Value assessment for the restoration of industrial relics based on analytic hierarchy process: a case study of Shaanxi Steel Factory in Xi'an, China.

Concomitant with the promotion of industrial transformation, sustainable development strategies, and accelerated urbanization, there has been an increase in the number of industrial relic restoration projects. However, there are many disputes over the value and development of such industrial relic restoration projects. In this work, we identified three evaluation indicators based on a study of 106 industrial relic restoration projects in China. A value assessment model composed of five parts combining the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process was established. The results show that an effective assessment of the value of industrial relic restoration projects can enable the effective use of green technology, reduce construction costs, protect industrial heritage, and inherit historical culture. In addition, there are many uncertain factors in developing these projects, such as brownfield pollution and dilapidated buildings, and appropriate renewal strategies can reduce safety risks as well as maximize the heritage value. As there is limited research assessing the value of industrial relic restoration projects in China, our study can serve as a reference for the value assessment of existing building restoration projects including historical blocks and livable villages.