Potential and real spatial models: Differences and response characteristics from the perspective of flow

Abstract

Exploring the coupled relationship between the potential laws of a region and the actual spatial model and identifying regional development trends and the rationality of the model structure are important for realizing integrated development and regional coordination. In this study, we first expounded the basic connotation of regional spatial structure and flow, reviewed the relevant research, and discussed the potential interaction and flow calculation. Supported by the theory of “space of places” and “complex network”; we then proposed a quantitative research framework to identify the regional structural characteristics, differences and responses in structure under the regional potential model and the real model. Second, we selected Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a representative study object. Our results showed that the potential model and the real model is relatively similar in network structure and is mismatched in space. We further defined this response characteristics through the three states of “overloaded, balanced and surplus”. Specifically, the Great Bay Area is characterized by overloaded of the inner ring, balanced of the outer ring and local surplus. We designed different network robustness simulation experiments to study their overall network difference, hoping to help improve the rationality of decision-making in urban spatial planning and governance.