Optimizing Urban Stock Space through District Boundary Reorganization: Hangzhou’s Administrative Adjustment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The document is interesting and presents results that will be useful for those in charge of urban planning, especially in developing countries with a rapid urbanization rate. Therefore, this paper should be disseminated by LAND. As a comment, it is pertinent to present the characteristics of the people interviewed to identify the bias of the results.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 2 Report

The hypothesis or research question is not sufficiently defined (55-61).In my opinion, it should also say how it is established that there has been an optimisation of the stock space (physical space) and the governnance structure (social space).
Accordingly, the results of the research and the conclusions should also be defined in more detail.

The possibility of no change and what this means in the long term in the concrete case should also be taken into account.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

This study took Hangzhou city as an example to examine the district boundary reorganization. I have the following concerns/ suggestions:

(1) This study should be conducted in the global context. For instance, more literature review concerning practices in other countries should be conducted.

(2) Accordingly, more in-depth discussions and comparisons should be made.

(3) More details regarding the interviews should be elaborated, e.g., list of interviewees, opinions of different interviewees, date of each interview, etc. In this way, more discussions and elaborations can be made.

(4) The significance and contributions of this study should be further highlighted.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 4 Report

The topic under discussion is interesting and the paper defines it. Nevertheless, in my opinion, there are some weaknesses the authors must deal with in order to increase the interest of the research.

Abstract

Easy to read and understand, it gives an idea of the purpose of the research and its development. I consider it appropriate.

Introduction

Paragraph 2 and 3 begin with "Since". One of the two sentences could be reformulated to avoid this repetition.

The introduction, although brief, serves to lay the foundations of the investigation. Although it leaves open the theories of scalar reorganization and regional reconstruction, they are developed in section 2.

Materials and Methods

Figure 3: Figure 3 is difficult to interpret. I think its function should be rethought and make it more visually interpretable.

Results

Figure 4: Figure 3 and Figure 4 should be more closely related in order to make the interpretation of the text easier. Maybe with colors or patterns?

Discussion and conclusion

Adequate, the most relevant aspects of the research are pointed out and reflected on, from which conclusions are drawn to optimize the urban structure.

In summary, my overall evaluation of the paper is positive; however, I think some minor revision are required.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.doc