Evaluation of rural residential land consolidation potential using entropy weight extension model-A case study of Taihang Mountain piedmont plain in Hebei Province

China's huge number of rural residential land has resulted in a significant waste of limited land resources. With fast development of regional economies, land demand in China has significantly increased. With integrated construction, however, intensive land construction has the potential to alleviate the current land waste. A quantitative evaluation of regional rural residential land consolidation potential is needed for socio-economic development. Current applications of extension entropy weight models in evaluating residential land consolidation potential are relatively rare. Entropy theory enhances the objectivity of weight and takes advantage of extension theory to improve scalability and flexibility. Here in this study a comprehensive evaluation system of rural residential land consolidation potential was established with both individual and multiple indicators. The results showed that the degree of potential indicators of the datasets were basically same. The datasets had good application potential in evaluating regional rural residential land consolidation potential. The study established an index system for evaluation of regional rural residential land consolidation potential. It introduced consolidation benefit factors in combination with economic, societal and natural factors. An application example of the evaluation of consolidation potential of regional rural residential lands in the piedmont region of Taihang Mountain was also performed. The result showed different rural residential land reclamation potentials in different regions. Thirteen counties surrounding Shijiazhuang City and Beijing City with consolidation potential of 0.7, 1.0 were priority consolidation areas. Other 12 counties located in central Baoding City, southern Shijiazhuang City and northern Handan City with consolidation potential of 0.4~0.7) belonged to the key consolidation area. Then 13 counties located in Xingtai City, southern districts of Handan City and western districts of Baoding City with consolidation potential of 0, 0.4) were in moderate consolidation area. It was beneficial to combine economic and efficiency factors with residential consolidation in different regions for reasonable arrangements. This had the potential to promote regional rural residential settlement consolidation in a timely and orderly manner for efficient planning of land remediation. The extension entropy weight model was applicable in an orderly promotion of regional residential land consolidation with a comprehensive land consolidation plan.