A GIS-based Framework for Improving the Rural Settlement System in Dancheng County of Henan Province

[Objective] This study formulated a technical framework for key settlement selection in Dancheng County of Henan Province. [Method] The location set covering model (LSCM) provided by ArcGIS 10.0 was used in this study. [Result] After reconstruction, the settlement system in Dancheng County is composed of 2 county centers, 7 key towns and 122 key villages. [Conclusion] This study provides suggestions for the development of key settlements in Dancheng County, which contributes to improving the level of rural public services and ensuring social justice.

Comparative Study on Settlement Systems under Different Land Systems——Structure and Optimization

Based on the data of the second national land survey and GIS method, this paper takes Fujin City as a study area to refl ect the similarities and differences of settlement system characteristics between reclamation and agricultural region in Heilongjiang Province, in order to discover the effect of land system on structure of settlement system. The results are as follows:(1) In the aspect of the spatial distribution pattern, settlement systems of both reclamation and agricultural region show clustered distribution, but those in reclamation region are denser;(2) The settlement systems of reclamation and agricultural regions can be divided into 4 levels, and their settlement systems are not incompatible with the 3 distribution patterns proposed in the center place theory, and show completely different hierarchical orders;(3) The average scale of reclamation settlement is smaller than that of agricultural settlement, but the difference is much more signifi cant;(4) The settlement systems in reclamation and agricultural regions have some problems, such as high proportion of the mini-settlements, and unreasonable space network system. Some measures should be taken, such as accelerating the reconstruction of the settlement system, optimizing the layout of settlement network system and transportation network, and promoting the connection between settlement systems in reclamation and agricultural regions in near future.

Empirical Research on Carrying Capacity of Human Settlement System in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China

Using the theories of population carrying capacity and ecological elasticity in other fields for reference, the connotation of regional human settlement system was defined from the viewpoint of the complex relationship among the factors such as regional population, resources, environment and economic and social development in the context of China′s rapid urbanization. Then the concept and characterization methods of the regional human settlement carrying capacity were proposed by means of population scale. Furthermore, a model of carrying capacity-pressure-state-response(CPSR) on regional human settlement system was established by referencing pressure-state-response(PSR) model, and the Catastrophe Theory was introduced to determine the corresponding standards of multi-criteria programming and evaluation. Taking Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China as an example, an empirical analysis on evaluation of human settlement system from 2000 to 2012 was carried out. The results showed that the carrying capacity of human settlement system in Dalian was fluctuating between 9.6 × 106 to 10 × 106 persons with a quantitative stage of the dynamic regulation. During the research period the load index of human settlement system in Dalian dropped from 0.96 to 0.84 with a lower pressure of human settlement system than the national average level. And the emergency response grades of human settlement system in Dalian were kept in grade Ⅱ(orange warning) or grade Ⅲ(yellow warning). Human settlement system of Dalian was in slight security state as a whole, but the load had a tendency of increase in recent years. The related departments should pay close attention to regional human settlement system and take active measures to improve human settlement by both intensity control and total quantity control. By comparison, analysis and discussion, it was considered that the results were basically accordded with the current situations of human settlement in Dalian, and the evaluation results were more reliable, visualized and easily applied in practice. Therefore, the above-mentioned concepts, characterization and evaluation methods of the regional human settlement system and carrying capacity could provide a new thought and method for quantitative evaluation of human settlement.

Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach to Design a Human Settlement to Better Serve Displaced People

