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One of the key factors affecting rural settlements distribution is intervillage social connections. However, most of the current studies ignored the effects of social connections on the spatial distribution of rural settlements. This study proposed a multi-objective spatial reconstruction model for rural settlements based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The model considers intervillage social connections as one of the reconstruction objectives together with land-use quantity, spatial compactness, land-use suitability and relocation distance. Based on a questionnaire survey, the social connection strength between villages was measured from spatial and nonspatial aspects. The model was calibrated for the Chengui Township of Hubei Province in Central China. Five modeling scenarios for rural settlement reconstruction were designed according to potential development modes used in practice. A comparison of the reconstruction results of the different scenarios was performed to verify the applicability of the model and to analyze the joint interaction of the spatial objectives and social connections during the restructuring of rural settlements. The results indicated that five scenarios were effectively and robustly implemented using the proposed model. Social connections had a direct effect by guiding the restructuring direction of rural settlements. This study advances our understanding of the influence of social connections on rural settlement reconstruction and provides a useful exploratory tool for policymakers and rural planners in formulating reasonable reconstruction plans. • We integrate intervillage social connections into the spatial objectives of rural settlement reconstruction. • Five modeling scenarios are designed for rural settlement reconstruction. • Intervillage social connections have a direct effect by guiding the restructuring direction of rural settlements. • This study advances our understanding of the influence of social connections on rural settlement reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural settlements are the main carriers of agriculture, rural areas and farmers; thus, optimizing the production and living space of rural settlements is highly significant to rural development. Taking the effective allocation of resources as the starting point, a suitability evaluation system of rural settlements, based on accessibility of production and living, was proposed in this study to provide scientific basis for the optimization of production and living space. The accessibility of production and living was measured by an improved two-step floating catchment area method, which considered proximity and availability based on the inclination of rural residents. The suitability evaluation system consisted of traditional suitability evaluation and newly proposed limiting factor identification based on the loss score proportion of suitability. Tingzu Town of Hubei Province, China, was chosen as the case study area. Based on the results of the suitability evaluation system, corresponding suggestions on rural land consolidation, industry division, as well as the layout of health care and education facilities were proposed to optimize the production and living space of rural settlements in Tingzu Town. It is found that the suitability evaluation based on accessibility of production and living is more scientific and accurate than the traditional ones which significantly overestimate production and living convenience. Moreover, the limiting factor identification can help us put forward suggestions according to local conditions and bring about the highly targeted optimization of production and living space of rural settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connection among cities is currently a central issue in regional development. However, relatively few studies have investigated the multi-scale characteristics of inter-city connection and its spatial implications for concrete city system planning. This paper adopts a multi-scalar analytical framework from the perspective of inter-town networks to reexamine this issue. Using 1034 towns in Hubei Province in China as the case-study area, this paper constructs a Hubei Province inter-town network (HBTN) through the radiation model and spatial accessibility and subsequently analyzes the network structure at the macro, medium and micro levels. Corresponding practical policies are provided based on the findings. The results are highlighted below: (1) The HBTN exhibits scale-free and small-world mixing properties; (2) The modular structure of HBTN is apparent. Inter-module connections in the east, central, and west present star-shape, web-like, and loose characteristics, respectively; the corresponding strategies are coordinated development, long-term cooperation and transportation improvement; (3) Five roles of towns were identified in the HBTN. Linking provincial hubs is an effective solution for different modules to achieve powerful alliances. Jingmen, Xiangyang, and Yichang should transform their roles to connector hubs to improve integrative development. This study validated the applicability of the network analysis method to concrete city system planning. The results could help us to assist and optimize management efforts for regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land consolidation is the most effective land management approach to optimize land-use structure and improve the natural environment. This study aims to shed light on land consolidation planning processes in China, and to highlight the characteristics and contents of thematic maps in provincial-level planning. The study area, Hubei Province, has an