Urban human settlement quality refined assessment and its spatial relationship with human activity intensity in arid area: A case study of Urumqi, China

In the unique geographical contexts of ecological vulnerability and climate sensitivity, urban human settlement in arid areas faces dual pressures: ensuring human well-being while protecting the natural environment. There exists a complex interplay between human activities and human settlement in these regions. However, current research on urban human settlement in arid areas remains insufficient in comprehensively considering both the natural and cultural environments, and integrated studies on the spatial relationship between human activity intensity (HAI) and urban human settlement quality (HSQ) are still lacking. To address this gap, this study constructs an evaluation framework for urban HSQ in arid areas from an integrated perspective that combines natural and cultural environments. The framework includes three dimensions: natural environment quality, living facilities quality, and traffic accessibility quality. Using Urumqi, a major city in northwest China, as a case study, this paper analyzes the spatial relationship between urban HSQ and HAI. Results reveal a distinct "core-periphery" structure in Urumqi, where deficiencies in life and public service facilities are the primary obstacles to improving HSQ. Although a significant global spatial positive correlation exists between HSQ and HAI, spatial matching is poorly aligned. The future development of urban human settlement in arid areas should not only focus on enhancing natural environment quality but also actively ensure the provision of cultural environment to meet the needs of human activities. Additionally, effective measures should be taken to reduce disparities in urban HSQ between core and peripheral areas. This study provides new insights into the development of urban human settlement in arid areas and holds significant implications for achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.