Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes

The urban system in the middle and lower Ganga Plain experienced a critical spatial transition period from a traditional to modern pattern between the 18th and 19th centuries, developing a network structure influenced by cultural routes. In this study, the historical dimension of city network theory...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xihui Wang, Wei Dong, Yicun Pang, Hang Yin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2499724
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849689910472081408
author Xihui Wang
Wei Dong
Yicun Pang
Hang Yin
author_facet Xihui Wang
Wei Dong
Yicun Pang
Hang Yin
author_sort Xihui Wang
collection DOAJ
description The urban system in the middle and lower Ganga Plain experienced a critical spatial transition period from a traditional to modern pattern between the 18th and 19th centuries, developing a network structure influenced by cultural routes. In this study, the historical dimension of city network theory is considered, and a set of quantitative methods to reveal network structure is explored. First, spatial data are extracted from historical maps with equal scales to establish a historical geographic information system (HGIS) database of regional city networks. Second, the spatial‒statistical data translation (S-SDT) method is adopted to construct a gravity model on the basis of a quality evaluation system for historical towns, and the social network analysis (SNA) method is used to analyse the structure of city networks in different historical periods at both the overall and subnet levels. Finally, the centrifugal force and centripetal force associated with cultural routes are used to explain the driving forces and transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times. The research results indicate that the rise and fall of interregional cultural routes significantly contributed to the transformation of city networks from a polycentric structure to an eccentric structure.
format Article
id doaj-art-b08eb7a07e1d4cad941b15da756ccd1b
institution DOAJ
issn 1347-2852
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
spelling doaj-art-b08eb7a07e1d4cad941b15da756ccd1b2025-08-20T03:21:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering1347-28522025-05-010012110.1080/13467581.2025.24997242499724Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routesXihui Wang0Wei Dong1Yicun Pang2Hang Yin3Hangzhou City UniversitySoutheast UniversityXuzhou University of TechnologyHangzhou City UniversityThe urban system in the middle and lower Ganga Plain experienced a critical spatial transition period from a traditional to modern pattern between the 18th and 19th centuries, developing a network structure influenced by cultural routes. In this study, the historical dimension of city network theory is considered, and a set of quantitative methods to reveal network structure is explored. First, spatial data are extracted from historical maps with equal scales to establish a historical geographic information system (HGIS) database of regional city networks. Second, the spatial‒statistical data translation (S-SDT) method is adopted to construct a gravity model on the basis of a quality evaluation system for historical towns, and the social network analysis (SNA) method is used to analyse the structure of city networks in different historical periods at both the overall and subnet levels. Finally, the centrifugal force and centripetal force associated with cultural routes are used to explain the driving forces and transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times. The research results indicate that the rise and fall of interregional cultural routes significantly contributed to the transformation of city networks from a polycentric structure to an eccentric structure.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2499724cultural routescity networkhistorical townsgravity modeltransformation mechanism
spellingShingle Xihui Wang
Wei Dong
Yicun Pang
Hang Yin
Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes
Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
cultural routes
city network
historical towns
gravity model
transformation mechanism
title Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes
title_full Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes
title_fullStr Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes
title_full_unstemmed Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes
title_short Spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower Ganga Plain in modern times: a perspective on cultural routes
title_sort spatial transformation mechanism of city networks in the middle and lower ganga plain in modern times a perspective on cultural routes
topic cultural routes
city network
historical towns
gravity model
transformation mechanism
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2499724
work_keys_str_mv AT xihuiwang spatialtransformationmechanismofcitynetworksinthemiddleandlowergangaplaininmoderntimesaperspectiveonculturalroutes
AT weidong spatialtransformationmechanismofcitynetworksinthemiddleandlowergangaplaininmoderntimesaperspectiveonculturalroutes
AT yicunpang spatialtransformationmechanismofcitynetworksinthemiddleandlowergangaplaininmoderntimesaperspectiveonculturalroutes
AT hangyin spatialtransformationmechanismofcitynetworksinthemiddleandlowergangaplaininmoderntimesaperspectiveonculturalroutes