Data-Driven Analysis and Evaluation of Regional Resources and the Environmental Carrying Capacity

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

1) Line 254-256) "Let V+ represent the maximum value of the j-th index of the i-th object in the weighted evaluation

data, that is, the best scheme, as a rational solution; V- represents the minimum value of the j-th index of

the i-th object in the weighted evaluation data"

It seems that index j missing in V+, V- here and in Eq.8,9

Definition is messy since "j-th index of the i-th object" is single value, it don't have neither maximum nor minimum

2) Line 268-269) "The closer Ci is to 1, the higher the RECC of the research object is. In contrast, the closer Ci is to 0, the lower the RECC"

Distance calculation (Eq.10,11) and it's interpretation assumes that "more is better". It's true for the State and Responce variables (X1-X6, X12-X16), but isn't true for Pressure variables where "more is worse"

3) Definition for the Mj is messy:

Line 282-283) "ri is the weight of the i-th subsystem in the comprehensive evaluation model, and Wij is the weight

 of the j-th index in the i-th subsystem."

How ri and the variables X1-X16 described above are related is not written, the terms "comprehensive evaluation model", "subsystem", "index" and "Wij" was not defined bwfore, their meaning is not clear.

Eq.13) Will be Fij, not Fj

Eq.15) Will be Mij, not Mj

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thank you very much for providing such good feedback on my paper, which will greatly improve the quality of my paper. Based on your suggestion, we have made revisions to the paper and hope that you can provide further feedback.

Best Wishs,

Shuling Zhou

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This comprehensive research work provides a theoretical and methodological support for the research and management of Regional resources and environmental carrying capacity (RECC). This paper shows the date-driven research process in the Yangtze River Delta RECC from 2010 to 2019. In the framework of this research, mathematical analyses have been carried out on three provinces and one city (Anhui Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai city). The TOPSIS model with entropy weight has been applied in order to measure and evaluate the regional RECC. TOPSIS is a method of compensatory aggregation that compares a set of alternatives by identifying weights for each criterion, normalizing scores for each criterion and calculating the geometric distance between each alternative and the ideal alternative, which is the best score in each criterion. An assumption of TOPSIS is that the criteria are monotonically increasing or decreasing. Normalization is usually required as the parameters or criteria are often of incongruous dimensions in multi-criteria problems. The analysis described in this paper is composed of four steps. In the first step a comprehensive dataset has been established. In the second step the regional RECC in terms of the state-pressure-response framework is established, in order to dynamically reflect and monitor the regional carrying capacity. In the third step, the regional RECC and identify key influencing factors have been evaluated. In the fourth step, countermeasures for sustainable social and economic development based on the regional RECC measures have been analyzed (see figure 2). The authors should describe the code and the mathematical libraries applied in this work (several python libraries are available). It is recommended to reconsider this insightful paper for publication, after performing the following major revisions.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1) The abstract should include the main findings of this work.

2) The number of the Keywords should be increased.

3) There are a lot of symbols used inside the paper. They should be defined and described before the reference section.

4) (Section 2 – Method) the authors should describe the code and the mathematical libraries applied in this work. Which codes have been applied in this study in order to perform the data driven analysis (Python or MATLAB)? 

5) (Line no. 148 – Heading of section 2.1) the heading of this section should be rewritten. In my opinion it should be written as “Method of flow”.

6) (Line no. 171 – figure 1) the author should describe the mathematical quantifying of the pressure.

7) (Line no. 195 – Table 1) there is spelling mistake in the word “nvestment“. It should be written “investment”.
8) The English language should be improved in terms of correctness, clarity, engagement, and delivery.

9) (References section) the year should be bold (See the following reference example):

Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name Year, Volume, page range, DOI.

