Research on coupling coordination measurement of plateau railway engineering and resource and environmental carrying capacity

This study investigated the interactive relationship between plateau railway engineering and resource-environmental carrying capacity in western China, aiming to achieve efficient utilization of energy resources and promote the coordinated development of railway engineering and resource-environmental systems. A comprehensive evaluation system was established based on a coupling coordination model that incorporated range standardization and entropy value weighting. A dual-system indicator framework for railway engineering and resource-environmental systems was developed across multiple dimensions, including resource consumption, environmental disturbance, and socioeconomic benefits. Weights were determined using the entropy weight method, and interactions between the two systems were measured by the coupling coordination degree model. Furthermore, by integrating time-series analysis and spatial zoning comparisons, this study systematically assessed and analyzed the coordinated evolution characteristics of various regions along plateau railways from 2006 to 2021. The results indicated significant regional variations in coordination levels. The Xining region demonstrated high comprehensive development potential due to relatively superior resource conditions and effective management measures. In contrast, the coordination level in the Tanggula Mountain Pass region increased only from 0.412 to 0.612, which was attributed to the limited resources and environmental endowments and slow ecosystem recovery in high-altitude areas. The temporal variation analysis further revealed that the intensity of railway construction, regional resource endowment, ecosystem vulnerability, resource and environmental management capacity, and regional economic development level were the key factors influencing changes in coordination. Additionally, the spatial distribution characteristics indicated that coordination levels along the plateau railway displayed a distinct regional gradient, with resource-rich and effectively managed areas showing significantly higher coordination than regions under greater ecological pressure.