Urbanization induces detrimental effects on the eco-environment that are beginning to be extensively
described. However, the adoption of suitable indicators and reliable methods still requires attention
to provide a basis for a more accurate understanding of eco-environmental effects from urbanization.
The aggregated index system representing the coupling relationships between urbanization and ecoenvironment
was introduced and an integrated sustainable development approach (ISD) to simulate and
evaluate the integrative effects was developed in this paper. The ISD consists of modules of the coupling
relationship assessments, systematic analysis of potential eco-environmental changes, and sustainability
evaluation. An interpretative structural modeling (ISM) and grey relative technique (GRT) are used to
analyze the systematical structure and assess the coupling relationships. A system dynamics model (SD)
and artificial neural network (ANN) are used to simulate the potential environmental changes and compare
the sustainability, respectively. An application study of Jiangsu province in China was performed,
where the general eco-environmental integrity is under significant urbanization pressure. The potential
eco-environmental scenarios from 2010 to 2015 under natural, populated, economic, spatial and social
urbanization patterns were simulated and analyzed. The result reveals that the urbanization sustainability
may be met on condition that either populated urbanization or social urbanization pattern is adopted
in Jiangsu province, China. The aggregated indexes and ISD may help local authorities better understand
and address the complex coupling relationship, and develop improved regional environmental
management strategies that better balance urbanization and eco-environmental conservation.