The challenge of transitioning from temporary humanitarian settlements to more sustainable human settlements is due to a significant increase in the number of forcibly displaced people over recent decades, difficulties in providing social services that meet the required standards, and the prolongation of emergencies. Despite this challenging context, short-term considerations continue to guide their planning and management rather than more integrated, longer-term perspectives, thus preventing viable, sustainable development. Over the years, the design of humanitarian settlements has not been adapted to local contexts and perspectives, nor to the dynamics of urbanization and population growth and data. In addition, the current approach to temporary settlement harms the environment and can strain limited resources. Inefficient land use and ad hoc development models have compounded difficulties and generated new challenges. As a result, living conditions in settlements have deteriorated over the last few decades and continue to pose new challenges. The stakes are such that major shortcomings have emerged along the way, leading to disruption, budget overruns in a context marked by a steady decline in funding. However, some attempts have been made to shift towards more sustainable approaches, but these have mainly focused on vague, sector-oriented themes, failing to consider systematic and integration views. This study is a contribution in addressing these shortcomings by designing a model-driving solution, emphasizing an integrated system conceptualized as a system of systems. This paper proposes a new methodology for designing an integrated and sustainable human settlement model, based on Model-Based Systems Engineering and a Systems Modeling Language to provide valuable insights toward sustainable solutions for displaced populations aligning with the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

A Systems Approach to Assessing Sustainability Capacity in Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement in Turkana County, Kenya

Refugee settlements face several challenges in transitioning from a temporary planning approach to more sustainable settlements. This is mainly due to an increase in the number of forcibly displaced people over the last few decades, and the difficulties of sustainably providing social services that meet the required standards. The development of refugee settlements assumed that forcibly displaced people would return to their places or countries of origin. Unfortunately, displacement situations are prolonged indefinitely, forcing these people to spend most of their lives in conditions that are often deplorable and substandard, and therefore unsustainable. In most cases, the establishment of refugee settlements is triggered by an emergency caused by an influx of forcibly displaced people, who need to be accommodated urgently and provided with some form of international assistance and protection. This leaves little or no time for proper planning for long-term development as required. In addition, the current approach to temporary settlement harms the environment and can strain limited resources with ad hoc development models that have exacerbated difficulties. As a result, living conditions in refugee settlements have deteriorated over the last few decades and continue to pose challenges as to how best to design, plan, and sustain settlements over time. To contribute to addressing these challenges, this study proposes a new methodology supported by Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and a Systems Modeling Language (SysML) to develop a typical sustainable human settlement system model, which has functionally and operationally executed using a Systems Engineering (SE) approach. To assess the sustainability capacity of the proposed system, this work applies a matrix of crossed impact multiplication through a case study by conducting a system capacity interdependence analysis (SCIA) using the MICMAC methodology (Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) to assess the interdependency that exist between the sub-systems categories to deliver services at the system level. The sustainability analysis results based on capacity variables influence and dependency models shows that development activities in the settlement are unstable and, therefore, unsustainable since there is no apparent difference between the influential and dependent data used for the assessment. These results illustrate that an integrated system could improve human settlements’ sustainability and that capacity building in service delivery is beneficial and necessary.

Function of Rural Settlement Complex Ecosystem in Mountain Area:A Case Study of Raosi Village of Zuogong County,Tibet

Using energy analysis,the quantifying evaluation and study method on production, living and ecology functions and their sustainability of rural settlement ecosystem in mountain area is established with these energy index such as export of labor and products, export of water resource, internal energy reserve, energy consumption for human living, net energy of ecosystem function and net internal reserve. Taking rural settlement Raosi Village in Hengduan Mountains as a case study, and on the basis of the synthetic research into the ecological process of the complex ecosystem, the study shows that energy costs of production, human living and ecology functions are separately taking 1.36%, 13.59% and 85. 05% of the gross ecosystem functions, and the exertions of production and human living functions are close to a high-point state on the present using level of energy in the settlement. The study also shows that the most important function of a rural settlement in mountain area is its ecological rather productive function.

