PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2017, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (2): 231-243.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2017.02.009

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Progress and prospects of diagnostic analysis and risk prediction of urban problems based on multiple perspectives

Xiaoyue WANG(), Shuangcheng LI*()   

  1. Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Center of Land Science of Peking University, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • Online:2017-02-20 Published:2017-02-20
  • Contact: Shuangcheng LI E-mail:934447393@qq.com;scli@urban.pku.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Major Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41590843

Abstract:

Due to the dynamic, interactive, and coupling relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment in urban areas, the study of urban problem in megacities is becoming increasingly complex and has become a hotspot area of research in China and internationally. A comprehensive understanding of the complex interaction between urbanization and the ecological environment is beneficial for revealing the mechanism and developing methods and techniques of diagnostic analysis and risk prediction of urban problems in megacity regions. Focusing on the questions of causes-diagnosis-risk prediction of urban problems, this article reviewed the progress of studies on diagnostic analysis and risk prediction of urban problems from multidimensional perspectives and identified the research trend. First, we summarized the causes of urban problems from three theoretical perspectives, including the coupling and coercing mechanism between urbanization and eco-environment, urban metabolism disorder, and loss of ecosystem services. Then, we reviewed the two approaches of urban problem diagnosis: assessment of urban health by index; and measurement of urban metabolism by ecological thermodynamic indicators. Third, we reviewed the research on risk prediction of urban problems from single risks and comprehensive risk. Finally, we identified several key issues and potential research directions based on the existing studies. Further study should be improved with regard to data acquisition and model simulation in order to study urban or urban agglomeration problems comprehensively. Such research will facilitate comprehensive geographic study and provide an important practical method for the study of human-environment relationship.

Key words: urban problem, urbanization, diagnostic analysis, risk prediction, progress and prospect