Measurement and analysis of the structural resilience of regional networks under the impact of COVID-19

Abstract

The evaluation of the structural resilience of a regional network is of great significance for the improvement of the resilience of regions to cope with uncertain disturbances. In this study, COVID-19 was selected as a disturbance, and a regional network containing information, economic, population flow, and innovation links was constructed. Then, by combining the four dimensions of hierarchy, agglomeration, transmissibility, and diversity, the genetic algorithm was used to optimize the projection tracing model and the coupling coordination model to analyze the evolution of regional network resilience and its influencing factors in Zhejiang Province from 2019 to 2021. The results show that the network pattern and structural characteristics of the regional networks had different evolutions under the influence of COVID-19, among which the urban development path was found to be the most important influencing factor. Upgrading the corresponding city nodes from the two levels of network structure and function is an important way to optimize the regional network. In addition, the cities of regional networks can be divided into different types according to the development patterns. This paper provides a scientific basis and planning guidance for decision-making and the implementation of quantitative research on regional resilience at the provincial scale, as well as network optimization.