High Level Of Urbanization Research Articles

Spatiotemporal distribution of toponymic cultural heritage in Jiangsu Province and its historical and geographical influencing factors

As a typical intangible cultural heritage, Toponymic Cultural Heritage (TCH) is rich in geographic information and semantic and physical connotations. In the context of the heritage conservation era, it is highly important to study the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of toponymic cultural heritage and explore its historical and geographic influencing factors on the sustainable conservation and development of toponymic cultural heritage. However, most existing studies focus on the toponym cultural landscape, and less attention has been given to TCH. Therefore, on the basis of the data of 357 provincial TCH items in Jiangsu Province, this study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and historical–geographical influencing factors of the TCH by using geospatial analysis methods, such as the average nearest neighbor, tyson polygon, kernel density estimation, standard deviational ellipse, and superposition coupling analysis, and proposed several strategies for adaptive reuse of TCH. The results show that (1) the TCHs of Jiangsu Province have a spatial distribution characteristic of "sparse in the north, scattered in the middle and dense in the south" and form a high-density agglomeration around the southern part of Jiangsu Province. In the distribution of cultural districts, the Jinling cultural district, the Wu cultural district, and the Huaiyang cultural district have the largest number of TCHs. (2) From the Pre-Qin period to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, TCHs, such as Nanjing, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changzhou, and Suzhou, tended to merge in the southern part of Jiangsu. (3) In terms of type, the roads, streets and alleys of TCHs are the richest, and all types of TCHs are spatially clustered in the southern part of Jiangsu Province, which has a high level of urbanization, industrialization, and a superior geographic environment. (4) TCHs have spatial tendencies toward low altitudes and hydrophilicity, and relatively favorable natural geographical conditions provide a high-quality environment for TCHs in southern Jiangsu Province. Influenced by historical, humanistic, and geographical factors, TCH is unevenly developed spatially. As a historical population concentration area, an important political, economic, and cultural core area, and a center of gravity for cultural development, more TCH resources have survived in the southern part of Jiangsu Province. This study provides a new perspective for interpreting and recognizing TCH as a special intangible cultural heritage and can provide a reference for the sustainable conservation and development of TCH.

ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫНЫҢ УРБАНИЗАЦИЯ ПРОЦЕСІНІҢ ЖӘНЕ УРБАНИЗАЦИЯЛАНҒАН АУМАҚТАРДЫҢ ИННОВАЦИЯЛЫҚ ДАМУЫНЫҢ ӨЗАРА ТӘУЕЛДІЛІГІН ТАЛДАУ

The article examines the relevance of the management of innovative development of cities and urban agglomerations, as evidenced by the widespread adoption in this area of both international strategic documents and at the national level. To achieve the goal of the strategy "Kazakhstan-2050" to enter the country into the top 30 economically most developed countries of the world by 2050, it is necessary to diversify the country's economy, one of the factors of which is the spatial development of the country, where urbanized territories play a key role. The issues of sustainable urban development and achieving a high level of urbanization are included in the strategic policy documents and plans of the Government of the country. Thus, these priorities are reflected in the Strategic Development Plan of Kazakhstan until 2025, where the main focus of the reform "Strong Regions and Urbanization" is aimed at the development of medium and small cities, the implementation of Smart City projects, the digitalization of urban infrastructure and an increase in the proportion of urban residents to 60% by 2025. This article examines the fundamental works of world regional science, classical and neoclassical urban concepts. During the dissertation work, monographs, scientific papers, and research by domestic and foreign scientists on the specifics of urbanization processes, the impact of urbanization on the socio-economic development of the country, urbanization policy, and improving the management processes of innovative development of cities and urban agglomerations were studied. The achievement of this goal has determined the need to systematize theoretical approaches to determining the essential characteristics of the urbanization process, to reveal the content of the concept of "urbanized territories"; to explore theoretical concepts of patterns and principles of the formation of cities and the urban environment; The practical significance of the study is to develop practical recommendations for the management of innovative development of urbanized territories in Kazakhstan. The results of the study will analyze the problems of the urbanization process in Kazakhstan, identify and analyze the situation concerning the ratio of urbanization and innovative development, develop a mechanism for managing the innovative development of urbanized territories, focused on using the innovative potential of cities and urban agglomerations in areas that provide the greatest return;

Can the digital economy contribute to rural revitalization? A case of from China?

