Analysis of spatial structure changes of rural residential area in counties of Liaoning Province based on complex network

Abstract: Analysis of the spatial structure of rural residential area is important to optimize the spatial pattern of rural residential area. In previous studies, complex network analysis was rarely used to analyze the spatial structure of rural residential area, and studies about temporal and spatial characteristics of rural residential complex network were rare at the macro (provincial) spatial scale. This paper, utilizing complex networks constructed based on the interaction of rural residential areas with the gravity model, analyzed the changes of node network characteristics of typical rural residential areas in typical counties (Huanren, Tai'an and Jianping County) and the changes of spatial distribution pattern of rural residential network characteristics in various cities or counties in Liaoning Province. The statistical characteristics ofαindex,βindex,γindex, degree centrality, closeness centrality and betweenness centrality in complex networks were calculated and descripted. The results proved that: 1) Analysis of typical counties indicated that spatial pattern of rural settlement network had obvious regional differences, which was affected by the terrain strongly. For Tai'an County, the rural residential network in the eastern area had more rural residential settlement nodes and shorter network connection, and that in the central plain had a close contact network structure with higher degree centrality. Due to topographical constraints, the nodes of the rural residential network of Jianping County in the western hilly region and Huanren County in the eastern hilly region were scattered and separated, and the rural residential network in these 2 counties was relatively sparse and had more isolated nodes or isolated network groups. 2) Rural residential network structure of various cities or counties in Liaoning Province presented obvious regularity and spatial differences. The network complexity indices of rural residential networks were higher in the central plain region (that in Jinzhou was the highest). The network complexity indices were relatively lower in the eastern and western hilly regions (that in the municipal district of Dandong City located in the eastern hilly region was the lowest). The network centralization indices of rural residential networks in the central plain region and in the western hilly region were higher compared with the eastern hilly region, and the structures of rural residential networks in the central plain region became more complex. 3) The responses of different network indices to the change of spatial layout structure of rural residential areas were not the same. Graph theory indicators had significant differences in different periods, and the difference between centralization indices in different periods was not significant, but the rank of counties and basic statistics result of network indices had differences. There was a great difference between high and low value ofαindex,βindex andγindex and high and low value of centralization indices. The results have contributed to explore spatial differentiation characteristics of rural residential structure in Liaoning Province from the perspective of complex network structure, and to provide a scientific basis for regional urban system planning.