Abstract
Based on socioeconomic statistical data, transport data, and network big data, the urban connection index (UCI) was constructed in terms of industry, transportation, information, and innovation, and the high-quality development index (HDI) was established from five aspects: innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing. Taking Lanzhou-Xining urban agglomeration as a case, the urban connection intensity and high-quality development level were measured to analyze the relationship between them. From 2012 to 2018, the UCI and HDI of each city showed different degrees of growth. Note that there exist significant regional differences, with Lanzhou and Xining having the largest difference. The biggest gap among cities lies in the innovative connection intensity. Moreover, urban external connections are closely related to high-quality development, especially innovation and green development. For every 1% increase in industrial and transport connection, the HDI will increase by 0.317% and 0.159%, respectively. This study provides a methodological reference for measuring urban connectivity and provides decision support for high-quality development in China and other countries.
Highlights
An urban system is characterized by openness, nonlinearity, diversity, fluctuation, and self-organization [1, 2]. e openness is directly revealed by the continuous exchange of matter, energy, and information between different cities
Cities are interconnected [5], and the closeness between cities is an important indicator in reflecting the development degree of urban agglomerations
In 2017, China proposed the concept of high-quality development, aiming to transform from seeking “growth” to seeking “better growth” with general improvement in socioeconomic development
Summary
An urban system is characterized by openness, nonlinearity, diversity, fluctuation, and self-organization [1, 2]. e openness is directly revealed by the continuous exchange of matter, energy, and information between different cities.is external connection allows the urban system to constantly replenish energy, which is one of the main driving forces to keep its vitality and orderliness [3, 4]. In 2017, China proposed the concept of high-quality development, aiming to transform from seeking “growth” to seeking “better growth” with general improvement in socioeconomic development. High-quality development will be the theme of China’s socioeconomic development in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) and beyond. Following the high-quality development path means staying committed to the people-oriented approach and the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development [6]. Urban agglomerations in China comprise 75% of the population and 80% of the gross domestic product (GDP), being major spatial carriers of socioeconomic development [7]. Erefore, it is necessary to explore the relationship between urban connection intensity and highquality development level in typical urban agglomerations for regional sustainable development [8, 9] Urban agglomerations in China comprise 75% of the population and 80% of the gross domestic product (GDP), being major spatial carriers of socioeconomic development [7]. erefore, it is necessary to explore the relationship between urban connection intensity and highquality development level in typical urban agglomerations for regional sustainable development [8, 9]
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