Evaluation of Municipal Territorial Utilisation Quality in New-Type Urbanisation: A Case Study of Changzhou, China

Abstract

Urbanisation in China has caused drastic changes in territorial utilisation patterns, and human-land conflict has become increasingly prominent. It is therefore urgent to investigate territorial utilisation quality. This study researched the evaluation of municipal territorial utilisation quality in Changzhou, a rapid urbanising city. By interpreting new-type urbanisation goals, five evaluation criteria (planning coordination, intensive efficiency, ecological civilisation, living suitability, and infrastructure sharing) were reorganised and an evaluation indicator system was constructed. A principal component analysis-analytic hierarchy process comprehensive weighting method was used for gridded multi-element overlay evaluation, and an evaluation model for territorial utilisation quality was established. Evaluation results showed that Changzhou’s planning coordination and living suitability levels were generally high, but numerous areas had a low level of infrastructure sharing. Changzhou’s overall territorial utilisation quality was relatively high, with Zhonglou exhibiting the highest quality level. High-and low-level areas exhibited good spatial matching with the actual development zones with different development levels. The direction for criterion optimisation can be figured out through the conceptual model for the territorial utilisation quality promotion. Moreover, the evaluation results can provide pertinent guidance in territorial spatial planning such as the delineation of urban development boundary and ecological red line.