Spatial planning and management to control multi-ecological environmental problems: A case study of Anshan city, Liaoning, China

Abstract Spatial pattern and process studies are of global interest and typically focus on one certain environmental or ecological process, and the methods employed mostly rely upon spatial process models. Meanwhile, spatial planning is an important administrative management in regional development, especially in China. However, traditional urban planners focused more on social economy and less on eco-environment. How to conduct scientific planning is the key to solving and preventing eco-environmental problems. In this study, we proposed a synthetic spatial analysis and planning method that involves atmospheric, edaphic, hydrographic and ecological processes to zoning management and control strategies for regional sustainable goals. The method can identify key eco-environmental processes and regions effectively, divide scientific spatial control unit, and set precise management polices to prevent environmental pollution and ecological damage events. The synthetic method was conducted using advanced multi-process models and spatial statistical methods, including CMAQ and SWAT models. The case study in Anshan city indicated that the models we proposed can effectively reflect the link between pollutants and land use pattern. According to the process simulation results of pollutant distribution, we combined the administrative districts and land use, divided 67 types of eco-environmental management units based on atmospheric pollution discharge, hydrographic pollution discharge, edaphic heavy metal pollution, and ecological space. For each unit, we proposed feasible management policies and control measures. This synthetic method can provide scientific analysis and guidance support spatial planning and ecological construction for multi-purpose ecological environmental protection.