Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influential Factors of Major Towns in Guizhou Province Analyzed with ArcGIS

Abstract

The spatial arrangement of towns and cities reflects comprehensively on their economic, social, and cultural aspects, constituting the foundation of regional economic and social development and exerting a significant driving effect on the surrounding rural areas. In light of consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty eradication and rural revitalization in Guizhou Province, it is crucial to clarify the spatial distribution and influencing factors of major towns in the province to effectively realize rural revitalization. Using the ArcGIS tool for spatial analysis combined with mathematical statistics, this article explores the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of 97 major towns identified in the Guizhou Provincial Urban System Plan (2015–2030). The geographical concentration index of these major towns is first calculated in this study, followed by the kernel density method used to visualize their physical distribution and the usage of the closest index to reflect the spatial concentration of the studied elements. This study concludes that the major towns in Guizhou Province are concentrated yet unevenly distributed in various states and cities, forming a spatial pattern of towns with “one core, one group, two circles, six groups, and multiple points” as the main body. Additionally, the spatial structure of major towns in Guizhou Province follows a point-axis distribution highly correlated with the traffic road network. Endowment and distribution of natural environmental conditions and human tourism resources, as well as policy support, also significantly affect the distribution and development of major towns in Guizhou Province. This study on the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of major towns in the province provides valuable insights for optimizing future urban planning and achieving rural revitalization in Guizhou Province.