Evaluating the Residential Environment of Traditional Settlements in Northern Jiangxi, China: A Multi-Dimensional Framework
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Abstract
Traditional rural settlements in China have long been recognised for their unique cultural and ecological values. However, rapid urbanisation and rural revitalisation processes pose significant threats to the sustainability of these traditional living environments. This study aimed to develop an innovative multi-dimensional framework based on the SciBERT algorithm in order to evaluate the residential environment of traditional settlements in Northern Jiangxi, China. Drawing on theories from landscape ecology, cultural geography and sustainable development, the framework encompasses four key dimensions: ecological suitability, cultural continuity, liveability and sustainability. A set of quantitative and qualitative indicators was constructed under each dimension based on a comprehensive literature review. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was then employed to determine the relative weights of these indicators. Data were collected from interviews with 13 respondents and an analysis of 68 Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) articles. The proposed framework was applied to assess the residential environment of three representative traditional settlements in Northern Jiangxi. The results revealed the strengths and weaknesses of each settlement, providing valuable insights for targeted conservation and revitalisation strategies. This study contributes to urban planning research by offering a holistic and empirically validated approach to evaluating the multi-faceted residential environment of traditional settlements, which can inform both academic research and practical policymaking in the context of rural development.
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