Ecological environment regionalization of Beijing: RS & GIS application research

The eco-environmental regionalization is a comprehensive division process based on the geographical differences of regional eco-environment status. Compared to the traditional method, spatial analysis is more and more used to get the main characteristic of the eco-environment before regionalization. In this paper, TM, SPOT and QuickBird images of 2000-2008 are taken as data sources. And using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) technology, combined with field survey and other auxiliary data, ecological information, including vegetation, land, water resources, air quality, and so on, were extracted. Then, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of various eco-environmental factors was made to determine the main features that impact the eco-environment. Based on that, the qualities of eco-environment in 2000, 2006, and 2008 were calculated, using a comprehensive weight- combining method. Then, the situation of eco-environment and its change in Beijing were calculated and analyzed, according to the Technical Criterion for Eco-environmental Status Evaluation , After that, the regionalization research on eco-environment status was made based on the analysis of eco-environment assessment results and the social and economic statistical data of Beijing during 2000 to 2008, combining with the "Guidance on function ranking and index system of districts and counties issued by Beijing Committee of Communist Party of China and Beijing Municipal People\´s Government". Then, we analyzed eco-environment information spatially, using the powerful spatial data processing capabilities of RS, as well as the advantages of spatial analysis of GIS. We found that Beijing keeps a "Good" eco-environment status with little change from 2000 to 2008. However there are large transformations in every component indices influencing the eco-environment. The decrease of vegetation-coverage rate, water resources lesson, residential la- nd expansion and air pollution emission control were the most important factors that affect Beijing eco-environment status. The results will provide a scientific base for the future urban planning, rehabilitation and reconstruction of eco-environment, so as to improve the eco-environment in Beijing.