Correlation between Distribution of Rural Settlements and Topography in Plateau-Mountain Area: A Study of Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

Topography is one of the important factors influencing the distribution of rural settlements, as the natural environment in plateau-mountain areas is more complicated and harsher and the forces of various natural influences are more obvious. Analyzing the correlation between settlement distribution and topography would help understand the influence of topography on human activities. This paper takes rural settlements in Yunnan Province as the research object, introduces the concept of the distribution index, and integrates the methods of GIS spatial analysis and mathematical statistics to analyze the correlation between them. The results show that (1) the distribution pattern of rural settlements in Yunnan Province is dense in the northeast, sparse in the northwest, dense in the middle, and sparse in the south; the overall pattern shows low density, fragmentation, and a dotted distribution of high-value areas, showing three typical core areas with very obvious spatial differentiation. (2) The distribution of rural settlements is influenced by three key topographic factors: Relief amplitude, incision depth, and surface roughness. The dispersion index of rural settlements drastically declines as the value rises. (3) Each topographic factor influences the natural resources and climatic characteristics of the region, and by coupling them with the production and life of the rural settlements and the psychological needs of the inhabitants, they form an intrinsic mechanism that influences the distribution of rural settlements. (4) Topography is an important factor when developing and constructing in plateau-mountain areas. The environmental protection and construction of human settlements should be in accordance with nature and adapted to the terrain, which can reduce the damage to the natural environment. The study provides effective data support for quantifying the relationship between the distribution of rural settlements and topography in the plateau-mountain area and optimizing the layout of rural settlements.