Identification and Hierarchy of Traditional Village Characteristics Based on Concentrated Contiguous Development—Taking 206 Traditional Villages in Hubei Province as an Example

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Abstract

The abstract has some flaws and needs some improvements to be more clear. The research  research question should be more clear as well as the main conclusion. The main used methos should be identified.

1.     Introduction

1 - Introduction has structural flaws and needs improvements to be more clear. The research question should be addressed. 

2 – Fig 1 it is illegible. 

3 - What is the main contribution from this research? 

4 - In what way, this research is innovative and outstanding to understanding rural planning processes? Authors should justify and argue.

5 - The main objective of the research should be identified in a clear way.

6 – The state-of-art is limited regarding the relation between sustainable urban development with urban sprawl and its urban public policies. It is necessary to improve and reenforce these topics to complete its state-of-art framework.

The state-of-art is limited regarding the relation between rural planning with spatial/public policies. It is necessary to improve and reenforce rural issues framed within Rural/Spatial Planning and Rural Planning Policies topics to complete its state-of-art.

7 - Here, are some suggested studies to be analysed related within two key research topics before mentioned that should be add in the state-of-art:

 

7-A - Spatial Planning:

Song, W., & Li, H. (2020). Spatial pattern evolution of rural settlements from 1961 to 2030 in Tongzhou District, China. Land Use Policy, 99, 105044.

Barbosa, V., Riveira, I. S., Maseda, R. C., Redondo, C. D., Trinidad, J. P., López, J. P., ... & Neto, J. A. F. (2022). A New Spatial Criteria Method to Delimit Rural Settlements towards Boundaries Equity: Land Use Optimization for Decision Making in Galicia, NW Spain. Land, 11(6), 800.

Li, N., & Jiang, S. (2018). Study on spatial pattern of rural settlements in Wuling mountainous area based on GIS. Wireless Personal Communications, 102(4), 2745-2757.

Li, H., & Song, W. (2020). Pattern of spatial evolution of rural settlements in the Jizhou District of China during 1962–2030. Applied Geography, 122, 102247.

Yang, R., Liu, Y., Long, H., & Qiao, L. (2015). Spatio-temporal characteristics of rural settlements and land use in the Bohai Rim of China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 25(5), 559-572.

Xi, J., Wang, X., Kong, Q., & Zhang, N. (2015). Spatial morphology evolution of rural settlements induced by tourism. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 25(4), 497-511

7-B – Rural Planning Policies:

Kong, X., Liu, D., Tian, Y., & Liu, Y. (2021). Multi-objective spatial reconstruction of rural settlements considering intervillage social connections. Journal of Rural Studies, 84, 254-264.

Barbosa-Brandão, V., Santé Riveira, I., & Crecente Maseda, R. (2015). Evolution of legal criteria for the identification and zoning of rural settlements in Galicia, NW Spain. European Planning Studies, 23(2), 398-429.

Tang, C., He, Y., Zhou, G., Zeng, S., & Xiao, L. (2018). Optimizing the spatial organization of rural settlements based on life quality. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 28(5), 685-704.

Long, H., Liu, Y., Wu, X., & Dong, G. (2009). Spatio-temporal dynamic patterns of farmland and rural settlements in Su–Xi–Chang region: Implications for building a new countryside in coastal China. Land use policy, 26(2), 322-333.

Njoh, A. J. (2011). Municipal councils, international NGOs and citizen participation in public infrastructure development in rural settlements in Cameroon. Habitat international, 35(1), 101-110.

 

 

2.     Materials and Methods

 

8 - A framework figure to show the flow of the research would help to better understand the study.

 

3.     Results

 

9 – Fig 5 it is illegible. 

Idem, Fig 6.

 

4.     Conclusions

 

10 - The authors should address some data sentences based on results to have better evidence within conclusions.

11 - New research lines would give a better research view to end up.

Author Response

Dear editors and reviewers
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your valuable comments. A major revision has been made to the paper based on your suggestions, and a response to each of your questions has been provided. We have uploaded it as an attachment for your review.

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Identification and hierarchy of traditional village characteristics based on concentrated contiguous development——Taking 206 traditional villages in Hubei Province as an example

Comments

The article has the following characteristics：（1）The article established The method framework for Feature identification, Hierarchical classification  (FIHC)；This framework has reference value for analyzing the attributes, formation conditions and scale structure of traditional villages.（2）According to the density distribution of traditional villages, they are divided into five types of regions, pointing out their existing problems, development advantages and potential. In particular, the classification of types has practical value for the classification and guidance of the protection and development of traditional villages, and the analysis of problems, advantages and potentials is more accurate.（3）Using field research, spatial geographic information methods, spatial network analysis methods to study its distribution characteristics; It can better reveal the spatial pattern, mutual relationship and relationship with natural and social factors of traditional villages.The villages are characterized by low connectivity, inconvenient transportation and highly concentrated distribution; It also points out that its economy is backward and its ecological conditions are good. All these fully reveal the dual structure in the process of traditional village protection and development, which is an important basis for optimizing traditional villages.（4）Set three impact indicators of transportation, ecology and economy that affect the development of traditional villages.Put forward limiting factors: capital, terrain. They have grasped the key elements of the protection and development of traditional villages.（5）Put forward measures such as breaking the boundary, network connection and establishing strong nodes. These measures have guiding significance for the protection and development of traditional villages from a macro perspective.

Main problems in the article:（1）These two parts of the article, namely 2.3.1. Geospatial analysis method, and 2.3.2 What are the differences and focuses of the Geospatial analysis method? But the titles of these two parts are the same.（2）What is the difference between the adjusted network structure based on roads, lights and NDVI and the original network structure? What is the purpose? Is there any contradiction in the network structure formed based on roads, lights and NDVI? Can you explain it？（3）The analysis of the network structure of traditional villages and the problems existing in traditional villages should be an important question to be answered in this paper. For example, how do the problems in the field study, such as the hollowing of villages, the relationship between protection and development, and the different styles of traditional dwellings, connect with the network analysis structure? The article should give appropriate explanation or analysis.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear editors and reviewers
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your valuable comments. A major revision has been made to the paper based on your suggestions, and a response to each of your questions has been provided. We have uploaded it as an attachment for your review.

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx