Identification and optimization of production-living-ecological spaces based on the comparison of strengths and weaknesses of land functions: A case study of Xiangyang City

Abstract

[Objective] Identifying production-living-ecological spaces (PLES) and analyzing their spatiotemporal characteristics, as well as optimizing PLES pattern provide scientific references for the rational development of the territorial space and precise implementation of major function-oriented zoning strategy. [Methods] The methods of this research include calculation method for land functions at the grid scale, mechanical equilibrium model, and comparative advantage index, which effectively solve the problems of insufficient consideration of the strong and weak relationships between land functions and insufficient scale refinement in identifying and optimizing PLES. [Results] (1) Between 2000 and 2019, there were three dominant functional spaces Xiangyang City, of which the ecology dominant space and the living dominant space had the largest and the smallest area, respectively, but the former increased and the latter decreased. There were twelve compound functional spaces, in which the ecology dominant-living weak-production inferior space and living dominant-production weak-ecology inferior space had the largest and the smallest area, respectively, and both of which showed an increasing trend. (2) The production dominant space was concentrated in the central and eastern regions, the ecology dominant space mainly occurred in the west and the south, and the living dominant space was concentrated in the urban centers of the counties. Also, the compound functional spaces’ pattern and degree of agglomeration exhibited obvious heterogeneity. (3) The PLES can be optimized into urban development zone, rural improvement zone, and agricultural production and ecological conservation zones, which showed overall consistency and local differences with major function-oriented zoning of Xiangyang City. [Conclusion] It is reasonable and scientific to identify PLES at the grid scale and formulate a differentiated optimization plan by taking into account the strong and weak relationships of land functions. This study contributes to understanding the functional compounding and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of PLES, which is an important reference for promoting the precise implementation of major function-oriented zoning and balanced development of territorial spaces in Xiangyang City.

Keywords

• |production-living-ecological spaces|land function|mechanical equilibrium model|comparative advantage index|xiangyang city