Exploring the influence of transportation on urban spatial structure using the spatial Durbin model: evidence from 265 prefecture-level cities in China

The interactive relation between transportation and urban spatial structure remains a significant yet challenging issue in transport engineering and urban planning. Most previous studies indicate that the coordination of transportation and urban structure is conducive to solve urban diseases and promote urban sustainable development. Grounded in the theory of city-region spatial structure, this study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban spatial structure from 2006 to 2019 and investigates the impact of transportation on shaping urban spatial structure in prefecture-level cities in China using spatial Durbin model. Major findings include: first, the nighttime light remote sensing data is employed to characterize urban spatial structure with the mono-centricity index ranging from 0.26 to 0.48. The coastal cities tend to exhibit the polycentric structure, while the cities in western region often display the monocentric structure. Second, there is a gradual decline in mono-centricity structure in these cities. Spatial heterogeneity in urban spatial structure is evident in eastern, central, western and northeastern China. Third, transportation significantly and positively influences spatial structure, however, the impact varies across regions and city sizes. Finally, policy implications are proposed based on these findings, such as promoting the integrated land use-transportation development, implementing targeted regional policies, and enhancing land use spatial planning.