Abstract:

Scientifically evaluating natural suitability for human settlement and defining function zones of population development will promote coordinated regional development between population,resources and environment.In this paper,terrain,hydrology,vegetation and hazard natural factors were selected to build the livable environmental evaluation, and the quantitative analysis was conducted through Remote Sensing(RS) and Geographic Informational System (GIS) to reveal geographical characteristics and spatial patterns.The results are obtained as follows.(1) The index of nature suitability for human settlement in Wanzhou region was between 1642 and 8460.(2) In general,nature suitability for human settlement decreased from central to northwest to southeast.The index of nature suitability for human settlement is closely related to the terrain and the water.(3) Considering area,the moderate suitable region ranked first,accounting for about 31% of the total area of Wanzhou region; and the common suitable region ranked second, about 2481% of the total; and the unsuitable area ranked last, only about 95%.On the other hand,the population of the region was concentrated in regions with higher nature suitability.About 7713% of Wanzhou's population was concentrated in grade one of common suitable region and above that level.Spatial distribution of population was profoundly affected by nature suitability for human settlement in Wanzhou district