A Study on the Assessment of Urban Human Settlements and Ecological Environment Quality in Shaanxi Province and Their Temporal Evolution

This study evaluates the temporal evolution and structural constraints on the ecological and environmental quality of urban human settlements in Shaanxi Province, China, from 2011 to 2024. An indicator system covering four dimensions—urban green spaces and landscaping, urban appearance and environmental hygiene, urban facilities, and urban water resources and atmospheric environment—was established. The entropy method, comprehensive evaluation model, and barrier degree model were applied to assess relative performance, with sensitivity analyses conducted by modifying the attributes of domestic waste collection volume and total domestic water consumption, and by excluding controversial indicators. The results show that the composite index increased from 0.1082 in 2011 to 0.8806 in 2024, indicating substantial improvement in relative performance rather than a direct measure of absolute environmental quality. Overall, green spaces, parks, municipal facilities and ecological water supply improved, while major atmospheric pollutant emissions declined considerably. However, domestic waste collection and water consumption increased alongside urban development. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the overall upward trend but revealed that later-stage obstacle rankings were influenced by alternative attribute settings. Therefore, these indicators are interpreted as proxies for urban operational pressure rather than direct evidence of environmental degradation. The findings highlight the need to strengthen waste management, resource recovery, and water-use efficiency, providing methodological support for provincial-scale urban environmental assessment and governance.