Assessment and spatial variation analysis of the collaborative development potential between underground public spaces and urban rail transit in China’s urban central areas

Abstract

The collaborative development of underground public spaces (UPS) and urban rail transit (URT) in urban central areas is becoming increasingly common in China. However, the lack of a scientific assessment of collaborative development potential leads to some cities experiencing overdevelopment while others underestimate their development needs. This study addresses this gap by conducting a scientific evaluation of the collaborative development potential between UPS and URT in Chinese urban centers. The significance of this evaluation lies in its contribution to understanding effective urban spatial resource allocation and promoting sustainable urban development and efficient use of underground spaces. A collaborative development potential assessment index system was established, consisting of URT development index (D1), urban development index (D2), urban underground space construction index (D3), urban central area development index (D4), urban central area URT index (D5), and urban central area construction index (D6). The entropy weight method was used to calculate the indicator weights, and the TOPSIS model was employed for evaluating the collaborative development potential. The results revealed significant disparities in the collaborative development potential of UPS and URT across urban centers. Cities with the highest potential, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, reached a maximum value of 0.6384. With many new urban centers under construction, it is projected that over the next 5 to 10 years, as ongoing projects are completed, the collaborative development potential will continue to improve. Specific optimization recommendations are provided for varying potentials, aiming to guide the scientific and collaborative development of UPS and URT in urban centers by offering data support and decision-making insights.