This study establishes a multi-dimensional evaluation index system for measuring digital economy and rural revitalization. It explores the impact of digital economy on China's rural revitalization and its mechanism using dynamic balanced panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2012 to 2020 and adopting two-way fixed effect and mediated effect models. The results reveal that digital economy promotes rural revitalization in China; however, differences exist in its impact on industrial prosperity, ecological livability, civilized rural customs, effective governance, and affluent living under rural revitalization. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of digital economy on rural revitalization is more pronounced in eastern China, with high levels of new urbanization and areas for big-data experimentation. In addition, this thesis verifies that technological innovation and human capital are two important transmission paths through which digital economy affects rural revitalization in China. The conclusions provide theoretical guidance and practical support for China and other developing countries to vigorously develop their digital economies and comprehensively revitalize the countryside.

China's provincial optimum population sizes under SSP‐RCP scenarios

AbstractClimate change poses new challenges to achieving a balanced population distribution. Predicting the impact of development patterns using climate change scenarios can offer more precise insights into environmental and social risks. By adopting the possibility–satisfiability (P–S) model, this study investigates the optimum population sizes for the 31 provincial districts of China by 2035 and 2050 under seven shared socioeconomic pathway‐representative concentration pathway (SSP‐RCP) scenarios. Results indicate that under SSP2‐4.5 scenario, which maintains current development patterns, the optimum human population (OHP) ranges from 985 million to 717 million in 2035 and from 902 million to 623 million by 2050 at different P–S values, respectively. The SSP1‐1.9 and SSP1‐2.6 scenarios offer promising prospects by carrying the largest optimum population size. Therefore, China's future development depends on choosing a sustainable path that prioritizes the growth of the OHP. The optimum population sizes of provinces under unbalanced development routes SSP4‐3.4 and SSP4‐6.0 scenarios are mainly limited by economic development, while those of the regional competition route SSP3‐7.0 scenario are limited by both economic and climatic pressures. Under the fossil fuel route SSP5‐8.5 scenario, climate deterioration imposes severe constraints on optimum population size. The optimum population scales of the eastern coastal area with high urbanization levels and the northwest area with harsh environments are subject to natural conditions. In addition, the central and western regions encounter population size limitations due to insufficient economic development. Notably, China's population distribution remains concentrated in the east and sparse in the west, flanking the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line), with minimal expected changes in the future. By studying the spatial distribution of the optimum population under different SSP‐RCP scenarios, this study provides theoretical support for government decision‐making in the context of future climate change.

Unraveling the complex interconnections between food-energy-water nexus sustainability and the supply-demand of related ecosystem services

Matching the supply and demand of related ecosystem services can be an effective way to realize long-term sustainable management of the food-energy-water nexus (FEW Nexus) in drylands. However, few studies have focused on the matching of supply and demand for ecosystem services associated with advancing the sustainability of FEW-Nexus, there is limited research in this domain, which lacks systematic and quantitative analysis of the relationship between them and FEW Nexus sustainability. Here, this research takes the West Liaohe River Basin in the arid region of China as a case study. Based on a localized FEW Nexus sustainability evaluation index system, the FEW Nexus sustainability and the supply-demand matching characteristics of the corresponding ecosystem services in the West Liaohe River Basin from 2005 to 2015 were assessed. The relationship between them was analyzed quantitatively through the methods of coupling coordination degree and geographical detector. The results showed a synergistic improvement in both FEW Nexus sustainability and the supply-demand situation of combined ecosystem services. The supply of food production and water yield were able to meet their demands adequately from 2005 to 2015, with a strengthening surplus, leading to an overall surplus and gradual improvement in the integrated ecosystem services. This surplus synergistically promoted the process of FEW Nexus sustainability. The results of the geographical detector indicate that the supply-demand ratio of carbon sequestration was the main factor influencing FEW Nexus sustainability. Areas with higher FEW Nexus sustainability tended to have larger deficits in carbon sequestration, which was more evident in areas with high levels of urbanization. Therefore, the key to enhancing FEW Nexus sustainability in the basin is to balance the supply of and demand for carbon sequestration services. Overall, the present study not only provides a basis for strengthening the management of the supply-demand of ecosystem services associated with FEW to achieve regional sustainable development, but also offers insights into how the growing demand for the FEW Nexus is exerting pressure on the balance between supply and demand of related ecosystem services.