Spatial-temporal differentiation and influencing factors of rural settlements in mountainous areas: an example of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Southwestern China

Rural settlement is the basic spatial unit for compact communities in rural area. Scientific exploration of spatial-temporal differentiation and its influencing factors is the premise of spatial layout rationalization. Based on land use data of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture(hereinafter referred to as Liangshan Prefecture) in Sichuan Province, China from 1980 to 2020, compactness index, fractal dimension, imbalance index, location entropy and the optimal parameters-based geographical detector(OPGD) model are used to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution of the morphological characteristics of rural settlements, and to explore the influence of natural geographical factors, socioeconomic factors, and policy factors on the spatial differentiation of rural settlements. The results show that:(1) From 1980 to 2020, the rural settlements area in Liangshan Prefecture increased by 15.96 km^(2). In space, the rural settlements are generally distributed in a local aggregation, dense in the middle and sparse around the periphery. In 2015, the spatial density and expansion index of rural settlements reached the peak.(2) From 1980 to 2020, the compactness index decreased from 0.7636 to 0.7496, the fractal dimension increased from 1.0283 to 1.0314, and the fragmentation index decreased from 0.1183 to 0.1047. The spatial morphological structure of rural settlements tended to be loose, the shape contour tended to be complex, the degree of fragmentation decreased, and the spatial distribution was significantly imbalanced.(3) The results of OPGD detection in 2015 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2371) > traffic accessibility(0.2098) > population(0.1403) > regional GDP(0.1325) > elevation(0.0987) > poverty alleviation(0). The results of OPGD detection in 2020 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2339) > traffic accessibility(0.2198) > population(0.1432) > regional GDP(0.1219) > poverty alleviation(0.0992) > elevation(0.093). Natural geographical factors(slope and elevation) are the basic factors affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements, and rural settlements are widely distributed in the river valley plain and the second half mountain area. Socioeconomic factors(traffic accessibility, population, and regional GDP) have a greater impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements, which is an important factor affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements. Policy factors such as poverty alleviation relocation have an indispensable impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements. The research results can provide decisionmaking basis for the spatial arrangement of rural settlements in Liangshan Prefecture, and optimize the implementation of rural revitalization policies.

Prediction of subsurface settlement induced by shield tunnelling in sandy cobble stratum

This study focuses on the analytical prediction of subsurface settlement induced by shield tunnelling in sandy cobble stratum considering the volumetric deformation modes of the soil above the tunnel crown.A series of numerical analyses is performed to examine the effects of cover depth ratio(C/D),tunnel volume loss rate(h t)and volumetric block proportion(VBP)on the characteristics of subsurface settle-ment trough and soil volume loss.Considering the ground loss variation with depth,three modes are deduced from the volumetric deformation responses of the soil above the tunnel crown.Then,analytical solutions to predict subsurface settlement for each mode are presented using stochastic medium theory.The influences of C/D,h t and VBP on the key parameters(i.e.B and N)in the analytical expressions are discussed to determine the fitting formulae of B and N.Finally,the proposed analytical solutions are validated by the comparisons with the results of model test and numerical simulation.Results show that the fitting formulae provide a convenient and reliable way to evaluate the key parameters.Besides,the analytical solutions are reasonable and available in predicting the subsurface settlement induced by shield tunnelling in sandy cobble stratum.

Settlement monitoring system of pile-group foundation

In order to realize information construction on settlement of pile-group foundation of Sutong Bridge, the monitoring instruments of high-precision micro-pressure sensor and hydrostatic leveling and settlement profiler were integrated synthetically. A set of practical multi-scale monitoring system on settlement of super-large pile-group foundation in deep water was put forward. The reliable settlement results are obtained by means of multi-sensor data fusion. Finite element model of pile-group foundation is established. By analysis of finite element simulated calculation of pile-group foundation, rules of settlement and uneven settlement obtained by monitoring and calculation results are coincident and the absolute error of settlement between them is 4.7 mm. The research shows that it is reasonable and feasible to monitor settlement of pile-group foundation with the system, and it can provide a method for the same type pile-group foundation in deep water.

Human Settlement Science-oriented Analysis of Rural Tourism Attraction System

Human settlement resources belong to tourist resources in a broad sense. Rural areas with excellent human settlements have become favorable tourist destinations. From the perspective of human settlement science, tourism attraction system model can be established by factors of harmony of rural ecology, harmony of rural life, harmony of rural production and harmony of rural culture. Concrete strategies for improving rural tourism attractiveness based on science of human settlements were proposed from the perspectives of optimization of ecological environment, education of original residents, upgrading of agricultural landscapes and products, and construction of rural tourism culture.

