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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Quality Assessment and Spatial Distribution
of Human Settlements in Western China:
The Case of 12 Provinces, Municipalities
and Autonomous Regions
1
School of Architecture and Art, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 203106, China
2
Social Innovation Design Research Centre, Anhui University, Hefei 203106, China
Submission date: 2023-12-21
Final revision date: 2024-02-19
Acceptance date: 2024-04-13
Online publication date: 2024-06-13
Publication date: 2025-01-09
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(2):1109-1123
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
To improve the unbalanced development in the western region, it is necessary to explore
the construction level of the human settlement. Regarding social well-being, this paper uses data
spanning the period from 2015 to 2020 and develops a system of indicators to assess human settlements
in western China along five dimensions: Health and Safety, Social Development, Economic Conditions,
Environmental Health, and Working Conditions. The study concludes that, firstly, Yunnan possesses
the highest human settlement quality index with a relative proximity of 0.478, while Qinghai has
the lowest, with a human settlement quality index of 0.209. Secondly, concerning temporal dimensions,
the spatial distribution pattern of human settlement quality in western China generally exhibits
a southeast high and northwest low pattern. In addition, coordinated, stable, and sustainable development
is crucial to maintaining the advantage of human settlement quality. Thirdly, there is not necessarily
a positive correlation between economic development and human settlement quality. Therefore, in terms
of distribution types, Sichuan and Inner Mongolia belong to the “high human settlement quality-high
economic level” type, whereas Shaanxi, Chongqing, Xinjiang, and Ningxia belong to the “low human
settlement quality-high economic level” type. Yunnan, Gansu, and Guangxi are in the “high human
settlement quality-low economic level” category, while Guizhou, Tibet, and Qinghai belong to the “low
human settlement quality-low economic level” category.
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| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
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