Bayesian network-GIS-based livability assessment of rural settlements in the Upper Min River Basin, China

Sep 30, 2026

Livability evaluation for rural settlements supports targeted rural revitalization by revealing spatial patterns and key drivers. Focusing on China’s Upper Minjiang River, the study builds an index system with five dimensions: site safety, resource endowment, environmental suitability, accessibility of life, and economic affluence. A Bayesian network-GIS probabilistic model quantifies livability distribution and identifies determinants. Results show southeast-high and northwest-low livability, with distribution along rivers and roads. Resource endowment and environmental suitability dominate, and natural factors like water-network density and temperature-humidity indices are crucial, while transport accessibility further shapes livability.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Livability evaluation goals

Study context and policy background

Methods

Livability index system dimensions

Bayesian network-GIS probabilistic model

Results

Spatial pattern of livability

Settlement distribution by livability level

Key determinants and drivers

Conclusion

Planning implications for rural revitalization

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN Bayesian network-GIS-based livability assessment of rural settlements in the Upper Min River Basin, China Jianhua Li1, Jiake Meng2􀀍, Yao Wang1, Hao Mei3, Lanlan Deng1 & Chunyin Guo2 Rural settlements are fundamental components of the human-land system and play a pivotal role in rural revitalization. Evaluating their livability helps identify key factors influencing rural development and enables targeted implementation of revitalization strategies. This study focuses on the Upper Minjiang River, China. We constructed a livability evaluation index system covering five dimensions: Site Safety, Resource Endowment, Environmental Suitability, Accessibility of Life, and Affluence of Economy. A Bayesian network-GIS probabilistic model was established to quantitatively analyze the spatial pattern of livability and identify key drivers. The results show that: (1) the overall livability of the study area trends high in the southeast and low in the northwest, with a clear pattern of distribution along rivers and roads. (2) The number of rural settlements decreases with the reduction in livability, and the number of rural settlements in the medium and high livability areas accounts for 81.33% of the total settlements. (3) Resource endowment and environmental suitability are the primary determinants of a region’s overall livability. Among these, natural geographic factors such as water network density and temperature-humidity indices play a pivotal role in establishing a region’s livability level. Socioeconomic factors like transportation accessibility further influence regional livability. The results provide a scientific basis for planning beautiful, livable villages and promoting rural revitalization in the Upper MinJiang River and similar regions. Keywords Rural settlements, Livability, Bayesian network-GIS, The upper minjiang river, Rural revitalization Although the rural development processes and issues differ among countries, common problems such as weak rural infrastructure, declining agricultural economic status, continued outflow of young and middleaged populations, and resource shortages have been experienced1. The revitalization of rural areas and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas are long-term focuses of global concern2. In recent years, issues such as rural hollowing-out, resource shortages, and environmental damage in China have become increasingly prominent3–5. This is contrary to the people’s aspirations for common prosperity. Especially in China, which is a large country with extensive mountainous areas, the broad mountainous area accounts for about two-thirds of the country’s territory6. Census data show that the mountain-region population was 522.97 million in 2020, accounting for about 40% of the country’s total population7. The mountainous transitional geographic space has distinct characteristics and complexity of the human-land relationship regional system, affected by China’s unique terraced topography pattern. The poor surface material stability, fragile ecological environment, and frequent geological hazards make it the most outstanding region of unbalanced and inadequate rural development in China8. China has deepened policies around the “three rural issues” and achieved some results, but the “rural diseases” have not been fundamentally cured. With the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, resources such as policies, technology, economy, and talents are continuously tilting towards the countryside. It is urgent to fundamentally solve the imbalanced and inadequate rural development issues, allowing “rural settlements” to truly retain people, which is essential to effectively promote rural revitalization. Rural settlements, as the gathering places for rural residents and the spatial carriers ofthe rural population, are the fundamental components of the human-land system and play a key role in

FAQs

What livability dimensions are included in the evaluation index system?

The study covers five dimensions: Site Safety, Resource Endowment, Environmental Suitability, Accessibility of Life, and Affluence of Economy.

What model is used to analyze livability spatially and identify key drivers?

It establishes a Bayesian network-GIS probabilistic model to quantify the spatial pattern of livability and infer key determinants.

Which factors are identified as the primary determinants of overall livability?

Resource endowment and environmental suitability are the primary determinants. Water-network density and temperature-humidity indices are especially important, and transportation accessibility also influences livability.

Sep 30, 2026

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