Urbanization and growth nexus: do international financial flows matter?

PurposeThis study examines the impact of urbanization on growth and the role of international financial flows in the urbanization-growth nexus.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies the panel least square estimation to examine the impact of urbanization on growth using panel data from 50 developing countries from 1980 to 2016. Further, addressing the endogeneity issues in panel estimations, the study applies the dynamic System-GMM approach to investigate the role of financial flows in urbanization and their impact on economic growth in developing countries.FindingsContrary to the conventional literature, we found a non-linear (U-shaped) relationship between urbanization and growth. Our findings demonstrate that growth is reduced at a lower level of urbanization due to less availability, concentration, and synchronization of production factors. The concentration of physical and human capital and technological advancement in urban areas help developing countries achieve economic growth at a higher level of urbanization. Robust estimations divulged that foreign aid spent on infrastructure development and expanding urban regions helps promote economic growth. Nevertheless, as a resilient factor, remittances buffer the rapid pace of urbanization and reduce growth by resisting the migration of labor and capital from rural to urban areas.Practical implicationsThe paper's findings suggest policymakers promote urban infrastructure and development using local and international funds since its increased level spurs economic growth. Further, the results advise policymakers to reduce aid dependency, attract FDI, and facilitate the easy and low-cost transfer of money to promote remittance inflows since both FDI and remittances positively contribute to economic growth.Originality/valueThe paper contributes significantly to the literature by determining the U-shaped relationship between urbanization and growth and highlighting the role of international flows in the urbanization-growth nexus.

Effects of the Policy of Re-Designation of Counties as Cities or City Districts on the Agricultural Carbon Emission: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region in China

It is of great practical significance to utilize the agricultural carbon emission reduction effect of the policy of re-designation of counties as cities or city districts (RCCD) to achieve agricultural high-quality development. This paper uses panel data of 39 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region in China from 2010 to 2022, and adopts a staggered difference-in-difference model and a panel threshold model to identify the causal impact of the policy of RCCD on agricultural carbon emissions (ACE). We show that: (1) Overall, the policy of RCCD exerts a tangible dampening effect on ACE, with cities in the experimental group exhibiting a significant reduction of 0.069 in agricultural carbon emissions compared to the control group post-implementation of the policy. (2) A dual-threshold effect of environmental regulation emerges in the context of the policy of RCCD, wherein the impact on ACE varies depending on the level of environmental regulation. (3) The policy of RCCD exerts a notable inhibitory influence on urban ACE in cities with high urbanization levels, underdeveloped regions and central regions. (4) Agricultural green technology progress plays the mediating role in the relationship between the policy of RCCD and ACE. (5) The suppressive effect of the policy of RCCD on ACE is characterized by a delayed and enduring influence. Our study has both theoretical and practical implications for accelerating agricultural high-quality development.

The heat-mortality association in Jordan: Effect modification by greenness, population density and urbanization level

BackgroundThe Middle East is one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change, yet evidence of the heat-related mortality remains limited in this area. Our present study investigated the heat-mortality association in Jordan and the potential modifying effect of greenness, population density and urbanization level on the association. MethodsFor each of the 42 included districts, daily meteorological and mortality data from 2000 to 2020 were obtained for the warmest months (May to September). First, a distributed lag non-linear model was applied to estimate the district level heat-mortality association, then the district specific estimates were pooled using multivariate meta-regression models to obtain an overall estimate. Last, the modifying effect of district level greenness, population density and urbanization level was examined through subgroup analysis. ResultsWhen compared to the minimum mortality temperature (MMT, percentile 0th, 22.20 °C), the 99th temperature percentile exhibited a relative risk (RR) of 1.34 (95 % CI 1.23, 1.45). Districts with low greenness had a higher heat-mortality risk (RR 1.39, 95 % CI 1.22, 1.58) when compared to the high greenness (RR 1.28, 95 % CI 1.13, 1.45). While heat-mortality risk did not significantly differ between population density subgroups, highly urbanized districts had a greater heat-mortality risk (RR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.23, 1.62) as compared to ones with low levels of urbanization (RR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.13, 1.55). Districts with high urbanization level had the highest heat-mortality risk if they were further categorized as having low greenness (RR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.30, 2.04). ConclusionExposure to heat was associated with increased mortality risk in Jordan. This risk was higher in districts with low greenness and high urbanization level. As climate change-related heat mortality will be on the rise, early warning systems in highly vulnerable communities in Jordan are required and greening initiatives should be pursued.

