Spatial association network and structural robustness of human-water system resilience in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China
5 affiliations
- 1National Institute of Natural Hazards, Ministry of Emergency Management of China, Beijing, 100085, China
- 2Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China; China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China; Corresponding author at: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
- 3China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China
- 4Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
- 5Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China; Corresponding author.
Abstract
Study region: The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), China. Study focus: This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, spatial association network, and structural robustness of human–water system resilience (HWSR) across 110 prefecture-level cities in the YREB from 2006 to 2022. A multidimensional HWSR framework incorporating resistance, recovery, and adaptability was developed. The projection pursuit–genetic algorithm model was used to quantify city-level HWSR, while standard deviational ellipse analysis, a modified gravity model, social network analysis, network attack simulations, and QAP regression were applied to reveal spatial patterns, intercity associations, network robustness, and driving mechanisms. New hydrological insights for the region: HWSR in the YREB increased steadily during 2006–2022, with high-resilience clusters concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, Chengdu–Chongqing region, and provincial capitals. The spatial association network showed low density, high connectedness, and strong hierarchy, indicating that HWSR is shaped not only by local city-level capacity but also by intercity hydrological, socioeconomic, and governance linkages. Network attack simulations revealed that the HWSR network is relatively robust to random node failures but highly vulnerable to the loss of high-centrality cities. QAP regression further showed that geographic proximity and openness promote HWSR associations, while disparities in informatization and technological innovation inhibit early-stage connectivity. These findings suggest that improving regional water resilience in the YREB requires a shift from single-city management toward basin-wide, networked, and differentiated collaborative governance.
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BibTeX
@article{guo2026spatial,
title = {{Spatial association network and structural robustness of human-water system resilience in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China}},
author = {Beinan Guo and Li Zhang and Hongrui Wang and Yiyang Li and Lili Gao and Haoru Li and Lili Mao and Xinyue Kou and Xiaofeng Wang and Daozhi Gong},
journal = {Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.104121},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.104121},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Spatial association network and structural robustness of human-water system resilience in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China
AU - Beinan Guo
AU - Li Zhang
AU - Hongrui Wang
AU - Yiyang Li
AU - Lili Gao
AU - Haoru Li
AU - Lili Mao
AU - Xinyue Kou
AU - Xiaofeng Wang
AU - Daozhi Gong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
DO - 10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.104121
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.104121
AB - Study region: The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), China. Study focus: This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, spatial association network, and structural robustness of human–water system resilience (HWSR) across 110 prefecture-level cities in the YREB from 2006 to 2022. A multidimensional HWSR framework incorporating resistance, recovery, and adaptability was developed. The projection pursuit–genetic algorithm model was used to quantify city-level HWSR, while standard deviational ellipse analysis, a modified gravity model, social network analysis, network attack simulations, and QAP regression were applied to reveal spatial patterns, intercity associations, network robustness, and driving mechanisms. New hydrological insights for the region: HWSR in the YREB increased steadily during 2006–2022, with high-resilience clusters concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, Chengdu–Chongqing region, and provincial capitals. The spatial association network showed low density, high connectedness, and strong hierarchy, indicating that HWSR is shaped not only by local city-level capacity but also by intercity hydrological, socioeconomic, and governance linkages. Network attack simulations revealed that the HWSR network is relatively robust to random node failures but highly vulnerable to the loss of high-centrality cities. QAP regression further showed that geographic proximity and openness promote HWSR associations, while disparities in informatization and technological innovation inhibit early-stage connectivity. These findings suggest that improving regional water resilience in the YREB requires a shift from single-city management toward basin-wide, networked, and differentiated collaborative governance.
SN - 2214-5818
ER -