Rethinking the Identification of Urban Centers from the Perspective of Function Distribution: A Framework Based on Point-of-Interest Data

Lu Yu,Guangdong Wu,Tao Yu,Yongxiang Wu

doi:10.3390/su12041543

Abstract

Urban spatial structure has a significant impact on the sustainable development of cities. An important step of urban spatial structure analysis is the identification of urban centers. From the perspective of urban function distribution, this study developed a theoretical framework of three layers for urban center identification. In the first layer, point-of-interest data were collected from geospatial databases and utilized to capture the spatial distribution of urban functions. In the second layer, the density-based spatial clustering of application with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm was employed to group points of interest into urban centers according to their inter-distances and urban functions. In the third layer, the spatial distribution of the identified urban centers was visualized by the ArcGIS platform. This framework was applied in the urban center analysis of Beijing. The results showed that Beijing is in the process of transitioning from monocentric to polycentric with urban functions distributed unevenly throughout the city. To facilitate this transition, strategies such as the construction of super-large communities, the development of branch campuses and higher-education parks, and the enhancement of modern culture industries should be considered for the 11 new towns of Beijing.

Highlights

Urbanization is a socio-spatial process, which is directly related to the expansion of urban areas and the growth of urban population [1]
urban center (UC) identification plays an important role in the research field of Urban spatial structure (USS) analyses
This study established a framework for identifying UCs from the perspective of urban functions

Summary

Introduction

Urbanization is a socio-spatial process, which is directly related to the expansion of urban areas and the growth of urban population [1] Developed countries such as America, Japan, and the UK have already completed their urbanization processes. Due to unbalanced urban development, urban function resources typically concentrate in the center areas of cities, resulting in unreasonable population densities of urban core areas [4,5]. To cope with these sustainability problems, scientific urban planning and management methods are critical for Chinese planners and government officials

Results

Discussion

Conclusion