Abstract
Connectivity is a vital element in landscape structure because of its importance in species–landscape interactions. Connectivity analysis of green spaces in urban landscapes, especially in high-density cities such as Hong Kong, differs from that of habitats in natural or rural landscapes. Using the human being as the target species, we formulated with GIS techniques a resistance weight, a structural connectivity index and an ecological barrier effect index to assess connectivity of green spaces. Two factors were included in the modeling, namely the resistance of different land uses related to human activities, and the distance between different urban green spaces. We analyzed the relationships between the connectivity index of green spaces and green cover, elevation, building density and population density. Our results indicate that low connectivity usually occurs in both old and new town centers with high building density and low green cover, and in areas occupied by land uses with a high resistance weight. However, urban density may not necessarily have a negative influence on the structural connectivity of green spaces. Green cover also may not necessarily have positive impact on connectivity if the green spaces have a poor spatial pattern. Adding more green stepping stones, large green spaces and green corridors to form greenways and shortening the distance between urban green spaces can offer a spatial-planning strategy to increase the green space connectivity in Hong Kong. The study provides insights to optimize connectivity of green spaces to improve the urban living environment in high-density metropolises.
Highlights
Connectivity is a key characteristic of the ecological network [1] and is the basic principle for regional, urban, land use and infrastructure plans at the strategic and landscape levels [2,3]
Few studies touched on the assessment of structural connectivity of green spaces and the underlying factors in extremely dense cities such as Hong Kong, using people as the target population moving among the green patches
In this study, using human being as target species, we introduced accumulative cost distance, the Path Distance function module in ArcGIS 9.2, to describe the accumulative barrier effect of different land uses, and to model the structural connectivity of green spaces in Hong Kong
Summary
Connectivity is a key characteristic of the ecological network [1] and is the basic principle for regional, urban, land use and infrastructure plans at the strategic and landscape levels [2,3]. Connectivity of green spaces increases green cover, improves micro-climate and other ecological functions [15], and puts people closer to nature to usher better physical and mental health [16] It provides better living environment and increases economic values such as urban landscape quality and tourism potential. The resistance of land uses related to people’s activities were analyzed using PathDistance module in ArcGis 9.0 to model the ecological barrier effect index and the structural connectivity index of green spaces in the built environment in Hong Kong, assisted by the techniques of “3S” and statistics.
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