Disparities in the geospatial allocation of public facilities from the perspective of living circles

Abstract

This research meticulously explores the spatial variances in the allocation of public service facilities within Wenzhou’s central urban area, deploying a lens of “living circles” and utilizing a 15-min walkable distance as a pivotal metric. Employing a suite of analytical methods, including kernel density estimation, nearest neighbor index, Ripley’s K, and Z-score analysis, and leveraging Amap data, the study unveils pronounced disparities in both the quantity and distribution of public service facilities. Notably, a conspicuous concentration of facilities, particularly in transportation and commercial sectors, is observed in the early-developed core region, while surrounding areas manifest a palpable deficiency in both quantity and category, impacting residents’ quality of life and accessibility. The research further delineates a “single-center” structural pattern in the spatial distribution of public service facilities, albeit with distinct patterns for different facility types. Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation at the street level, considering factors such as comprehensive accessibility scores, variation coefficients, and population density, reveals substantial disparities and internal variations in facility accessibility among different streets. The findings underscore a critical need for strategic optimization in the allocation of public service facilities, with recommendations including supplementing facilities based on extant needs, addressing internal disparities among streets, and prioritizing facility development in streets characterized by diverse attributes and population densities. This study not only augments our understanding of spatial disparities in public service facility distribution but also provides actionable insights for enhancing strategic allocation and planning in Wenzhou’s central urban area, thereby contributing to the burgeoning body of knowledge in urban planning and public service facility allocation within the context of living circles.

Keywords

• public service facilities
• spatial disparities
• accessibility
• urban planning
• amap