Utilizing complex networks and multi-scale analysis for spatial coordination and regional integration: Insight from the Pearl River Delta, China

Abstract

The megaregion significantly influences spatial coordination and regional integration through complex interactions among cities; however, gaps persist in determining the roles of various administrative levels and in harnessing these interactions to facilitate regional integration. By integrating high-resolution mobile phone signaling data within a novel macro-meso-micro analytical framework, the study incorporates Degree Centrality, an improved Louvain algorithm modified to address the Matthew Effect (iLAME), and a Weighted and Normalized Gould-Fernandez (WNGF) to assess the influential roles, spatial structure, and brokerage interactions within the PRD. The result at the macro-level highlights regional imbalances within the PRD, notably the spatial mismatch between job opportunities and residential locations. At the meso-level, the community grouping result reveals discrepancies between administrative boundaries and actual community structures, suggesting that urban development has transcended traditional administrative limits. At the micro-level, the analysis accentuates the importance of brokerage roles played by multi-level administrative units. This comprehensive analysis underscores the necessity of constructing efficient transportation networks and reducing institutional distances to foster regional integration within the PRD.