Rationality and coordination: Visualizing highway network in Sichuan,China

Abstract

The highway network is considered to be an effective solution for reducing regional differences and promoting high-quality economic development. This study mapped Sichuan’s highway network on an equal per capita GDP cartogram and on an equal highway freight volumes cartogram, which can provide a unique perspective to recognize the rationality of highway layouts and its coordination relationship with the population and economic development. The research result indicates that highway layouts are seriously affected by the topographical and geologic conditions, and the population and level of economic development are key influencing factors. It also shows that the density of the highway network is still seriously inadequate in the vast mountain and plateau area.