Assessment of the interaction between digital infrastructure and ecological resilience: Insights from Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China

Exploring the interaction between digital infrastructure (DI) and ecological resilience (ER) is essential to understand whether urban development and the ecosystem have formed an integration trend. First, clarifying the interactive relationship and driving mechanism between DI and ER, the evaluation indicator systems are constructed based on the core connotation of DI and the theory of evolutionary resilience. Then, the study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution of DI, ER, and their interactive levels in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) from 2005 to 2021. Furthermore, we employ the optimal parameter-based geographical detector (OPGD) to identify the core driving factors. The results indicate that (1) The comprehensive levels of DI and ER show an upward trend, and both systems have significant spatial heterogeneity. (2) The interactive coercion model verifies a coercive effect and a constraining relationship between DI and ER; notably, the interaction between the two systems is still in its moderate stage. (3) The analysis of driving factors reveals that socio-economic conditions are the key influencing factors. Additionally, the proportion of cases showing a bi-enhancement type account for 92%, suggesting that the interactive role of the two factors mainly exhibits a multiplier effect. The study provides empirical evidence for solidifying the foundation of digital development, establishing robust ecological security barriers, and promoting the deep integration of DI and ER, thereby facilitating high-quality regional development. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd