Evaluation of regional integration in urban agglomeration area from the perspective of urban symbiosis

Integrated development of urban agglomeration is a process involves both interactive elements flow between cities and cohesive function advancement within each city. However, existing researches struggle to effectively evaluate urban integration considering both urban interaction and urban function. Taking Yunnan Central urban agglomeration (CYUA) as a case study, we adopt the framework of symbiosis theory to analyze integrated degree of urban agglomeration by combining urban interaction and function. Urban vitality, urban spilled function, intermediate intervention of urban interaction, urban functional distance were detected to identify urban symbiotic modes and project into evaluating urban integration. The results show that, (1) focus on the symbiotic environment, a spatial pattern of “one core and multiple weak” is exhibited, the key role of downtown Kunming is obviously identified; (2) focus on the symbiotic modes, suboptimal condition of urban symbiosis is observable based on the dominant symbiotic mode and its dynamic; (3) CYUA is still in the embryonic stage of integration. To mature the urban agglomeration, more attention should be paid on strengthening urban interaction by constructing interactive channel, adjusting urban function by analyzing regional industrial link, and finally improving urban symbiotic mode based on the optimization of symbiotic environment and interface.