A SYSTEM MODEL TO ANALYZE ENVIRONMENTAL CARRYING-CAPACITY FOR MANAGING URBAN-GROWTH OF THE TAIPEI METROPOLITAN REGION

Urban growth possesses the characteristic of an environmental carrying capacity, beyond which adverse environmental effects will occur. An urban-environmental system model, comprising subsystems of urban development, urban water uses and streams, is developed for analysing the human carrying capacity of the Taipei metropolitan region. In this study, availability of land, capacities of water-related infrastructures and water quality standards are used as limiting factors; variables of population and urbanized area are used as indicators of carrying capacity. The allowable increases of population and urbanized area for each administrative district by the year 2000 are simulated. The results of the analysis indicate that urban growth in the Taipei metropolitan region will besignificantly constrained by the environmentally sensitive characteristics of land, and the availability and capacity of the water supply system and waste treatment facilities. Resource management strategies based on the results of sensitivity analysis are proposed and used as model inputs to demonstrate that such constraints can be alleviated through better management of man and his environment. © 1990 Academic Press Limited.