Suitability Evaluation and Layout Optimization of the Spatial Distribution of Rural Residential Areas

A reasonable layout optimization strategy of rural residential areas can improve the quality of life of rural residents and promote rural revitalization. Evaluating the suitability of rural residential areas is the basis of layout optimization. Based on 1:100,000 land cover data and a digital elevation model (30 m) for the Henan Province, China, we used the minimum cumulative resistance model to evaluate the spatial distribution suitability of rural settlements in the Zhengzhou administrative area (abbreviated: Zhengzhou). Then, we used a weighted Voronoi diagram to determine the scope of influence of central villages and determined the direction of relocation for the “combined migration” rural residential areas. The study results support the following conclusions: (1) the comprehensive resistance value of rural residential areas in the Northeastern part of Zhengzhou is low and the suitability is high. However, the comprehensive resistance value of the Southwestern part is high and the suitability is low. (2) The study area can be divided into highly suitable areas, suitable areas, generally suitable areas, unsuitable areas, and extremely unsuitable areas. Unsuitable areas and extremely unsuitable areas accounted for 33.66% of the total area and included 662 rural residential areas. (3) The rural residential areas were divided into four types of optimization: urbanization, key development, controlled development, and combined migration. Based on an analysis of the characteristics of each type of rural residential area, we proposed corresponding optimization strategies. The results remedy the lack of layout optimization strategies for large-scale rural residential areas and can provide support for the optimization of the layout of rural residential areas in Zhengzhou. Furthermore, the research techniques may apply to other regions.