Assessing Suitability of Human Settlements in High-Altitude Area Using a Comprehensive Index Method: A Case Study of Tibet, China

Yanpeng Ding, Bin Shi, Guijin Su, Qianqian Li, Jing Meng, Yongjian Jiang, Yi Qin, Lingwen Dai and Shuai Song
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Yanpeng Ding: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Bin Shi: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Guijin Su: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Qianqian Li: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Jing Meng: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Yongjian Jiang: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Yi Qin: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Lingwen Dai: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Shuai Song: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology and Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: With the steady advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), how to build a sustainable environment for human settlements has become a hot topic of research for scholars from various countries. Rational space utilization and resource allocation are the keys to enhancing human well-being and achieving sustainable human settlements. A comprehensive human settlement environment evaluation system, which includes 14 indicators from the natural environment, infrastructure, and public services, was established in this study. The results showed that the habitat suitability area only accounted for 1.61% (2.05% after removing the nature reserve) and all centered on cities and radiated to the surrounding areas. A belt-like suitability distribution pattern of “Yi Jiang Liang He” (i.e., Brahmaputra, Lhasa, and Nianchu Rivers) is formed, and a point-like suitability distribution pattern of the Chamdo Karub District, Nagqu Seni District, and Ngari Shiquanhe Town are formed. The results of the driving factor analysis indicate that the level of public health development in infrastructure and various indicators in public services are the main factors influencing human settlement. There is not much difference in the natural environment in the populated regions, so the suitability of the natural environment is not a significant driving factor. In addition, the reliability of the assessment results was verified by a questionnaire survey of residents in the three regions, and the subjective satisfaction of the residents agreed with the ranking results of the objective evaluation. The evaluation results of this study provide theoretical and directional guidance for the improvement of human settlements on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. It will be a useful tool for evaluating human settlements in the region and has a reference significance for the formulation of macro-policy in high-altitude regions.

Keywords: human settlements suitability; comprehensive index; spatial distribution; questionnaire; Qinghai–Tibet plateau (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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