Satellite positioning protects Hangzhou's historical buildings

The precise satellite positioning program organized in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, targeting 364 historical buildings in the city's central area, was completed by the city's historical building protection center recently, Qianjiang Evening News reported.

By comparing and analyzing multiple satellite images, people can get a more comprehensive understanding of the historical buildings.

Although image clarity from different satellites has varied, some images sent back have been quite clear, according to the report. Roof structures, planting conditions and certain decorative objects in the yards can also be observed.

"Except for the rooftops, the surrounding environment and the conditions of the whole area also come with a plain view," said a staff member with the protection center.

Currently, the daily supervision of the city's historical buildings is completed mainly through regular human inspections, especially in bad weather.

But now, these checks have been supplemented with precise satellite positioning, which enables remote monitoring of the historical buildings and fills in the inspection blanks in time and space.

This program also provides reasonable grounds for protective law enforcement.

"(Previously) when our staff members inspected the protection conditions, they may not have been able to enter those buildings. Some of them are enclosed so they may look normal from the outside, but may have already been pulled down inside," said a staff member in charge. "But now they can be inspected through images from the satellite and any destructive behavior will be discovered."

The historical conditions of these buildings in geographical space can also be reviewed back in time via the satellite imagery system, which can provide pictures dating back to the early days after the People's Republic of China was founded.