State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2009 Dec;6(12):3025-39. doi: 10.3390/ijerph6123025. Epub 2009 Dec 1.
The natural environment factor is one of the main indexes for evaluating human habitats, sustained economic growth and ecological health status. Based on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and an analytic hierarchy process method, this article presents the construction of the Natural Environment Suitability Index (NESI) model of China by using natural environment data including climate, hydrology, surface configuration and ecological conditions. The NESI value is calculated in grids of 1 km by 1 km through ArcGIS. The spatial regularity of NESI is analyzed according to its spatial distribution and proportional structure. The relationship of NESI with population distribution and economic growth is also discussed by analyzing NESI results with population distribution data and GDP data in 1 km by 1 km grids. The study shows that: (1) the value of NESI is higher in the East and lower in the West in China; The best natural environment area is the Yangtze River Delta region and the worst are the northwest of Tibet and southwest of Xinjiang. (2) There is a close correlation among natural environment, population distribution and economic growth; the best natural environment area, the Yangtze River Delta region, is also the region with higher population density and richer economy. The worst natural environment areas, Northwest and Tibetan Plateau, are also regions with lower population density and poorer economies.
自然环境因素是评价人类居住环境、经济持续增长和生态健康状况的主要指标之一。本文基于地理信息系统（GIS）技术和层次分析法，利用气候、水文、地表形态和生态条件等自然环境数据，构建了中国自然环境适宜性指数（NESI）模型。利用 ArcGIS 软件，将 NESI 值以 1km×1km 的网格进行计算。根据 NESI 的空间分布和比例结构，分析其空间规律性。通过分析 1km×1km 网格的 NESI 结果与人口分布和 GDP 数据之间的关系，探讨了 NESI 与人口分布和经济增长的关系。研究结果表明：（1）中国的 NESI 值呈现东部高、西部低的特点；最佳自然环境区域是长江三角洲地区，最差的自然环境区域是西藏西北部和新疆西南部。（2）自然环境、人口分布和经济增长之间存在密切的相关性；最佳自然环境区域，即长江三角洲地区，也是人口密度较高、经济较发达的地区。而自然环境最差的区域，如西北地区和青藏高原，人口密度较低，经济也相对落后。
