How Did Built Environment Affect Urban Vitality in Urban Waterfronts? A Case Study in Nanjing Reach of Yangtze River

Zhengxi Fan,Jin Duan,Huanran Zhan,Wangchongyu Peng,Menglin Luo,Mengru Liu

doi:10.3390/ijgi10090611

Zhengxi Fan, Jin Duan + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10090611

Copy DOI

Abstract

The potential of urban waterfronts as vibrant urban spaces has become a focus of urban studies in recent years. However, few studies have examined the relationships between urban vitality and built environment characteristics in urban waterfronts. This study takes advantage of emerging urban big data and adopts hourly Baidu heat map (BHM) data as a proxy for portraying urban vitality along the Yangtze River in Nanjing. The impact of built environment on urban vitality in urban waterfronts is revealed with the ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results show that (1) the distribution of urban vitality in urban waterfronts shows similar agglomeration characteristics on weekdays and weekends, and the identified vibrant cores tend to be the important city and town centers; (2) the building density has the strongest positive associations with urban vitality in urban waterfronts, while the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is negative; (3) the effects of the built environment on urban vitality in urban waterfronts have significant spatial variations. Our findings can provide meaningful guidance and implications for vitality-oriented urban waterfronts planning and redevelopment.

Highlights

Urban waterfronts, as the important part of a town or city adjoining water area, have a unique spatial interface and attractive waterscape [1,2,3,4]
The identified vibrant cores based on the Baidu heat map (BHM) data tended to be the important city and town centers, which is largely consistent with the urban growth of Nanjing city
The effect of built environment characteristics on urban vitality in urban waterfronts is revealed with the ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models

Summary

Introduction

As the important part of a town or city adjoining water area (i.e., river, lake, sea and ocean, and harbor), have a unique spatial interface and attractive waterscape [1,2,3,4]. Urban waterfronts have obvious advantages in terms of economic development, ecological environment, social interaction, and cultural heritage [5,6,7,8]. A growing body of studies has focused on the redevelopment of urban waterfronts as an important way for cities to improve their vitality, attraction, and international competitiveness [14,15,16]. In China, the development of urban waterfronts is facing new opportunities for transformation and redevelopment [17,18,19]. Assessing urban vitality in urban waterfronts and deciphering its influencing mechanisms are crucially important for urban waterfronts planning and design

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion