Bridging digital and ecological resilience: Spatiotemporal dynamics and coordinated development paths in the Yellow River Inverted U-Shaped Belt Metropolitan Area

The acceleration of digital infrastructure development and enhancement of urban ecological resilience, along with the synergistic integration of digital applications and ecological governance, are vital for achieving high-quality and sustainable development. This study examines the ecologically fragile Yellow River Inverted U-shaped Belt Metropolitan Area, developing and refining a framework for measuring both digital infrastructure and urban ecological resilience, based on an analysis of their coupling mechanisms. The coupling coordination between the two from 2010 to 2020 is analyzed further, revealing spatio-temporal evolution patterns, exploring underlying driving factors. Additionally, the future trajectory of coordinated development is projected. The results indicate an overall upward trend in the coordination level of digital infrastructure and urban ecological resilience in the Yellow River Inverted U-Shaped Belt Metropolitan Area. The spatial distribution follows a pattern of “high in the east and low in the west, high in the north and low in the south,” with the issue of spatial imbalance expected to improve further. Economic development plays a significant role in improving the coupling coordination level. While most cities are expected to achieve higher coordination levels in the future, some may still face the risk of imbalance. This study offers new ideas and strategies for regional sustainable development, promotes a coordinated win-win approach between ecological protection, digital coverage, and economic development, and aims to provide theoretical support for the high-quality development of the Yellow River Inverted U-shaped Belt Metropolitan Area and similar regions.