Theoretical Research of the Urban Comprehensive Carrying Capacity in the Epoch of Urbanization

Abstract

Conventional wisdom suggests that ecological factors are prominent constraints of cities in the urbanization process. By contrast, this article provides a fresh conception of the urban comprehensive carrying capacity in the context of ecosystem, economy and social dimensions. Based on in-depth analysis, the author makes out a list of informative area-based indicators in three differentiated layers and the findings are that the urban comprehensive carrying capacity is an entanglement of three subsystems of resource carrying capacity, economic carrying capacity and social carrying capacity, with all concepts fundamental to sustainable urbanization process.