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Industrial heritage is a critical element in urban renewal and development in China, representing both a challenge and an opportunity. Effectively utilizing industrial heritage has thus become an important issue (Zhang et al. 2022). The awareness of the protection and utilization (PAU) of industrial heritage in China emerged relatively late. Despite efforts to preserve and repurpose these sites, many have been subjected to brutal demolition, leading to the loss of much of this heritage. In their place, residential buildings, business districts, and other developments have arisen (Guo et al., 2021). Industrial heritage serves as a crucial testament to China’s industrial development and records the production and technological levels of its time. Like other types of architecture, industrial heritage carries significance in reflecting historical context and urban fabric. The development and transformation of many cities are intrinsically linked to industrial growth. Thus, demolishing industrial heritage is not only the destruction of buildings but also the erasure of memory. Failing to recognize its value results in the waste of resources, a loss of emotional connection, and a historical void. (Zhang et al., 2018).A large number of old industrial buildings emerged during the construction of the Southwest Third Front. These buildings not only serve material functions but also embody history and culture. The concept of context development in third-tier industrial cities in southwest China aims to assess the value of industrial architectural heritage in the region, propose strategies for its protection and reuse, and highlight the ongoing relevance of this heritage (Chen et al., 2025). Optimizing and regenerating the landscape of former industrial sites through modern technology is crucial for ensuring the city’s sustainable development. This approach addresses various challenges while allowing people to experience the historical charm and architectural wisdom of the past, thus sustaining the city’s vitality and preserving its cultural legacy (Chen & Xiang, 2022). Therefore, understanding the value of industrial heritage is essential when designing conservation and redevelopment strategies for old industrial sites. It is important to retain their original form and value while presenting them to the public in new artistic ways. This ensures that the protection of industrial heritage and landscape regeneration can be infused with strong artistic and humanistic values.
To achieve this, this article analyzes the current landscape status of industrial heritage sites and examines the protection and regeneration of these sites from the perspective of geographic information systems (GIS). Additionally, the landscape regeneration plan for the heritage sites is developed with a focus on heritage protection. Protection measures and conceptual approaches are proposed in four key areas: landscape redesign, artistic exhibition, plant installation, and the enhancement of new buildings. Finally, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is employed to select evaluation factors and calculate the weight distribution and importance of various factors for industrial architectural heritage. Based on this analysis, the IHES model for the third-line construction (TLC) in southwest China is constructed, aiming to enhance the landscape regeneration design of industrial heritage sites. It is hoped that experts and scholars from various fields will take notice of and contribute to this initiative, collaborating to form a collective effort that ensures industrial heritage is researched and protected in a comprehensive, full-cycle, and all-encompassing manner.