Households＇ Assessment of the Water Quality and Services of Multi-model Urban Water Supply System in the Informal Settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

In the global south wide range of studies highlight the limitations of the single-modelled public urban water system to meeting the endogenous water preferences of the urban population. Studies also touched on the complementary roles of private water actors to the single-modelled public water supply system in the urban water supply network. Multiple of urban water supply systems （multi-model） co-exist in the urban landscape of global south. However, it is unclear and largely inconclusive on the suitable and satisfactory urban water supply model that meets the water consumption needs of informal settlement dwellers in the global south. This study draws the experiences of households in the informal settlements using a case-study with cross-sectional survey strategy to assess the suitability of the multi-model urban water supply system for sustainable urban water supply in the informal settlements. A total of 292 households were randomly sampled alongside 35 purposively sampled private water actors and public water departments. The data were collected through face to face interviews. Findings show that water supply services of the multi-model water supply system are inevitably suitable for the water consumption needs of informal settlements’s dwellers. The operation of the multi-model water supply system is flexible and able to accommodate the diverse water consumption preferences and choices of the different socio-economic groups in the informal settlements. We observed that multiplicity of urban water supply system increases households’ access to water but does not necessarily improve the quality of water serve in the informal settlements. The paper recommended for the formalisation and adoption of the multi-model urban water supply system to meet the growing demand for improved water supply and services in the informal settlements.

Post-disaster spatial reconstruction from the perspective of a rural settlement niche in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River

Post-disaster recovery and reconstruction provide an effective way to reduce the disaster vulnerability of, and promote leapfrog development in, an affected area. To date, studies that have used administrative boundaries to investigate the reconstruction of settlement space have not been able to clearly define the real boundaries of land use changes or quantify the degree of response to the ‘Build-Back-Better’ initiative, and have lacked any consideration of the fourth reconstruction stage–development period(10 years). This study constructed a mountain settlement niche and analyzed the characteristics, spatial reconstruction, and drivers of rural settlements during 2009–2019 in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, southwest China. The results showed the following:(1) Natural factors were the basis for the formation and development of mountain settlement niches. The scale of the settlement niche and its land use structure depended on the physical geography features and the ethnic farming and grazing traditions. The settlement niche provided a realistic boundary for the spatial reconstruction.(2) The layout of residential land around cropland was the common feature of the mountain settlement niche. Of all the land use types, the roads and rural residential lands showed the most change over the 10 years;13,860 residential patches increased in size and 4,742 patches were abandoned.(3) The area of orchards, planted to reconstruct the economy in the mountains, increased by nearly 2.5 times.(4) Collapses, landslides, and debris flow disasters and the ecological red line influenced the spatial reconstruction. While the main focus of post-disaster recovery is spatial reconstruction, initiatives should include economic and spiritual recovery, and should also achieve sustainable development of the region.

An efficient physics-guided Bayesian framework for predicting ground settlement profile during excavations in clay

Recently,the application of Bayesian updating to predict excavation-induced deformation has proven successful and improved prediction accuracy significantly.However,updating the ground settlement profile,which is crucial for determining potential damage to nearby infrastructures,has received limited attention.To address this,this paper proposes a physics-guided simplified model combined with a Bayesian updating framework to accurately predict the ground settlement profile.The advantage of this model is that it eliminates the need for complex finite element modeling and makes the updating framework user-friendly.Furthermore,the model is physically interpretable,which can provide valuable references for construction adjustments.The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through two field case studies,showing that it can yield satisfactory predictions for the settlement profile.