Taxonomic, Functional, and Phylogenetic Diversity of Bats in Urban and Suburban Environments in Southern México

Urbanization is one of the leading causes of habitat loss, which has increased significantly in tropical regions in recent years, leading to the loss of species, their ecological functions, and evolutionary history. To determine the effect of urbanization on the diversity of bat communities in urban and suburban environments, we analyzed the α and β taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities at four sites along urbanization gradients surrounding a rapidly expanding city (Oaxaca City) in southern Mexico. We recorded bats using conventional techniques such as mist nets and acoustic monitoring. We calculated the diversity of bats in four sites with different urbanization conditions: urban (1), suburban (1), and rural (2). To assess the degree of total differentiation and components of bat turnover and nestedness between sites, we calculated the β taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities. A total of 33 bat species were recorded. The highest taxonomic and functional diversity was observed in the Center of Oaxaca (the site with the highest level of urbanization). In contrast, the highest phylogenetic diversity was found in the West (the site with the lowest level of urbanization). The total β taxonomic diversity was higher than the functional and phylogenetic diversity. Regarding the contributions of turnover and nestedness, turnover made a more significant contribution than nestedness to the taxonomic and phylogenetic β diversity. In contrast, functional nestedness contributed more to the functional β diversity than turnover. Tadarida brasiliensis, Desmodus rotundus, Sturnira hondurensis, and S. parvidens were recorded in all three urbanization conditions. In the most urbanized site, four Myotis species were recorded: M. fortidens, M. keaysi, M. thysanodes, and M. velifer. We suggest that the analysis of different dimensions of diversity is essential and should be considered to strengthen conservation strategies; moreover, we suggest the preservation of native vegetation mosaics and water bodies within the city to maintain bat diversity.

Research on Mobile Network Parameters Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

The study of phenomena related to the propagation of electromagnetic waves is a necessity with the development of mobile telephony networks. This paper deals with the problem of the quality of mobile telephony signals. The study uses a BTS scanner, dedicated to scanning the frequency spectrum and decoding information from base stations. The device is capable of scanning mobile networks from the second, third, fourth, and fifth generation (2G/3G/4G/5G) using a passive sensor. The article presents preliminary results of monitoring cellular network signals using a scanner mounted on an unmanned aircraft. The collected data call for the need to evaluate the signal parameters of the cellular network depending on the altitude of signal reception. This property emerges as very important in the case of areas with a high level of urbanization.

Analysis of Social Perspectives in Reconstructing the History of Urbanization in Medan City

Urbanization is considered to be an ingrained social phenomenon in various large Indonesian cities, characterized by rapid urban population growth and drastic changes in social, economic and environmental structures. Urbanization in Indonesia shows a rapid increasing trend over the last few decades. Medan City, as one of the main urban centers in North Sumatra, has not escaped the impact of significant urbanization. Along with rapid economic and demographic growth, the city has experienced a major transformation in various aspects of city life. This research aims to identify the history of urbanization in Medan City from a social perspective. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive method through literature study sourced from journals, scientific articles, books and other relevant sources. The results of this research show that urbanization in Medan City has been going on for a long time. Strategically located on the east coast of Sumatra and between the confluence of the Deli River and the Babura River, Medan has vital trade access to the Malacca Strait. Especially in the period 2012 to 2022, the increase in population in Medan City occurred in almost all sub-districts. Of the 21 sub-districts, 17 sub-districts experienced an increase in population of more than 10%. Only one sub-district experienced a decline in population, namely Medan Baru Sub-district by 7.89%. The high level of urbanization in the city of Medan is generally caused by several factors, such as strategic location, the presence of natural resources (SDA), and supporting natural conditions. Meanwhile, the impact on society's social life includes rapid population growth, changes in societal structure, and social and cultural dynamics.Keywords: History, Urbanization, Social, Medan City

Impacts of spatiotemporal urban expansion on the species richness and functional traits of adults and sapling woody trees and shrubs of urban remnant forest patches

