In the heart of Western China, the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Mega Region (CCEMR) is grappling with a complex balancing act: urban expansion, agricultural sustainability, and ecological preservation. A groundbreaking study led by Xindong He from the College of Geography and Planning at Chengdu University of Technology, published in the journal ‘Land’ (which translates to ‘Land’ in English), is shedding light on how to integrate resilience assessments into China’s territorial spatial planning, offering valuable insights for the energy sector and beyond.
The research introduces a novel framework for evaluating functional resilience, aligning with China’s “Three Zones and Three Lines” planning system. This system categorizes space into urban, agricultural, and ecological zones, each with specific spatial control lines. He and his team employed advanced GIS spatial analysis to assess resilience across these dimensions.
Urban resilience was evaluated using the KL-TOPSIS ranking method, combining expert consultation and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for weight derivation. Agricultural resilience was quantified through the entropy method and GIS raster calculation, while ecological resilience was assessed using a Risk–Recovery–Potential (RRP) model. This model integrates Ecosystem Risk, Recovery Capacity (ERC), and Service Value (ESV) metrics, implemented through GIS spatial analysis and raster operations.
The findings reveal significant spatial disparities. Only 1.29% of the CCEMR exhibits high resilience, primarily concentrated in integrated urban–ecological zones like Chengdu. Rural and mountainous areas, however, show moderate-to-low resilience due to resource constraints, highlighting misalignments between resilience patterns and current territorial spatial zoning schemes.
“This study provides scientific evidence for optimizing the delineation of the Three Major Spatial Patterns: urbanized areas, major agricultural production zones, and ecological functional zones,” He explained. The research offers a transformative methodology for translating resilience diagnostics into territorial spatial planning protocols, enabling data-driven resilience construction, strategic infrastructure prioritization, and enhanced cross-jurisdictional coordination mechanisms.
For the energy sector, these insights are invaluable. Understanding regional resilience can inform infrastructure development, ensuring that energy projects are sustainable and aligned with ecological and agricultural needs. By bridging functional resilience assessment with statutory zoning systems, this methodology positions spatial planning as a proactive tool for adaptive territorial governance.
The implications of this research extend beyond China. As cities worldwide grapple with similar challenges, the framework developed by He and his team offers a blueprint for integrating resilience into spatial planning. This approach can help cities balance urban growth, agricultural stability, and ecological conservation, ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
In an era where climate change and urbanization are reshaping our landscapes, this study underscores the importance of adaptive governance. By leveraging advanced GIS technologies and comprehensive resilience assessments, policymakers and planners can make informed decisions that benefit both people and the planet. As He’s research demonstrates, the future of spatial planning lies in its ability to adapt and evolve, ensuring that our cities and regions are resilient in the face of change.