Consolidation schedule determination of rural residential area in Yumen based on multi-factor comprehensive evaluation

Abstract: In this paper, we constructed the comprehensive evaluation system, including identification of the potentiality, the complexity of patch shape and location condition. It aimed at determining consolidation schedule on rural residential area. The difficulty and necessity have been analyzed respectively from the complexity of patch shape and feature of location condition in rural residential area. Rural habitat consolidation tailored to the consolidation potential was mainly divided into three different parts, namely, the short-term, medium-term, and long-term consolidations. Firstly, we combined with socio-economic data and "village" as a unit. The rating of consolidation potential on rural residential area was determined by comprehensive evaluation and the potentiality of consolidation was identified from the macro level. Secondly, the features of patch shape were analyzed by the landscape ecology. The ratings were determined on the complexity of patch and location condition in rural residential area within the territory of Yumen city. Based on this, it weighed for the rating on the complexity of patch shape and location condition using raster calculator through the spatial overlay. After that, we identified the priority of the habitat consolidation. Finally, the consolidation schedule on rural residential area was determined in space and time dimension. The result showed that there was obvious difference on consolidation potential for rural residential area in Yumen. The relatively greater potential area covered 22 administrative villages, about 960.31 hm2, while medium potential area included 32 administrative villages with 2 053.72 hm2, and lower potential area had three administrative villages with 908.26 hectares. According to the rating results on the complexity of patch shape in rural residential area, the consolidation potential from grade Ⅰ to Ⅴ was 766.25 hm2, 731.93 hm2, 908.26 hm2, 535.14 hm2 and 377.30 hm2, respectively. As a result, the higher the potential level was, the lower the complexity of patch it was. Given the rating results in rural residential area, it showed that the location condition from grade Ⅰ to grade Ⅴ was 827.83 hm2, 1 096.09 hm2, 789.81 hm2, 513.63 hm2 and 119.11 hm2, respectively. The higher level meant the poor location condition. The patch size of the priority consolidation, secondary consolidation, and final consolidation on rural residential area in Yumen was respectively 1 291.08 hm2, 1 712.2 hm2, 315.64 hm2. From the calculated results of consolidation potential for rural residential area, we concluded that there were 426.05 hm2 needed to be consolidated in the short term, 635.40 hm2 in the medium term and 2 257.48 hm2 in the long term. The rural residential area was regarded as a basic research unit, and this paper completely examined the relationship between the feature of patch shape and habitat consolidation. At the same time, location condition of the patch also can be comprehensively analyzed. On the one hand, the complexity of patch shape determined the difficulty of consolidation. On the other hand, identification of location condition determined the necessity of consolidation. Both sides have a comprehensive impact on the priority of habitat consolidation. This paper will not only help guide the consolidation of rural residential area, but also will provide the relatively reasonable arrangement on the timeline for consolidation in Yumen.