Uncovering Spatial Structures of Regional City Networks from Expressway Traffic Flow Data: A Case Study from Jiangsu Province, China

Abstract

On the basis of the "space of flows" theory, city networks emphasizing factor connectivity and spatial connection have become a core perspective for regional spatial relationships. They provide a context for discussing the spatial structures of city networks and a scientific basis for making regional development policies. Relying on expressway traffic flow data from Jiangsu Province in 2014, this study describes macro-spatial patterns and hierarchical structures of city networks, and uses the Walktrap algorithm of community detection to execute space divisions and elucidate potential spatial connection structures in the city networks. In comparison with other algorithms, the Walktrap algorithm demonstrates significant adaptation and stability to the short expressway traffic flows with the characteristics of strong network density and sparse node distribution. The results indicate that the macro-spatial patterns of Jiangsu's city networks have clear regional differences. The cities with relatively dense spatial linkages are distributed along the Yangtze River banks, and many different sub-network systems have also developed internally. Cities and linkage axles have clear hierarchical structures. City hierarchies have certain spatial couplings with the cities' intrinsic social economic attributes and geographical locations. The linkage axles hierarchy has clear spatial interactions and superposition with geographical distance. The community detection algorithm identified six spatially connected "city communities", the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Community (SWCC), the Nanjing-Zhenjiang-Yangzhou-Taizhou Community (NZYTC), the Nantong-Yancheng Community (NYC), the Lianyungang Community (LYGC), the Huai'an-Suqian Community (HSC), and the Xuzhou Community (XZC). The community spatial metaphors had four aspects. First, trans-prefectural linkages were formed through spatially integrated effects of metropolis regions. Second, some communities share the same boundaries with their prefecture level administrative units; this reveals that significant administrative regional economies still exist in contemporary Jiangsu. Third, several cities located in the marginal areas of prefectures and captured by the powerful center cities in neighboring prefectures have been absorbed into the communities of neighboring prefectures. Fourth, the two cities Jiangyin and Jingjiang, divided into different administrative districts, have switched status opposite city community divisions.

COVID-19: epidemiology and preventive measures in Jiangsu province, China

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Evolution of spatial structure patterns of city networks in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from the perspective of corporate pledge linkage

“…The main characteristics of today's cities are mobility and connection (Shen & Gu, 2009), and the city network structure has gradually become an important form of regional and even national spatial organization. The academic community has studied city networks for a long time, and relevant research mainly involves “enterprise associations” (Dong & Zhen, 2013; Wu & Ning, 2012; Ye, Cao, Wang, & Wu, 2017; Zhuang, Yang, Jin, & Han, 2017), “traffic links” (Derudder & Witlox, 2005; Jin, 2001; Ke, 2015; Ke, Chen, & Yu, 2017; Zhang, Hao, Ji, & Liu, 2019), and “information link” (Cao, Zeng, & Ye, 2019; Jiang, Sun, & Ren, 2015; Tranos & Gillespie, 2009; Zhen, Wang, & Chen, 2012). As the most important entities in the economy, enterprises can expand their scale through mergers and acquisitions and self‐investment in order to achieve economies of scale.…”

Exploring Spatial and Temporal Connection Patterns among the Districts in Chongqing Based on Highway Passenger Flow

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