Evaluating urban land carrying capacity based on the ecological sensitivity analysis: a case study in Hangzhou, China.

Tsou, Jin Yeu; Gao, Yanfei; Zhang, Yuanzhi; Sun, Genyun; Ren, Jinchang; Li, Yu

Abstract

In this study, we present the evaluation of urban land carrying capacity (ULCC) based on an ecological sensitivity analysis. Remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) technology are employed to analyze topographic conditions, land-use types, the intensity of urban development, and ecological environmental sensitivity to create reasonable evaluation indicators to analyze urban land carrying capacity based on ecological sensitivity in the rapidly developing megacity of Hangzhou, China. In the study, ecological sensitivity is grouped into four levels: non-sensitive, lightly sensitive, moderately sensitive, and highly sensitive. The results show that the ecological sensitivity increases progressively from the center to the periphery. The results also show that ULCC is determined by ecologically sensitive levels and that the ULCC is categorized into four levels. Even though it is limited by the four levels, the ULCC still has a large margin if compared with the current population numbers. The study suggests that the urban ecological environment will continue to sustain the current population size in the short-term future. However, it is necessary to focus on the protection of distinctive natural landscapes so that decision makers can adjust measures for ecological conditions to carry out the sustainable development of populations, natural resources, and the environment in megacities like Hangzhou, China.

Citation

TSOU, J.Y., GAO, Y., ZHANG, Y., SUN, G., REN, J. and LI, Y. 2017. Evaluating urban land carrying capacity based on the ecological sensitivity analysis: a case study in Hangzhou, China. Remote sensing [online], 9(6), article number 529. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9060529

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 22, 2017
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jul 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 22, 2024
• Journal: Remote sensing
• Electronic ISSN: 2072-4292
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 529
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9060529
• Keywords: Urban areas; Ecological sensitivity; Urban land carrying capacity (ULCC); Remote sensing data; Geographic information systems (GIS)
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2059189