| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1048132 | Habitat International | 2012 | 7 Pages |
The present study aims at exploring whether aspects of urban form are associated with urban eco-efficiency in China. Quantitative indicators relating to urban form (form, compactness ratio, elongation ratio and population density) and urban eco-efficiency (resource efficiency, environmental efficiency and overall eco-efficiency) were selected and quantified using remote sensing and data envelopment analysis methods. The urban form aspects of form and compactness ratios were positively correlated with urban eco-efficiency and resource efficiency. Conversely, the urban elongation ratio exhibited negative correlations with urban eco-efficiency and resource efficiency. Regarding environmental efficiency, no significant correlation is found with compactness though a negative correlation is found with population density. These results indicate that, within China, designing cities to be compact may be lead to increases in eco-efficiency and resource efficiency, but if the population density is too high the increased pollution costs will result in a decrease in environmental efficiency.
► Key urban form and urban eco-efficiency indices quantified for 30 Chinese cities. ► Urban form and compactness ratio positively correlate with urban eco- and resource efficiency. ► Population density negatively correlates with urban environmental efficiency. ► Compactness and population density exhibit a trade-off regarding urban sustainability. ► Policy makers should be mindful of this potential trade-off.
