Exploring Employment Spatial Structure Based on Mobile Phone Signaling Data: The Case of Shenzhen, China

Yani Lai, Zhen Lv, Chunmei Chen and Quan Liu
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Yani Lai: Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518052, China
Zhen Lv: Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518052, China
Chunmei Chen: Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518052, China
Quan Liu: LAY-OUT Planning Consultants Co., Ltd., TAGEN Knowledge & Innovation Center, Shenzhen 518038, China

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Debate on the shift from a monocentric to polycentric urban structure has been extensive. Polycentricity generally refers to the co-existence of several centers in a city. Existing studies regarding China have mainly focused on the morphological characteristics of urban centers, but few recent studies have focused on functional dimensions of urban centers. Emerging big data sources provide new opportunities to explore the morphological and functional perspectives of urban spatial structure. This study uses mobile phone signaling data and develops a new methodology to measure urban centers’ functional centrality. The study area focuses on Shenzhen City, which has rapidly transformed from a village into a metropolitan city in the past few decades. As the first economic special zone in China, Shenzhen has adopted a polycentric urban plan since the beginning of the urbanization process. This study explores the spatial employment structure of the city from the morphological and function dimensions. Based on the findings, this study discusses the role of urban planning in forming an urban spatial structure and provides implications for future planning.

Keywords: urban spatial structure; morphological centrality; functional centrality; urban planning; mobile phone signaling data; Shenzhen; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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