GIS-Based Mapping of Multicultural Urban Heritage in Kediri City: Javanese, Colonial, Chinese Layers

Abstract

Urban heritage in Indonesia has been shaped by long-term interactions among multicultural communities, producing tangible and intangible traces within the urban landscape. However, these cultural layers are often documented separately, resulting in a fragmented understanding of multicultural urban identity. This study aims to identify, classify, and map the multicultural urban heritage of Kediri City through Javanese, Colonial, and Chinese cultural layers using Geographic Information System (GIS) approach. A descriptive-spatial method was employed through field surveys, heritage asset inventory, historical documentation, and GIS-based spatial analysis. The findings indicate that Kediri’s historic urban landscape was formed through the spatial overlap and interaction of Javanese archeological and religious heritage sites, Colonial-era buildings, and Chinese commercial and cultural areas. GIS visualization reveals the distribution patterns, concentration, and spatial relationships among heritage assets, demonstrating how different cultural layers have contributed to the formation of the city’s present urban structure. This GIS-based mapping provides an integrated framework for understanding Kediri’s multicultural identity and historical development while offering practical support for heritage conservation, cultural tourism planning, and sustainable urban management.