesive underground transportation interchange system.

Development of Underground Spaces in Relocation Areas and Vacated Areas in the Ancient City. Some historic districts in the ancient city of Shaoxing lack adequate spaces for crowd gatherings and direction, leading to congested and disconnected spatial layouts. For example, the south entrance of the Shusheng Guli Historical and Cultural Street, which has been identified as having high development potential, currently suffers from spatial congestion due to the high-rise buildings, which exert significant pressure on the adjacent canal and traditional riverside residences. The urban leisure space in this area is not fully integrated. Following the enactment of the “Shaoxing Ancient City Protection and Utilization Regulations” in 2019, the demolition and relocation of these high-rise structures began. Considering the constraints on building height and the overall control of historical style, the vacated south entrance area should be redeveloped to focus on providing cultural displays, research, and tourism services related to Shusheng culture, so as to balance the renewal and protection of the ancient city. The existing underground spaces could be utilized for regular parking and electric vehicle charging stations, while also enhancing the service functions of the Shusheng Guli Historical and Cultural Street.

Cultural Service Facilities: Underground Space Display and Utilization. Lu Xun’s Hometown faces several challenges, including an influx of tourists far exceeding the site’s aboveground capacity, leading to traffic congestion, disordered cultural elements, low business appeal, incomplete IP (intellectual property) displays related to Lu Xun, and inadequate experiential consumption opportunities. The renovation efforts should focus on optimizing the use of the air-raid shelters near Lu Xun’s Hometown, integrating them with the Tashan Civil Defense Complex and Tashan Metro Station’s underground spaces. This would facilitate the continuity of cultural elements between aboveground and underground areas, better balancing the renewal and protection of the ancient city and creating a more cohesive cultural experience.

Traffic Dispersal, Transfer, and Parking Facility Enhancement. Taking the former East Bus Station area at the entrance to the Bazhi Bridge Historical District as an example, the original bus station has been abandoned. According to the overall urban design plan, this area is now designated as a “cultural and creative park centered on residential life.” In terms of underground space connectivity, elements such as sunken plazas could be used to establish an underground sightseeing route project for the Bazhi Bridge area. Combined with the nearby canal cruise terminal on the northeast side, a unique transportation interchange system could be developed. In open residential districts, underground spaces could be innovatively repurposed for inventory parking and community services. By using sunken plazas to create urban public activity venues, the underground spaces could link the three functional areas, enhancing connectivity and utility.

7. Conclusions

For this study, which was guided by the principles of organic renewal and the synergistic utilization of underground spaces in ancient cities, we constructed an evaluation indicator system for assessing USDP for this specific application and established the corresponding evaluation methods. An empirical evaluation conducted on the ancient city of Shaoxing demonstrates that the development potential of Shaoxing’s underground spaces can be classified into four categories. The priority areas for underground space utilization are concentrated around transit stations, public service facilities, and cultural tourism facilities within a certain range of proximity to historical districts. Notably, this spatial pattern corresponds closely with the “One Axis, Two Rings” framework proposed in the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Utilization of the Historic City.” This indicates that integrating “organic renewal” into underground space evaluation can effectively guide the coordinated development of the conservation of ancient cities and the expansion of space. Based on these evaluation results, we propose updated implementation measures for developed underground spaces, establishing principles for the optimized use of ancient city underground spaces. All these measures are based on the principle of “organic renewal”, avoid large-scale demolition, and accomplish the sustainable utilization of underground space.

In terms of innovation, the authors systematically constructed an evaluation indicator system tailored to the USDP of ancient cities. Guided by the principles of organic renewal and the synergistic use of their underground spaces, this system was developed based on two dimensions: the demands of organic renewal on underground spaces and the suitability of underground spaces for development and utilization. The selected factors comprehensively address the demands of historical and cultural preservation and the characteristics of cultural tourism in ancient cities. This indicator system can serve as a reference for the USD of ancient areas in large- and medium-sized cities with similar grades and scales, and can provide the relevant criteria for the construction of indicator systems for USD in other grades of cities.

This study focuses on evaluating the development potential of and optimization strategies for underground spaces in SAC within the depth range of 0 to −30 m, with the goal of organic renewal; however, some limitations persist. On the one hand, constrained by the requirements of protecting the ancient city and the limitations of current geological survey accuracy and construction technology, this study only focuses on a depth range of 0 to −30 m (deeper underground spaces are not covered). In the future, it will be necessary to explore adaptive vertical stratification methods that are suitable for ancient city scenarios so as to evaluate the development potential of deeper underground spaces while ensuring cultural heritage protection. On the other hand, due to limitations such as insufficient basic data and methods for determining indicator weights, the current indicator system cannot fully capture the mutual influences between different plots, and some specialized indicators (like key land indicators for renewal or ecological protection targets) are difficult to quantify accurately. In the future, indicator systems should be improved by integrating multi-source data (such as high-resolution geological surveys and cultural heritage monitoring datasets) and determining weight methods more scientifically, thereby enhancing the methodological rigor and practical value of USDP assessments.