Objective The water use efficiency of urban agglomeration at Ω-shaped bend in the Yellow River was measured, its spatiotemporal evolution and long-term transition characteristics were revealed, and the water resource security structure among urban agglomerations was characterized from the perspective of network connections, in order to provide a scientific basis for regional coordinated governance and high-quality development of the basin. Methods A super-efficiency SBM model with undesirable outputs incorporating multiple economic and environmental indicators was constructed to evaluate water use efficiency. This was combined with a Markov chain to predict long-term evolutionary trends, and a gravity model was introduced to quantitatively characterize the water resource security network structure among urban agglomerations. Results ① The overall water use efficiency of urban agglomeration at Ω-shaped bend of the Yellow River exhibited an evolutionary characteristic of “stepwise escalation, high-level equilibrium”. However, significant inter-provincial and inter-urban agglomeration differentiation formed distinct pathways, including central Shanxi’s reliance on groundwater, Ningxia’s dependence on institutional innovation, the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab area trapped in a “medium-efficiency trap”, and the fluctuating water-energy synergy in northern Shaanxi. ② Spatially, a complex structure of multi-polar coordination and gradient differentiation took shape, characterized by “dual-core leadership”, a “triangular growth pole”, and a “technological pole”. Markov chain projections further revealed divergent efficiency evolution paths. Central Shanxi exhibited the fastest convergence, whereas the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab area remained trapped in a medium-efficiency lock-in. ③ The water resource security network structure presented three typical models: “dual-core driven, peripheral dependency”, “single-core polarization”, and “single-pole prominence, gradient lock-in”, indicating that enhancing regional water security required coordinating node efficiency and inter-city collaboration intensity from a relational perspective. Conclusion The water use efficiency at Ω-shaped bend urban agglomeration of the Yellow River features a “stepwise escalation, high-level equilibrium” accompanied by significant inter-provincial differentiation. Its spatial pattern is jointly shaped by multi-polar coordination and three typical water security network structures, necessitating the implementation of sub-regional coordinated regulation to support high-quality development in the basin.
文献参数: 李鸣骥, 牛家禾, 李晓娟, 等.黄河“几字弯”都市圈水资源利用效率及其空间分异[J].水土保持通报,2026,46(4):372-384. Citation:Li Mingji, Niu Jiahe, Li Xiaojuan, et al. Water use efficiency and its spatial differentiation of urban agglomeration at Ω-shaped bend of Yellow River [J]. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation,2026,46(4):372-384.
鉴于传统效率模型因忽略工业废水与生活污水等非期望产出,在评估水资源利用效率时存在局限性,易导致效率值高估与政策评估失真。为此,本研究采用Tone提出的非期望产出SBM模型(slack-based measure with undesirable outputs)[24]。该模型的针对性在于将污染物排放纳入生产可能性集约束,通过松弛变量直接测度投入过度与产出不足(包括非期望产出过多),从而更真实地刻画环境约束下的生态经济效率。其核心规划表达式为
式中:CWS(collaboration water resources security index)用于表示水资源安全协作指数; CWS ij 为水资源安全协作网络结构引力强度; Qi, Qj 分别为城市i和城市j的水资源安全质量; k为标准化常数; β为距离衰减指数,本研究设为2; Dij 通常为城市间地理距离。
WangFang, GuoMengyao, NiuFangqu. Hierarchical spatial pattern of urban agglomeration based on the dynamic and static data: A case study of the Yellow River Ji-shaped bend [J]. Progress in Geography, 2023,42(7):1243-1255.
ZhangTianzi, WangXiaojun, QiGuangping, et al. Analysis of the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of water resources-economic society-ecological environment coupling and coordination in Gansu Province [J]. Hydro-Science and Engineering, 2023(2):53-63.
[5]
ShiChangfeng, MiaoXufei, ZhangLina, et al. Spatial patterns of industrial water efficiency and influencing factors: Based on dynamic two-stage DDF recycling model and geographically weighted regression model [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2022,374:134028.
TianJinming, MengLihong, LiuYoucun, et al. Spatial-temporal changes of urban water efficiency in Jiangxi Province and its influencing factors [J]. China Rural Water and Hydropower, 2022(9):146-154.
[8]
ZhangShanjun, LiuJia, LiChuanzhe, et al. Evaluation of water resources utilization efficiency based on DEA and AHP under climate change [J]. Water, 2023,15(4):718.
HeWei, WangYuling. Calculation of urban water resources utilization efficiency in the Yellow River basin and analysis of its influencing factors [J]. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 2021,41(11):4760-4770.