Remnant urban forests, or scattered patches of forest within urban areas, serve as crucial biodiversity reservoirs. Investigating how urban environments influence biodiversity within these forests is essential for enhancing conservation strategies. This study examined data from 15 remnant forest patches in Guiyang, China, to assess the impacts of spatiotemporal urban expansion on species richness and functional traits across different life forms and ontogenetic stages in both interior and edge habitats of these patches. Employing generalized linear regression models, we examined variables including the intensity of urban expansion, road density, type of expansion, compound terrain complexity, and the interplay between urbanization levels and the timeframe of urban development. Our results indicated that increased urban expansion intensity positively affected the species richness of shrubs, yet negatively influenced tree richness. Furthermore, high urbanization levels were associated with lower species richness in adult trees and the species in the sapling and shrub layers with high seed mass traits when the duration of urbanization was prolonged. Additionally, we observed that edge-expansion type urban growth notably increased the risk of losing species with resource-conservation traits compared to leapfrog growth patterns. These outcomes highlight the detrimental effects of intensive urban expansion and edge-expansion growth on the conservation of woody plants, especially those characterized by resource conservation traits. They also draw attention to the delayed impacts of urbanization on plant diversity. In response, we advocate for the reduction of urban expansion intensity and control over edge-expansion growth patterns to protect plant diversity in remnant forests. It is also critical to prioritize the conservation of remnant forest patches located in areas that have undergone extensive urbanization for prolonged periods, as these are particularly vulnerable to biodiversity loss.

Determination of individual disaster resilience levels of hospital staff: A case study of Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar City Hospital

Istanbul is one of Turkey's most important financial and industrial centers, and it is located in a region with a high potential for seismicity. Due to its historical architecture and high level of urbanization, the city has a large population and is particularly vulnerable due to the building stock that will be affected by earthquakes. In the event of a possible earthquake in Istanbul, it is crucial that the hospital staff have high levels of disaster resilience/resilience. This is particularly important given the seismically isolated and earthquake-resistant structure of Istanbul Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital and its capacity to serve those injured by the earthquake. This study examines the resilience levels of hospital staff at Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital in the face of earthquake disasters and the various factors that affect these resilience levels. The data for this study were collected using a 13-question personal information form and the ‘Individual Disaster Resilience Assessment (IDRA)’ scale developed by DiTirro (2018). Descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-square tests, Independent Samples T-tests, and One-Way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The research found that the hospital staff's IDRA scores averaged 3.27. It was concluded that the mean resilience score of the participants was above the medium level. The research findings show that receiving disaster training or being prepared for disasters in advance significantly influences individual resistance/resilience. In this context, it is essential to determine the earthquake resistance levels of all healthcare workers in Istanbul, especially those at the city hospital where the study was conducted. Necessary training should be provided, and simulation-based disaster drills should be planned and integrated into in-service training programs. Additionally, projects should be developed to ensure that healthcare workers can reach their hospitals safely during disaster situations.

Epidemiology of cardiometabolic health in Latin America and strategies to address disparities.

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), sociodemographic context, socioeconomic disparities and the high level of urbanization provide a unique entry point to reflect on the burden of cardiometabolic disease in the region. Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in LAC, precipitated by population growth and ageing together with a rapid increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors, predominantly obesity and diabetes mellitus, over the past four decades. Strategies to address this growing cardiometabolic burden include both population-wide and individual-based initiatives tailored to the specific challenges faced by different LAC countries, which are heterogeneous. The implementation of public policies to reduce smoking and health system approaches to control hypertension are examples of scalable strategies. The challenges faced by LAC are also opportunities to foster innovative approaches to combat the high burden of cardiometabolic diseases such as implementing digital health interventions and team-based initiatives. This Review provides a summary of trends in the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases and their risk factors in LAC as well as context-specific disease determinants and potential solutions to improve cardiometabolic health in the region.

