A research on spatial configuration characteristics and social performance evaluation of public sports facilities in shanghai based on geographic information system (GIS)

The spatial configuration and social performance of public sports facilities serve as crucial indicators for evaluating the equity of public sports services and the coherence of urban spatial structure. As Shanghai accelerates its development into a globally renowned sports city, the construction of public sports facilities has encountered significant opportunities. However, challenges persist in the spatial distribution, accessibility, and quality of these facilities. This study investigates the spatial agglomeration characteristics, accessibility, and social performance of urban public sports facilities in Shanghai at both the street and grid scales. Using geographic information system (GIS) tools and analytical methods such as kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse, spatial autocorrelation, Gaussian two-step moving search, and the Gini coefficient, the analysis yields the following findings: 1) Public sports facilities in Shanghai are concentrated in the central urban areas and exhibit scattered spatial distribution patterns in peripheral regions. These facilities display a significant directional coupling with population distribution (northeast-southwest), reflecting pronounced spatial imbalances. 2) Social performance analysis reveals clear regional inequities in Shanghai’s public sports facilities. While overall accessibility is relatively high, disparities remain, with suburbs facing facility shortages. Regional equity measurements indicate that the Gini coefficient for public sports facilities in Shanghai is 0.58. Central urban areas possess a high density of facilities, while suburban areas suffer from inadequate facility coverage, leading to uneven service radii and a pattern of high agglomeration but low coverage. 3) The social equity analysis shows that the service capacity entropy of public sports facilities exhibits a distinct spatial distribution, characterized by high values in the east and west and low values in the center. The highest entropy value is 4.25, while the lowest is 0.02. This study provides valuable insights for the planning and optimization of urban public sports facilities in Shanghai, contributing to the enhancement of spatial equity and service effectiveness.