RenZhian, LiuYujia. Measurement and convergence analysis of water resources utilization efficiency: A case of Chaohu Lake basin [J]. Journal of Shenyang University of Technology (Social Science Edition), 2019,12(5):421-428.
HaoYijia, XiaYong, ZhangYang, et al. Research and forecast analysis on the coupling coordinated development of water-energy-food system in northwest China [J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2025,32(3):251-259.
[15]
ZhangXiuzhi, ZhangDaoyang, ZhangYiwen. Temporal changes and spatial driving mechanisms of water ecological footprints in the context of urbanization: Taking three major urban agglomerations in China’s Yangtze River economic belt as an example [J]. Water, 2023,15(4):760.
HaoShuai, SunCaizhi, SongQiangmin. Evaluation of water ecological footprint and water ecological pressure based on ESTDA model in China [J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2021,41(12):4651-4662.
[18]
WangS Y, ChenW M, WangR, et al. Study on the coordinated development of urbanization and water resources utilization efficiency in China [J]. Water Supply, 2022,22(1):749-765.
MengYu, DuQiongying, GuanXinjian, et al. Research on the water use efficiency and spatial difference in the Yellow River basin [J]. China Rural Water and Hydropower, 2020(10):12-16.
GuoBingnan, TangLi, ZhangHao. Regional differences and influencing factors of water resources utilization efficiency in eight comprehensive economic zones of China [J]. Ecological Economy, 2022,38(1):153-161.
[23]
HuoLitao, JiaRuitao, WeiSa, et al. Spatial-temporal evolution of agricultural water use efficiency based on DEA approach and spatial autocorrelation [J]. Water,2025,17(10):1456.
[24]
WuQiang. Application of BIM+GIS integration technology in the construction of urban intelligent water informatization [J]. Journal of Electrical Systems, 2024,20(S6):2352-2362.
[25]
FarahaniM A, WoodA W, TangGuoqiang, et al. Calibrating a large-domain land/hydrology process model in the age of AI: The SUMMA CAMELS emulator experiments [J]. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 2025,29(18):4515-4537.
ZhouChangliang, MiaoSheng, WangMingli, et al. Intelligent sewage management and control system based on deep learning and IoT [J]. Safety and Environmental Engineering, 2021,28(1):191-196.
[28]
LiuXiaoqiong, WangXu, LuFeiyu, et al. Evaluation of the governance efficiency of water environmental governance efficiency in Yangtze River delta from the perspective of multivariate synergies [J]. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022,19(4):2347.
XuQiuyang. Assessment of the green efficiency of water-energy-food nexus and its optimization strategy in Changchun metropolitan area [D]. Huangshi, Hubei: Hubei Normal University, 2024.
MiaoJunyu, ZhangChunying. Characteristics and spatial-temporal evolution of industrial water resources efficiency and coordinated economic development in the Yellow River basin [J]. Research of Environmental Sciences, 2024,37(1):114-121.
JiaYiqing, YangXiaohua. Evaluation and spatial-temporal differentiation of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in nine provinces of the Yellow River Basin under the “dual carbon” goals [J/OL]. (2025-09-16). Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering,1-12.
XuHui, WangYiwen, ZhangZongyan, et al. Coupling mechanism of water-energy-food and spatiotemporal evolution of coordinated development in the Yellow River basin [J]. Resources Science, 2021,43(12):2526-2537.
[37]
SchalteggerS, SturmA. Ökologische rationalität: Ansatzpunkte zur ausgestaltung von ökologieorientierten managementinstrumenten [J]. Die Unternehmung, 1990,44(4):273-290.
[38]
ToneK. A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis [J]. European Journal of Operational Research, 2001,130(3):498-509.
ZhangMingdou, WengAihua. Spatial correlation network and its formation mechanism of urban water utilization efficiency in the Yangtze River economic belt [J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2022,77(9):2353-2373.
RenYufen, FangWenying, WangYaqing, et al. Analysis of urban water resources use efficiency in China [J]. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 2020,40(4):1507-1516.
DengJieming, JiaShaofeng. Indicators system construction and application of regional water security [J]. Advances in Water Science, 2022,33(1):48-56.
[45]
ErenM, ErenM, BaşarS. Measuring of human development through the output-oriented super efficiency VRS DEA model without inputs [J]. Serbian Journal of Management, 2017,12(2):255-270.
LiuHaoran, DangSuzhen, RenYuling, et al. Water resource utilization efficiency and influencing factors in nine provinces along the Yellow River [J]. South-to-North Water Transfers and Water Science & Technology, 2025,23(2):267-276.
HeGuohua, ZhaoYong, WangHao, et al. Water security safeguarding and integrated water network layout of the Jiziwan region in the Yellow River basin [J]. Strategic Study of CAE, 2025,27(4):129-140.