Towards a Multi-Scale Effect of Land Mixed Use on Resident Population—A Novel Explanatory Framework of Interactive Spatial Factors

Abstract

Starting from Jane Jacobs’ critiques and largely promoted and emphasized by New Urbanism, land mixed use (LMU) has become prevalent worldwide. It is believed to be an efficient approach to shaping a higher level of vitality in the economy, equality in society, and quality in the environment. To reveal the differences of this effect at distinct spatial scales, this study selected the two most related outcomes of LMU—resident population distribution and changes—to investigate the LMU impacts. A novel framework is developed to quantify the interactive impact of pairwise LMU-related factors at multiple scales, and the geographical detector is applied to identify the relationship between resident population distribution/changes and LMU. Taking the Jiading District of Shanghai as a pilot case, the framework was applied and tested. The results showed LMU affected resident population distribution distinctively from 600 m to 3000 m grid scales. The grid scale of 1800 m, approximately ten blocks, is revealed to be the optimal scale for discussing LMU with the selected factors. Also, these factors play different roles at different spatial scales. Some factors strongly affect the resident population distribution only when working with other factors. The study emphasized the crucial role of scale in LMU and suggested an open framework to support the decision making and policy making in planning for a better performance of smart growth and sustainability via LMU. It can help researchers obtain the optimal scale for the LMU plans with different sets of factors and identify the key factors in various contexts. Thus, this framework also contributes to supporting other practices of land mixed use beyond our study region.