How to survey, model, and measure rockeries in a Chinese classical garden: a case study for Huanxiu Shanzhuang, Suzhou, China

ABSTRACT

Rockeries, which imitate nature in a special form, are an essential element of Chinese classical garden design and one of the most fascinating features that distinguish Chinese culture from other traditions of the world. This study takes rockeries in Huanxiu Shanzhuang—one of the exceptional rockeries in China—as an example to study the methods of digital survey, documentation and research of Chinese cultural heritage. Using techniques of terrestrial laser scanning and digital photogrammetry, this study made surveys, 3D models and morphometric measurements of piled mountains and single monoliths in Huanxiu Shanzhuang. A survey and document approach for different kinds of rockeries in Chinese classical gardens was studied by comparing the related techniques applied in different situations. Using the methods studied in this research, rockeries in Huanxiu Shanzhuang were documented and measured.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese classical garden
• rockery
• terrestrial laser scanning
• digital photogrammetry
• Huanxiu Shanzhuang

Acknowledgments

The authors would also like to thank the students including Haoyang Li, Qi An, An Huang and Han Shen for their help in the field work of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [51878353];scientific research start-up funds [163120127] and Jiangsu provincial modern service industry (news and radio and television) development special fund subsidy program – Jiangnan classical garden data cloud platform construction. Thanks are due to Zhijian Xue and Suzhou Zhuozheng Garden management agency for site support.