Overview and Analysis on the Effectiveness of Indicator Systems for Evaluating Urban Carrying Capacity

With the rapid process of urbanization, the contradiction between resource environment and economic development is increasingly prominent. Correctly understanding and evaluating urban carrying capacity is urgent for promoting sustainable social progress. Although substantial studies of urban carrying capacity have been conducted, existing indicator systems still lack validation on the effectiveness and credibility. Accordingly, 47 indicator systems were selected to identify and compare the information from three aspects based on content analysis. The results from indicator analysis manifest that current assessment systems differ greatly in indicator selection and dimension division, indicating an obstacle for guiding urban planning. The deficiencies of indicator systems can serve as a motivation for researchers and urban planners to develop a holistic and effective evaluation system in order to attain coordinated sustainability.