Evaluation of Geo-Environment Carrying Capacity Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS Method: A Case Study of China

Abstract

The resource environment is a fundamental prerequisite for the construction of ecological civilization and the realization of sustainable development goals. It is also a core guarantee for human production activities. Conducting an evaluation of regional geo-environmental carrying capacity has significant practical importance for achieving sustainable development in the region. However, the existing evaluation methods for geo-environmental carrying capacity fail to effectively integrate multi-source data, resulting in an incomplete reflection of the level of regional geological carrying capacity. To address this issue, this study introduces the intuitionistic fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making method into the geo-environmental carrying capacity evaluation, according to the unique topographic and geomorphological characteristics of the region. A complete analysis framework is established, which integrates the intuitionistic fuzzy and TOPSIS models to classify the geo-environmental carrying capacity evaluation into five grades: high, relatively high, medium, relatively poor, and poor. Using Meishan, China as an example, the region is divided into 33 geomorphological units based on its geographical features. The results show that: (a) the percentage of natural units with high carrying capacity is 17.27%, that of relatively high natural units is 14.07%, that of medium natural units is 31.70%, that of relatively poor natural units is 27.51%, and that of poor natural units is 9.45%; (b) the geo-environmental carrying capacity exhibits spatial differences and uneven distribution. Furthermore, the average annual rainfall and degree of karst development are the main factors affecting the geo-environmental carrying capacity. These research results and findings can provide technical support for urban planning, regional sustainable development, and ecological environmental protection.