Satisfying multidimensional human well-being efficiently and equitably through dynamic urban planning

Achieving multidimensional human well-being in cities has become a key issue for sustainable development. Land-use planning can help to advance human well-being by equitably and efficiently locating industries in areas with higher productivity and lower environmental impact. To this end, we analyzed how cities deliver ecological and economic benefits at both city and grid scales by incorporating three key characteristics: distance decay, dynamic accumulation, and interactive effects. We integrated the “source-flow-sink” theory with spatial mapping models to link benefit supply with the populations they serve. Based on this, we proposed a dynamic urban planning framework that develops an industry suitability index—combining multidimensionality, efficiency, and equity—to support land-use decision-making. Application in Ordos City, China, indicates that high-suitability lands for industry are scarce. In our scenarios, a comprehensive strategy yielded multiple benefits with relatively less land conversion, while other strategies trade ecological for economic benefits.