An Ecological Resilience Assessment of a Resource-Based City Based on Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis

Abstract

In the context of ecological civilization construction, resource-based cities (RBCs) are tasked with the dual responsibility of national energy supply and transformation amidst complex social contradictions. These cities face the resource curse dilemma, characterized by resource depletion, conflicts in spatial production, in living, and in ecological spaces, and intertwined ecological–economic–social issues. Enhancing their ecological resilience is a crucial indicator of successful transformation strategies. This study focuses on Jinzhong City in Shanxi Province, employing Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) to assist in the spatial analysis of urban ecological resilience. Additionally, Conefor Sensinode is utilized to identify key ecological sources that significantly contribute to urban resilience. A novel Risk-Connectivity-Potential (RCP) model is developed to construct a framework of indicators affecting the resilience of RBCs, which is used to assess the ecological resilience of Jinzhong City, particularly in relation to the spatial distribution of mining areas. The results indicate the following: (1) important ecological source areas within the city constitute approximately 39.47% of the total city area, predominantly located in woodland regions; (2) the overall assessment of ecological resilience reveals a heterogeneous pattern, increasing from west to east, with lower resilience observed in low-lying terrains and higher resilience in mountainous plateaus; (3) mines within significant ecological source areas are primarily situated in low-resilience zones near built land and agriculture land, while other mining areas are mainly found between high-resilience zones, posing risks of increased ecological resistance, reduced ecological connectivity, and potential ecological issues. This study explores the application of the ecological resilience framework in RBCs, providing a scientific basis and reference for the rational utilization of resources and urban transformation and development.The methodology and findings can be applied to similar cities globally, offering valuable insights for balancing resource management and ecological protection in the context of sustainable urban development.