Satisfaction Evaluation and Typological Optimization of Traditional Village Human Settlements from the Perspective of Villager Participation: A Northeast China Case Study

Huaizhi Qi, Hideaki Kanai () and Fucun Cao
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Huaizhi Qi: School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi 923-1292, Japan
Hideaki Kanai: School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi 923-1292, Japan
Fucun Cao: School of Art & Design, Dalian Polytechnic University, No. 1 Qinggongyuan, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116300, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-30

Abstract: To address demand–supply mismatches in traditional village human settlements (TVHSs), this study builds on existing human settlement research by introducing cultural landscape theory and constructing a comprehensive framework that includes the hard (infrastructure, living environment, ecological environment, and environmental sanitation) and soft environment (social services, economic environment, and cultural environment). Villagers’ and experts’ perceptions of importance are integrated through a hierarchical weighting system combining AHP, CRITIC, and GRA. In addition, cluster analyses, the importance–satisfaction (IS) model, the obstacle degree model, and mediation analyses are employed to identify village classifications, determine optimization indicators, and assess mechanism effects. The findings indicate the following: (1) The overall satisfaction with TVHSs in Northeast China is moderate, with a stepwise decline from northeast to southwest, and the economic environment significantly lags behind other dimensions. (2) Four village classifications are identified—demonstration, basic-level development, potential-focused, and priority improvement. (3) The optimization indicators across classifications include toilet conditions, village cleanliness, school accessibility, and access to medical services, resulting in strategies such as “cultural landscape empowerment” and “telemedicine coverage”. (4) Mediation analyses show that improvements in the hard environment enhance overall satisfaction both directly and indirectly through social services and the economic environment. These findings highlight the close link between satisfaction and regional development, underscoring the need for dynamic monitoring and greater emphasis on the cultural dimension to support TVHS optimization and rural revitalization.

Keywords: human settlements; satisfaction evaluation; traditional villages; villager perspective; typological optimization; northeast China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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