Spatiotemporal Coupling Analysis of Urbanization and Ecosystem Services in Southeastern Fujian

Revealing the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between urbanization and ecosystem services can help to clarify regional development differences, optimize the implementation path of urbanization, and improve the quality of ecosystem services. Taking southeastern Fujian, a region with a good ecological foundation and strong urbanization potential, as a case study, the levels of multidimensional urbanization systems and typical ecosystem services of this region in the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 were quantified using the index comprehensive evaluation method and the InVEST model. The Pearson correlation coefficient and the coupling coordination degree model were used to analyze the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between urbanization and ecosystem services, and suggestions for improving regional coordinated development were proposed. The results showed that： ① The comprehensive urbanization level in southeastern Fujian increased continuously, with an average annual growth rate of 7.3%, of which social urbanization was the fastest, followed by economic urbanization and population urbanization, and spatial urbanization was relatively backward. Ecosystem services tended to decline, especially food and water provision services, which decreased by 61.9% and 46.9%, respectively. The spatial distribution showed a mismatch pattern of "high urbanization level and weak ecosystem services" in the southeast coastal area and "low urbanization level and strong ecosystem services" in the northwest inland area. ② The correlation between urbanization and ecosystem services was mainly negative. The negative effect of economic and social urbanization on ecosystem services was weaker than that of population and spatial urbanization, with a clear weakening tendency. As population and spatial urbanization slowed down sharply and economic and social urbanization accelerated, the driving force of urbanization development gradually shifted from "quantitative increase" to "qualitative improvement." Thus, the decline of ecosystem services was alleviated. ③ Comprehensive urbanization and various ecosystem services experienced three stages of "imbalance-transition-reconciliation," with an average increase of 60.5% to 120.6% in the coupling coordination degree. However, highly coordinated regions remained scarce, indicating that there is still significant room for improvement. The relative relationship between urbanization and ecosystem services evolved from urbanization lag to ecosystem services lag. The fluctuation problem of backward coupling coordination level caused by excessive urbanization had initially appeared in the southeastern coastal area. Therefore, in future construction, southeastern Fujian should improve economic quality and social benefits； strengthen the overall management, protection, and restoration of ecological space； and enhance the order and stability of the coordinated development of urbanization and ecosystem services.

Surface Temperature Distribution Through Vegetation Density and Building growth in Makassar City

The high temperature phenomenon is an event where the temperature in the city area is hotter than the surrounding area. Indonesia is located in a tropical climate, so several cities have the potential for temperatures to rise during the dry season. The city of Makassar is one of the cities with a high level of urbanization. With residents' enthusiasm for looking for work in the city, the land around the city has been converted into built-up land. Conditions like this make the existence of green open space uneven. This research aims is to determine the distribution of high-temperature phenomena through a spatial approach using remote sensing technology and geographic information systems. This research uses Landsat imagery for 2022 with the Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) methods. The results of the research explain that the large number of existing buildings has caused an increase in urban temperatures, from an initial temperature of 29.93 oC to 39.51 oC.The increase in temperature occurs throughout the year, with the hottest peak temperature reaching 37 oC on April 15, 2022. The condition of vegetation density decreased by 0.05, starting from 0.66 in 2012 to 0.61 in 2022; this is in line with the increase in building area to 15,368 ha in 2022. This condition makes Makassar City one of the hottest cities in Indonesia. With an increasingly high need for built-up land and high mobility, it has the potential to accelerate temperature changes, so it is necessary to provide green open space in densely built areas by creating public open spaces. open private.

Identifying the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urbanization and Ecosystem Services Supply–Demand and Its Driving Forces: Case Study in Shaanxi Province, China

Exploring the relationship and driving forces between supply–demand of ecosystem services (ESs) and urbanization can help solve the environmental problems and promote regional sustainable development. This study analyzed the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of supply–demand of ESs and comprehensive urbanization level (CUL) in Shaanxi Province from 2010 to 2019 and assessed the coupling relationship between ecosystem service supply–demand ratio (ESSDR) and CUL using the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model. Random forests and geographically weighted regression methods were utilized to characterize the contribution and spatial distribution of the drivers of CCD. The results showed that: (1) except for habitat quality, the ESSDR of the other three types of services as well as the comprehensive services showed a decreasing trend, CUL exhibited increasing trend; (2) Although CCD was generally increasing, a significant portion (78.51%) of regions still remained uncoordinated, with relatively better coordination shown around the Guanzhong urban agglomeration, which has a higher urbanization level; (3) The CCD in Shaanxi Province was primarily influenced by local financial income, the secondary industry, and temperature forces. In regions with high and increasing CCD, the tertiary industry was the decisive force. In other areas, there were significant spatial variations in the driving forces. These findings provide a coupled and coordinated perspective for urban ecological management, which can provide scientific reference and practical guidance for cities with different development modes.

