High-frequency light rain infiltration-rapid evaporation process is the key driving force for the development of loose layer on the surface of earthen sites in the arid region of Northwest China. According to the simulation experiments, it has been observed that after rainfall infiltration, the cementation between soil particles deteriorated, and particles mainly composed of powder particles(0.005~0.075 mm) migrated downward. Simultaneously, particle migration induces an increase in soil pore volume, characterized by a dominance of macropores(> 32 μm). These changes in particle migration and pore structure directly contribute to the formation of a loose layer. The thickness of this loose layer primarily depends on rainfall intensity rather than cumulative rainfall cycles. This study reveals the influence of rainfall infiltration on the formation of loose layers on the surface of earthen sites in arid areas, which is of great significance for the preventive conservation of earthen sites.

The proactive protection of cultural relics is a vital aspect of their overall preservation. Thanks to the tireless efforts of cultural relics protection workers, China has made significant strides in both theoretical research and practical application regarding the proactive protection of these artifacts. However, a review and analysis of domestic and international literature reveal several key challenges that persist in this field. These challenges include inadequate risk monitoring and identification, incomplete risk analysis and evaluation, a narrow approach to risk control, insufficient depth and breadth in the interpretation of cultural relics’ value, limited methods for utilization and inheritance, and a slow pace of innovation.Digital technology has shown strong advantages in various fields, and has been applied to the proactive protection of cultural relics, which has opened up the direction of the heart for the continuous promotion of the proactive protection of cultural relics. As a new stage of the development of digital technology, digital intelligence technology has the characteristics of data-driven, highly intelligent, real-time and high efficiency, integration and collaboration, universality and personalization, dynamic optimization and self-iteration, which can better provide support for the proactive protection of cultural relics. The analysis shows that numerical technology has a good foundation in digital collection and modeling, environmental monitoring and early warning, data mining and analysis, virtual reality display and application, digital management and other aspects of proactive protection of cultural relics. Combining the rapid development of digital intelligence technology with the stage requirements of proactive protection of cultural relics, the scientific system of proactive protection of cultural relics in the digital era is constructed in the application of data collection, data mining, risk identification, risk prediction, risk management and control, virtual restoration, digital archiving, virtual display and so on. Using digital intelligence technology to deepen the practice of proactive protection of cultural relics is the key way to solve the current protection problems. It is also an important strategy to promote the formation of new productivity and break through the existing bottleneck in the field of proactive protection of cultural relics.