Dear Editors,

This comprehensive research work provides a theoretical and methodological support for the research and management of Regional resources and environmental carrying capacity (RECC). This paper shows the date-driven research process in the Yangtze River Delta RECC from 2010 to 2019. In the framework of this research, mathematical analyses have been carried out on three provinces and one city (Anhui Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai city). The TOPSIS model with entropy weight has been applied in order to measure and evaluate the regional RECC. TOPSIS is a method of compensatory aggregation that compares a set of alternatives by identifying weights for each criterion, normalizing scores for each criterion and calculating the geometric distance between each alternative and the ideal alternative, which is the best score in each criterion. An assumption of TOPSIS is that the criteria are monotonically increasing or decreasing. Normalization is usually required as the parameters or criteria are often of incongruous dimensions in multi-criteria problems. The analysis described in this paper is composed of four steps. In the first step a comprehensive dataset has been established. In the second step the regional RECC in terms of the state-pressure-response framework is established, in order to dynamically reflect and monitor the regional carrying capacity. In the third step, the regional RECC and identify key influencing factors have been evaluated. In the fourth step, countermeasures for sustainable social and economic development based on the regional RECC measures have been analyzed (see figure 2). The authors should describe the code and the mathematical libraries applied in this work (several python libraries are available). It is recommended to reconsider this insightful paper for publication, after performing  major revisions.

Kind Regards

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thank you very much for providing such good feedback on my paper, which will greatly improve the quality of my paper. Based on your suggestion, we have made revisions to the paper and hope that you can provide further feedback.

Best Wishs,

Shuling Zhou

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper is of sound quality on a subject deserving the Journal's attention. This study deals with a data-driven method for the measurement and evaluation of regional Regional resources and environmental carrying capacity (RECC). Employing TOPSIS model with entropy weight to measure and evaluate the regional RECC, this paper identified the date-driven research process Yangtze River Delta RECC from 2010 to 2019. Overall, the paper is well written and well structured, therefore it is easy to follow and builds a clear conclusion from the data. Generally well written but shows highly technical and methodological approaches.

1) In literature review: this study well reviewed prior researches in the introduction part. however, Background and Theoretical Context would be a part of literature reviews. The author requires reconsidering section structure, particularly the literature review part.

2) hypothesis would be developed based on literature reviews (in the case of empirical study) or the events (in the case of ground theory). However, this study displayed the hypotheses at the Methodology part.

In addition, to develop hypothesis, this study is required further literature reviews to present theoretical supports for each sub-hypothesis.

The processes for data analysis are appropriate and the results of it are clearly described. However, this paper just described the results of data analysis. To improve the quality of this study, author(s) need to extract more clear implications in both theoretical and practical perspectives as a discussion of the results. Additional explanations are required to link the results of data analysis and conclusions. Research conclusion (practical implication) part is weak, focusing on data analysis (enumerate bits of information). Additional explanations incorporating theoretical and practical are required.

The quality of communication is appropriate. however, in order to clearly present research objectives, I recommend putting the summary section in discussion or conclusion part. Generally well investigated but requires some editing and revision.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thank you very much for providing such good feedback on my paper, which will greatly improve the quality of my paper. Based on your suggestion, we have made revisions to the paper and hope that you can provide further feedback.

Best Wishs,

Shuling Zhou

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

no more comments

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thank you very much for your feedback and recognition of the paper. With your revision suggestions, the quality of our paper has greatly improved, which will also motivate us to further study.

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

Thank you very much. It is recommended to accept this interesting paper for publication after performing the following major revisions: the heading of section 2.1 should be moved to the following page. The SPSS software and its version should be mentioned inside section 2 (Methods). This software should be also cited. It is also recommended to provide the Error of the Machine Learning TOPSIS calculations. See the following paper: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257937705_The_mean_error_estimation_of_TOPSIS_method_using_a_fuzzy_reference_models 

Dear Editor,

The paper has been already edited for proper English, spelling and grammer . Minor editing of English is required. 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thank you very much for your feedback on the paper. Based on your revision suggestions, we have further revised the paper, which will greatly improve the quality of our paper and motivate us to further study.

Kind regards,

Shuling Zhou 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

Thank you very much. It is recommended to accept this paper for publication.