Research Article

Using a Hybrid Multiattribute Decision-Making Model for Evaluating the Sustainable Development Potential of Characteristic Towns and Exploring Development Planning Strategies

Table 1

Primary evaluation framework.

Dimensions/attributesDescriptionsCited references

Cultural preservation (CP)
Settlement landscape (CP1)Preserving the unique settlement and common features through the awareness of urban and rural residents.[17, 27]
Historical sites (CP2)Preserving the local culture and historical monuments through the awareness of urban and rural residents.[17, 28]
Festivals & ceremonies (CP3)Continuously promoting the local folk festivals and religious celebrations through awareness of urban and rural residents.[17, 29]
Traditional arts activities (CP4)Inheriting local folk skills and arts and promoting traditional folk-art activities through awareness of urban and rural residents.[17, 29]

Environment sustentation (ES)
Geographical landscape (ES1)Maintaining the unique local geographic and geologic landscape through the common power of urban and rural residents.[17, 27]
Industrial relic (ES2)Maintaining the unique industry relics and promoting local industrial activities through the common power of residents.[17, 28, 30]
Living environment (ES3)Maintaining and improving the local living environment quality through the awareness of urban and rural residents.[17, 31]
Leisure & recreation field (ES4)Maintaining and improving the service quality of local leisure and recreation fifields through the awareness of urban and rural residents.[17, 32]

Economic development (ED)
City & countryside empowerment (ED1)Promoting city and countryside empowerments and nurturing a unique local industry through the common consciousness of urban and rural residents.[12, 17, 32, 33]
Economic activities (ED2)Promoting unique local industrial activities and creating new business opportunities through the common consciousness of urban and rural residents.[12, 17, 31, 33]
Investment incentives (ED3)Attracting foreign investment and resources to aid urban and rural development through local business and economic activities.[17, 32, 33]
Employment opportunities (ED4)Promoting local employment opportunities and attracting talents to return home through local business and economic activities.[17, 31, 33]

Social consciousness (SC)
Urban and rural identification (SC1)Promoting the sense of identity that urban and rural residents feel toward local culture and historical sites.[17, 34]
Urban and rural exchanges (SC2)Enhancing the urban and rural competitiveness by learning and exchange among different urban and rural residents.[17, 34]
Industrial common prosperity (SC3)Maintaining the prosperity of urban and rural industries by residents’ businesses and visitors’ concerted efforts.[12, 17]
Policy promotion (SC4)Creating rural and urban features and developing rural and urban economic activities through urban and rural policy promotion.[12, 17, 32]