Assessment of eco-geo-environment quality using multivariate data: A case study in a coal mining area of Western China

Coal resource extensive development and utilization seriously threatens the region fragile ecological environment in Western China. Using the Yushenfu coal mining area as a study site, the ecological and geological environment (eco-geo-environment) factors affected by coal mining were analyzed. Spatiotemporal data extracted from remote sensing images was combined with survey data to establish an evaluation and prediction model. Integrated eco-geo-environmental quality was established by calculating the combined weight of each factor using the fuzzy delphi analytic hierarchy process method to develop a comprehensive multi-factor eco-geo-environment quality evaluation map. Results shows that the eco-geo-environment quality was divided in five grades of worse, bad, medium, good and better, the overall condition of the study region is moderate and it is apparent that regions with less intensive mining activities (Yushen sub coal mining area) are in better condition as compared to those regions where intensive mining is well established (Shenfu sub coal mining area). Comparisons with the classified eco-geo-environment categories revealed that different eco-geo-environment quality grades were affected different eco-geo-environment categories after a period of coal resources exploitation, but eco-geo-environment quality generally has been declining since the development and utilization of coal resources. The model provides a more scientific and accurate method to evaluate regional eco-geo-environmental quality, which is important for the coordinated development between coal mining and the fragile eco-environment.