Ground settlement and tunnel response due to twin-curved shield tunnelling in soft ground with small clear distance

Twin curved tunnels are often encountered in shield tunnelling,where significant complexities in densely exploited underground space are observed.In this study,the ground settlement and tunnel deformation due to twin-curved shield tunnelling in soft ground were investigated using numerical simulation and field monitoring.Different curvature radii of twin curved tunnels and subsequent effects of tunnel construction were considered to reveal the tunnelling effect on ground surface settlement and tunnel deformation.The results show that the settlement trough yields one offset towards inside of curved shield tunnelling.The location of settlement trough and maximum settlement were affected by curvature radius but except for the shape and width of settlement trough.Adjacent parallel twin-curved shield tunnelling could increase the offset of existing settlement trough and maximum settlement.Then,an empirical prediction of surface settlement trough due to twin-curved shield tunnelling with same tunnel diameters in soft clay was proposed,which was applicable to curvature radius less than 800 m.Finally,a minimum radius of 600 m of curvature tunnel was proposed in terms of allowable convergence deformation of tunnel.The result could provide guidance on safety evaluation for twin curved shield tunnelling construction.

New Rural Community Construction or Retention Development:A Comparative Analysis of Rural Settlement Transition Mechanism in Plain Agriculture Area of China Based on Actor Network Theory

It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition(RST)in an appropriate way.This paper uses actor network theory(ANT)to construct a theoretical framework for the study of RST.Taking two typical villages with different transition paths in rural areas of North China Plain as examples,this paper reveals the mechanism of RST and makes a comparative analysis.The results show that:1)after identifying problems and obligatory passage point,key actors recruit heterogeneous actors into the actor network by entrusting them with common interests,and realize RST under the system operation.2)Rural settlements under different transition paths have similarities in the problems to be solved,collective actions and policy factors,but there are differences in the transition process,mechanism and effect.The actor network and mechanism of RST through the path of new rural community construction are more complex and the transition effect is more thorough.In contrast,the degree of RST of retention development path is limited if there is no resource and location advantage.3)Based on the applicable conditions of different paths,this paper designs a logical framework of‘Situation-Structure-Behavior-Result’to scientifically guide the identification of RST paths under the background of rural revitalization.

Prediction of high-embankment settlement combining joint denoising technique and enhanced GWO-v-SVR method

Reliable long-term settlement prediction of a high embankment relates to mountain infrastructure safety.This study developed a novel hybrid model(NHM)that combines a joint denoising technique with an enhanced gray wolf optimizer(EGWO)-n-support vector regression(n-SVR)method.High-embankment field measurements were preprocessed using the joint denoising technique,which in-cludes complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition,singular value decomposition,and wavelet packet transform.Furthermore,high-embankment settlements were predicted using the EGWO-n-SVR method.In this method,the standard gray wolf optimizer(GWO)was improved to obtain the EGWO to better tune the n-SVR model hyperparameters.The proposed NHM was then tested in two case studies.Finally,the influences of the data division ratio and kernel function on the EGWO-n-SVR forecasting performance and prediction efficiency were investigated.The results indicate that the NHM suppresses noise and restores details in high-embankment field measurements.Simultaneously,the NHM out-performs other alternative prediction methods in prediction accuracy and robustness.This demonstrates that the proposed NHM is effective in predicting high-embankment settlements with noisy field mea-surements.Moreover,the appropriate data division ratio and kernel function for EGWO-n-SVR are 7:3 and radial basis function,respectively.

Assessment of the Influence of Tunnel Settlement on Operational Performance of Subway Vehicles

In the realm of subway shield tunnel operations,the impact of tunnel settlement on the operational performance of subway vehicles is a crucial concern.This study introduces an advanced analytical model to investigate rail geometric deformations caused by settlement within a vehicle-track-tunnel coupled system.The model integrates the geometric deformations of the track,attributed to settlement,as track irregularities.A novel“cyclic model”algorithm was employed to enhance computational efficiency without compromising on precision,a claim that was rigorously validated.The model’s capability extends to analyzing the time-history responses of vehicles traversing settlement-affected areas.The research primarily focuses on how settlement wavelength,amplitude,and vehicle speed influence operational performance.Key findings indicate that an increase in settlement wavelength can improve vehicle performance,whereas a rise in amplitude can degrade it.The study also establishes settlement thresholds,based on vehicle operation comfort and safety.These insights are pivotal for maintaining and enhancing the safety and efficiency of subway systems,providing a valuable framework for urban infrastructure management and long-term maintenance strategies in metropolitan transit systems.

