Water-Facing Distribution and Suitability Space for Rural Mountain Settlements Based on Fractal Theory, South-Western China

Hui Yu, Yong Luo, Pengshan Li, Wei Dong, Shulin Yu and Xianghe Gao
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Hui Yu: Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Yong Luo: College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Pengshan Li: Chengdu Land Planning and Cadastral Center, Chengdu 610074, China
Wei Dong: College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Shulin Yu: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Xianghe Gao: College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: The establishment of rural settlements in the topographically complex mountainous area of South-Western China is restricted by various geographical features. The fractal characteristics and water-facing distribution of rural mountain settlements and the suitability of spaces for rural mountain settlements were analyzed for a greater scientific understanding of what factors would facilitate a more appropriate selection of residential sites. The results showed that: (1) Rural mountain settlements have significant fractal characteristics—the fractal dimension values of rural mountain settlements in terms of elevation, slope, disaster risk, and water-facing level ranged from 0.853 to 1.071, 0.716 to 0.997, 0.134 to 0.243, and 0.940 to 1.110, respectively. (2) The fractal dimension value of rural mountain settlements initially increased and subsequently decreased with increasing elevation, and gradually decreased with increases in slope and disaster risk, but with wave-curve increases in water-facing levels. (3) The suitable spaces for rural mountain settlements were those with a low disaster risk and with slopes less of than 5° under a water-facing level of 0 ~ 500 m in the elevation range of 1500–2000 m. Currently, 8.77% of rural mountain settlements are situated in high-risk and sub-high-risk areas. The spatial planning of national land in China may enhance the land consolidation of rural mountain settlements and plan for the placement of settlements in suitable spaces while avoiding high-risk areas and sub-high-risk areas to ensure the safety of lives and property. The results from this study could be used as a reference for future revitalization activities and the site selection of rural mountain settlements.

Keywords: fractal characteristics; natural geographical features; water-facing distribution; suitable space; rural mountain settlements (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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