Spatiotemporal dynamics and anthropogenic drivers of geological hazard prevention efficiency in China

Abstract

Rapid socio-economic development and the large-scale anthropogenic activities aggravated the risk of geological hazards, endangering human life and property safety. Understanding the geological hazard prevention efficiency (GHPE) and driving factors is important for promoting the sustainable development, there are few quantitative studies have investigated the GHPE and anthropogenic drivers in China. This study employed the super-efficiency slack based measure-data envelopment analysis (SBM–DEA) model with undesirable outputs and Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) index to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of GHPE from static and dynamic perspectives. Additionally, the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model was utilized to identify the spatial heterogeneity of anthropogenic drivers on GHPE in China. Results showed that GHPE showed a spatial difference of eastern > central > western China, with only 38.71 % provinces were in an optimal prevention condition of the GHPE. An average annual growth rate of GHPE was 5.8 % in China, with a distribution pattern characterized by central > eastern > western China. Furthermore, the spatial heterogeneity of anthropogenic drivers affecting GHPE varied greatly across different regions. Our findings highlighted investment in environmental protection had obviously positive effects on the GHPE, whereas urban population density had markedly inhibited effects in most provinces. Low GHPE was more prevalent in regions with relatively backward economic and technological levels. Effective measures were proposed to promote regional high-quality and sustainable development.