area of 1,85,900 km2and is located in Central China. The land consolidation potential, that is, the net increase area of arable land was calculated according to the land consolidation types in each county. The spatial characteristics of land consolidation potential, key areas, and key engineering and projects were presented on a scale of 1: 5,00,000 utilizing counties as evaluation units. The thematic maps can provide important information for policymakers and planning workers, and guide any subsequent land consolidation planning at the county level in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily life circles of farmers have a direct influence on the distribution of rural settlements. However, daily life circle has long been ignored in rural settlements reconstruction. By identifying farmers' daily life circles and integrating them with rural settlements suitability and the weighted Voronoi diagram, a rural settlement reconstruction method is developed based on a questionnaire survey in Liji Township, Hubei Province, Central China. Four types of daily life circles, including primary, general, extended, and cross-region daily life circles, are identified based on the evaluation of frequency, self-rated importance, and activity proportion. Combining with the analysis of the rural settlements' suitability and the weighted Voronoi diagram, two reconstruction directions for rural settlement relocation are offered. One direction is to the places with high suitability values within the administrative scope of a village where the removed settlements are located. The other direction is to the places with high suitability values within the weighted daily life circles; this direction is highly related to the removed settlements. The hierarchy of rural settlements planning is well reflected in the proposed reconstruction path. Farmers' willingness to participate in the reconstruction process could be improved based on the evaluation of suitability and their own demands in daily life activities. This study contributes to understanding the relationship between the daily life circles and rural settlement distribution and offers a new perspective on the spatial optimization of rural settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social connections are the consequences and causes of rural settlement distribution. Although numerous studies have examined rural restructuring, the relationship between social connections and rural restructuring has been neglected. This study proposed a novel restructuring method of rural settlement based on an analysis of inter-village social connections that include both spatial and non-spatial connections. A questionnaire survey was conducted from a sample comprising 925 people from Chengui Township in Hubei Province, Central China. The characteristics of the social networks of the residents were analyzed using a node degree and node symmetry index ( NSI ), and the causes of network formations were analyzed according to the connection types of the rural residents. Both consolidated settlements and relocation areas were identified using a measurement of ideal radius based on social connection analysis. Spatial connection orientation, non-spatial orientation and ideal radius orientation were proposed to guide rural settlement restructuring. The results indicated that the hierarchy of village-town systems can be effectively identified by the features of social connection networks. Social connection strength is an important guiding factor for rural reconstruction. This study puts forward a new view of rural settlement reconstruction and aids in our understanding of both the changing mechanism of rural settlement and the relationship between social connections and rural settlement reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Area is a basic indicator used in ecological investigations; conventional ellipsoid area describes the earth as a standard ellipsoid without considering undulation of the surface. However, using conventional ellipsoid area in ecological investigations introduces errors in the estimation of forest biomass carbon storage (BCS) in mountainous and hilly areas. In this study, BCS and ecological compensation of the 103 counties in Hubei Province, China, were measured using surface area. Results show that: (1) the surface area of Hubei Province is about 1.97 × 10 5 km 2 , approximately 1.34 × 10 4 km 2 greater than the calculated ellipsoid area. In terms of forest area, the surface and ellipsoid areas are 6.52 × 10 4 and 5.92 × 10 4 km 2 , respectively; forest area calculated using surface area is 10.13% greater than that using ellipsoid area. (2) There is a significant difference between the BCS measured in the two areas for mountain landforms, the average difference being 9.13 × 10 4  t. Plain landforms and hilly landforms have lower average differences, 2.63 × 10 3  t and 2.95 × 10 4  t, respectively. (3) The ecological compensation for forest ecosystems in Hubei Province is 33.47 billion Yuan and counties that should be assigned the highest ecological compensation are mainly located in western Hubei. (4) The differences in BCS calculated by the two area methods indicate a typical state of agglomeration in the region, where the western mountainous area belongs to the High–High cluster and the central–southern plain region to the Low–Low cluster. Findings from our investigation show an applied prospective for quantitatively estimating BCS and other resources in a much larger scale. Furthermore, ecological compensation transfer provides a reference for government decision makers to balance the interests of different regions for sustainable development and eco-environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]