Using the AHP-TOPSIS Integrated Model to Assess the Quality of Urban Environments

This study thoroughly examines the assessment of urban environmental quality using an integrated AHP-TOPSIS model. We selected a city with a population of about one million people and chose seven evaluation indexes, including air quality, annual mean sulphur dioxide (SO2), annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO2), annual mean respirable particulate matter (RPM), biological abundance index (BABI), vegetation cover index (VCI), and pollution load index (PLI). Utilizing the hierarchical analysis method of AHP, we established a structural model that was standardized, ranked, and tested for consistency to ensure its scientific validity and reliability. We calculated the weights to determine the relative contribution of each evaluation indicator in the overall assessment. The TOPSIS model was then applied to standardize the indicators in a forward direction and calculate the score to derive the optimal evaluation results. Through in-depth multidimensional analyses of the detailed data on urban environmental scores, we identified the time trend of urban environmental quality, observing a steady growth trend in scores from 2012 to 2022. Although no significant outliers were detected, the substantial increase in scores between 2015 and 2016 may require further investigation. Considering the weight calculation of the AHP-TOPSIS model, the in-depth analysis of the evaluation indicators, and careful observation of the data, this study provides comprehensive and scientific insights into the evaluation of urban environmental quality. The results contribute to a deep understanding of the evolutionary trends and influencing factors of the urban environment, offering scientific support for future decisions on environmental improvement.