Multilevel Change of Urban Green Space and Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity Analysis of Driving Factors

Analyzing the change trend of urban green space (UGS) and exploring related driving forces can provide scientific reference for sustainable development in rapidly urbanizing areas. However, the spatial and temporal driving mechanisms of the drivers on UGS patterns at different scales are still not deeply understood. Based on the GlobeLand30 land cover data, nighttime lighting data and spatial statistics from 2000 to 2020, this study analyzed the size, shape and diversity of UGS in Guangzhou at the urban level, gradient level and township level with multiple landscape indices. Diversity means the richness of UGS patch types. The selected indices include percent of landscape (PLAND), largest path index (LPI), landscape shape index (LSI), aggregation index (AI) and Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI). The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the drivers was then explored using the spatiotemporal weighted regression (GTWR) method. Results showed the following: (1) During 2000−2020, the total amount of UGS in Guangzhou increased slightly and then decreased gradually. UGS was mainly transferred into artificial surfaces (lands modified by human activities). (2) The UGS landscape showed a non-linear trend along the urban–rural gradient and fluctuated more in the interval of 20–60% urbanization level. PLAND, LPI and AI decreased significantly in areas with higher levels of urbanization. LSI increased and SHDI decreased significantly in areas with lower levels of urbanization. At township level, the landscape indices showed significant spatial autocorrelation. They transformed from discrete changes at the edge and at the junction of the administrative district to large-scale aggregated change, especially in northern areas. (3) The size of UGSs was mainly influenced by natural factors and population density, but their shape and diversity were mainly influenced by socio-economic factors. More regular shapes of green patches were expected in higher urbanization areas. Population agglomeration positively influenced green space patterns in the northeastern and southern regions (Zengcheng, Conghua and Nansha). Meanwhile the negative influence of urban expansion on the green space pattern in the central and southern regions decreased over time. This study contributes to an in-depth understanding of how the key factors affect the different changes of UGS with time and space and provides methodological support for the long-term zoning planning and management of UGS.

Environmental regulation influences urban land green use efficiency: Incentive or disincentive effect? Evidence from China

China's crude economic development has led to high pollution and inefficiency of urban land use. Environmental regulation (Er) is crucial for governments to promote green growth and efficient land use. Using a dataset of 271 cities in China from 2011 to 2020, this paper investigates the threshold effect of green innovation in science and technology and industrial structure optimization on Er impacts of urban land green use efficiency (Ulee). The results show that (1) Er positively affects Ulee. (2) There is a threshold effect of green innovation in science and technology (Gin) and industrial structure upgrading (Ind) in Er affecting Ulee, and the force decreases as the threshold value increases. (3) Within the examination of heterogeneity, the impact of Er on Ulee is more significant in eastern, high levels of urbanization and large cities, but the force of action is smaller. Based on the nonlinear force of Er, it is crucial to maximize the effectiveness of green land use by giving full play to the interactive synergistic effect of the "combination box" and dynamically and flexibly adjusting the intensity of Er according to the time, place, and state of urban development.

The Impact of the Digital Economy on Employment Scale in the Yangtze River Delta Region

Abstract Employment is the greatest livelihood and the most basic support for economic development. In recent years, the scale and scope of digital economy has expanded dramatically, triggering revolutionary changes in employment patterns. Especially in the Yangtze River Delta region. This paper is based on panel data of 41 prefecture level cities in the Yangtze River Delta region from 2011 to 2021. Firstly, the fixed-effects regression model is used to empirically analyze the impact of the digital economy on the employment scale in the YRD region, and the intermediary mechanism model is further used to verify the role of industrial structure upgrading in the digital economy's impact on the employment scale. The study finds that: The digital economy has significantly expanded the employment scale in the YRD region, indicating that the employment creation effect is greater than the employment substitution effect. In the heterogeneity analysis, this impact is more significant in the central cities of the YRD region, areas with higher levels of urbanization and well-developed digital infrastructures. The digital economy can promote the optimization and upgrading of the employment market in the YRD region through the upgrading of the industrial structure, expanding the scale of employment, optimizing the employment structure. Keywords: Digital economy development, Yangtze River Delta region, Employment scale, Industrial structure upgrade.