The article examines the Human Settlement Environment (HSE) in arid areas, particularly focusing on Gansu Province in Northwestern China. It highlights how the natural and social environments significantly influence residential satisfaction and sustainable development, especially in the context of climate change and increasing urbanization. The study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods to evaluate the suitability of HSE by considering both natural and cultural factors.
Key findings highlight significant disparities in the suitability of the HSE across different regions. Areas with high suitability are generally located near urban centers like Lanzhou, while lesser-suitable zones are found in remote, harsh terrains. The study classifies the HSE suitability into five categories from highly suitable to unsuitable, revealing a concentration of higher suitability in central urban areas.
The research concludes that resilient planning and infrastructure improvements are necessary in arid regions to counter extreme climate impacts and resource shortages. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive data integration, combining remote sensing and field surveys to better understand and improve the HSE conditions in vulnerable areas. Furthermore, while the study presents a robust evaluation model, the authors identify limitations due to data availability and suggest that future research could enhance the accuracy and completeness of HSE assessments.
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