The existing research on the planar form of traditional residences in the Hehuang region presents inconsistencies and insufficiencies in type division. Based on the review of existing research and the assessment of multi-source data, a new type division system is proposed and its applicability is validated by using convolutional neural networks (CNN) technology. The results show that: ① the overall recognition accuracy and the boundary definition of clusters in the new typological system are significantly superior to those of four existing systems; ② the inclusion of "Ⅱ-shaped" not only improves the recognition accuracy for "L-shaped" and reduces the misclassification rate for "Ⅰ-shaped" but also significantly enhances the semantic distinctiveness between the clusters of "L-shaped", "凹-shaped " and "Ⅰ-shaped". ③ the inclusion of "日-shaped" not only improves the recognition accuracy for "凹-shaped" forms and reduces the probability of misclassifying "凹-shaped" as "回-shaped", but also strengthens the semantic boundaries between the "凹-shaped " and " 回-shaped" clusters, enhancing the consistency of semantic features among the samples within each category. Overall, the newly established type system is more applicable to the division of types of traditional residential planar forms in the Hehuang region, providing theoretical support for the protection and inheritance of traditional villages and residences in the region, and offering case references for similar research in other areas.

The research on spatial and temporal distribution is a necessary prerequisite and important basis for the spatial integration and protection of historical and cultural heritage. Taking 166 grottoes in Gansu Province as an example, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors of grottoes were analyzed by GIS spatial analysis technology. The results show that: ① The open niche statues in grottoes show an evolutionary trend of increasing first and then decreasing and then increasing, with the peak periods of open niche statues in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang and Five dynasties. ② A belt-shaped high-density area with Tianshui and Pingliang as the core has been formed in eastern Gansu. From the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the high density area of new grottoes was Tianshui, Jiuquan and Zhangye. ③ The spatial distribution of grottoes shifted significantly in different periods, and the distribution center of grottoes shifted from the southeast to the northwest and then continued to the southeast. ④ The spatial and temporal distribution of grottoes is mainly affected by topography, river system, stratum lithology, political economy, buddhism development, road traffic and other factors. This has important reference significance for the integrated protection, value inheritance and sustainable utilization of the grottoes in Gansu Province.