Research on the Multi-Scale Network Spatial Structure of Guangxi Using Mobile Signaling Data

Abstract

Scholars have widely discussed the topic of regional spatial structure. However, most of the literatures are produced to understand this filed from a single scale perspective, with little attention to multi-scale perspectives and the relationship between different scale areas.In addition, the current empirical results are mostly concentrated in the eastern coastal areas of China, and few studies examine the underdeveloped southwest regions. This study goes beyond the method of taking prefecture-level cities as measurement units and investigates the relationship between different scales in the field of urban networks. Based on mobile signaling data, this study conducts an empirical examination of the spatial network structure of Guangxi, where urban districts and counties are taken as basic measurement units, and the connection degree and centrality models are employed for quantitative analysis. The following results were derived: In terms of horizontal linkage, the relationship between four sub-regions shows that southern Guangxi has the highest centrality, followed by western Guangxi and northern Guangxi, eastern Guangxi has the lowest centrality. The connection degree of four sub-regions indicates that southern Guangxi has the strongest connection with western Guangxi, as well as strong connections with eastern and northern Guangxi. Northern Guangxi has weak connections with eastern and western Guangxi, while eastern Guangxi has the weakest connection with western Guangxi. The relationship between inter-prefecture-level cities shows that Nanning has the highest centrality, followed by Laibin. The connection among prefecture-level cities is centered on Nanning, and there are two main connection axes: Nanning-Hechi and Nanning-Laibin. The relationship between inter-urban districts shows that Guilin has the highest centrality, followed by Liuzhou and Yulin. Hechi has the lowest centrality, and there are five prominent connections: Fangchenggang-Qinzhou, Guigang-Laibin, Qinzhou-Nanning, Laibin-Liuzhou, and Chongzuo-Nanning. The inter-county relationship shows that the relation intensity is relatively lower; Guiping has the strongest connection with Pingnan, followed by Lingshan-Pubei. Strong connections are mainly located in the Beibu Gulf urban agglomeration, the Xijiang Economic Belt, along National Highway 324, and around the Lijiang River Scenic Area in Guilin. In terms of vertical linkage, the inter-city relationships within four sub-regions show that the internal connection of northern Guangxi is the strongest, followed by eastern and southern Guangxi, and that of western Guangxi is the weakest among four sub-regions, which can be used as the basis of economic zone division. The relationship between urban districts and counties shows that administrative jurisdiction has an important influence on the connections between these. The relationship intensity conforms to the law of distance attenuation, but some connections are beyond the scope of administrative jurisdiction. The hinterland of each urban district can be divided into three patterns: cross-, weak, and suitable boundaries. Nanning and Liuzhou are cross-boundary patterns, Hechi is a weak boundary pattern, and the rest are suitable boundary patterns. Comparing this with the current administrative regions, there are obvious differences; Nanning and Liuzhou have a wider scope of influence than their administrative regions, and Hechi has a smaller scope, which provides a basis for further adjustment of the administrative divisions.

Keywords

• spatial structure
• urban network
• mobile signaling data
• network connection degree
• guangxi