Changes in human settlement environments and their drivers in valley cities located in arid and semi-arid regions:A case study of Lanzhou in Western China

Development of urban human settlement environments(HSEs)is an integral part of promoting high-quality and sustainable regional development and constructing a beautiful China.The city of Lanzhou,located at the geometric center of China,is the only provincial capital traversed by the Yellow River.Given the constraints posed by the valley topography and the need for economic development,the development of this HSE,which is located within an arid region,poses considerable challenges.Evidently,an understanding of the evolution of HSEs and drivers of changes in them contributes to high-quality,sustainable urban development in arid and semi-arid regions.An analytical model was developed using the parameters of relief degree of land surface,human comfort days,the land cover index,nighttime light index,and precipitation.This model was used in combination with population density and the gross domestic product to analyze the spatial distribution of Lanzhou's HSE and its drivers.The results showed that landscapes in Lanzhou underwent significant changes between 2000 and 2022,with an increase in building-up land(+0.946%),cultivated land(+0.134%),and forest land(+0.018%)and a decrease in grassland(-1.10%).There was significant outward expansion of the main urban zone of Lanzhou and of various county towns,with the increase in building-up land being most prominent.During this period,there were significant changes in the periphery of the core urban area and county towns in Lanzhou,with decreases moving from the urban center(the highest value)to the surrounding areas(Yongdeng County had the lowest value).The correlation between the HSE and population density grew stronger in Anning and Chengguan Districts but became weaker in Xigu and Qilihe Districts.Spatiotemporal variations in the HSE were primarily caused by climate change,followed by human activities,and were also influenced by the valley topography.Overall,the spatial distribution of population density and the HSE in Lanzhou demonstrated good consistency under the in-fluence of economic development and urbanization.

Shield Excavation Analysis: Ground Settlement & Mechanical Responses in Complex Strata

This study delves into the effects of shield tunneling in complex coastal strata, focusing on how this constructionmethod impacts surface settlement, the mechanical properties of adjacent rock, and the deformation of tunnelsegments. It investigates the impact of shield construction on surface settlement, mechanical characteristics ofnearby rock, and segment deformation in complex coastal strata susceptible to construction disturbances. Utilizingthe Fuzhou Binhai express line as a case study, we developed a comprehensive numerical model using theABAQUS finite element software. The model incorporates factors such as face force, grouting pressure, jack force,and cutterhead torque. Its accuracy is validated against field monitoring data from engineering projects. Simulationswere conducted to analyze ground settlement and mechanical changes in adjacent rock and segments acrossfive soil layers. The results indicate that disturbances are most significant near the excavation zone of the shieldmachine, with a prominent settlement trough forming and stabilizing around 2.0–3.0 D from the excavation. Theexcavation face compresses the soil, inducing lateral expansion. As grouting pressure decreases, the segmentexperiences upward buoyancy. In mixed strata, softer layers witness increased cutting, intensifying disturbancesbut reducing segment floatation. These findings offer valuable insights for predicting settlements, ensuring segmentand rock safety, and optimizing tunneling parameters.

Reflections on the Improvement of Rural Human Settlement Environment from the Perspective of Beauty and Livability

The construction of beautiful and livable villages is one of the important tasks of ruralrevitalization in the new era, and the development of rural areas attaches more and more importanceto the improvement of human settlement environment. By investigating the construction status andexisting problems of Zhaoba Village in Nanjing, it tries to take “beauty” and “livability” as the planningrequirements. The village positioning is planned accurately, and the functional layout is carried outreasonably. According to the characteristic industries, landscape features and infrastructure of ZhaobaVillage, humanized construction strategies are put forward, thus improving the quality of human settlementenvironment in Zhaoba Village.