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An Evaluation of Sponge City Construction and a Zoning Construction Strategy from the Perspective of New Quality Productive Forces: A Case Study of Suzhou, China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyi Liu

    (School of Architecture and Design, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Yiqin Chen

    (School of Architecture and Design, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Heng Zhang

    (School of Management Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu 233030, China
    School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Jiang Chang

    (School of Architecture and Design, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

Abstract

With the acceleration in urbanization, surface hardening has increased, urban flooding and soil erosion problems are frequent, and urban water resource management faces great challenges. Sponge city construction can effectively alleviate these problems by simulating the natural water cycle and constructing blue–green infrastructure. In this study, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the ArcGIS weighted overlay tool were used to construct a framework for assessing the suitability of sponge city construction in Suzhou from the three dimensions of Geo-Smart spatial productive forces, Eco-Dynamic green productive forces, and Resilio-Tech responsive productive forces. A zoning strategy based on new quality productive forces is also proposed. The results show that Suzhou can be divided into three types of construction zones according to the suitability level: key construction zones, secondary key construction zones, and general construction zones. The key construction zones account for about 28.01% of the total land area, mainly covering the built-up areas of Suzhou, covering the developed urban areas such as Gusu District, Xiangcheng, Suzhou Industrial Park, and other key zones such as Northern Kunshan. The secondary key construction area and general construction area, on the other hand, account for 61.94% and 10.05% of the total area, respectively. From the new quality productive forces, this study proposes the following construction guidelines for sponge city zones: (1) enhance the coordinated development of urban planning and sponge city construction; (2) promote blue–green infrastructure development, strengthen inter-departmental cooperation, and ensure ecological and economic co-development; and (3) encourage public participation in governance. This research offers theoretical and practical guidance for sponge city construction in Suzhou and other cities from the perspective of new quality productive forces.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyi Liu & Yiqin Chen & Heng Zhang & Jiang Chang, 2025. "An Evaluation of Sponge City Construction and a Zoning Construction Strategy from the Perspective of New Quality Productive Forces: A Case Study of Suzhou, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:836-:d:1632569
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peng Chen & Jiquan Zhang & Lifeng Zhang & Yingyue Sun, 2014. "Evaluation of Resident Evacuations in Urban Rainstorm Waterlogging Disasters Based on Scenario Simulation: Daoli District (Harbin, China) as an Example," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Chaohui Zhang & Mingyu He & Yishan Zhang, 2019. "Urban Sustainable Development Based on the Framework of Sponge City: 71 Case Studies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Kun Ding & Yuan Zhang & Huihua Chen, 2021. "Practical Research on the Application of Sponge City Reconstruction in Pocket Parks Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2021, pages 1-10, March.
    4. Song Xu & Jiating Wang & Zhisheng Peng, 2024. "Study on the Promotional Effect and Mechanism of New Quality Productive Forces on Green Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-25, October.
    5. Keyu Luo & Zhenyu Wang & Wei Sha & Jiansheng Wu & Hongliang Wang & Qingliang Zhu, 2021. "Integrating Sponge City Concept and Neural Network into Land Suitability Assessment: Evidence from a Satellite Town of Shenzhen Metropolitan Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Jing Ma & Dan Liu & Zhengwen Wang, 2023. "Sponge City Construction and Urban Economic Sustainable Development: An Ecological Philosophical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
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