Spatial Association Between Metro Network Topological Centrality and Commercial Distribution for Sustainable Urban Development: Evidence from Wuhan

This study investigates the spatial association between metro network topological centrality and the distribution of commercial establishments in Wuhan, China, with attention to its implications for sustainable urban development. Metro station data and commercial point-of-interest (POI) data were integrated with space syntax and GIS-based spatial analysis to examine commercial spatial patterns at both the citywide and station levels. Kernel density estimation was used to identify commercial agglomerations, while station-level Spearman correlation analysis, bootstrap comparison, Gini coefficient analysis, and Local Moran’s I were employed to evaluate the spatial association between metro network topological centrality and different commercial sectors. The results show that: (1) Wuhan exhibits a “primary core–multiple nodes” commercial spatial structure, and the current distribution of commercial establishments differs among planned city-level commercial centers despite their comparable planning hierarchy. (2) A significant positive spatial association exists between metro network topological centrality and commercial establishment distribution at the station level. However, substantial spatial heterogeneity is observed across the network. For example, Optics Valley Square and Zhuyehai contain relatively dense commercial establishments despite comparatively low topological centrality, whereas Wuhan Business District Station exhibits relatively high topological centrality but limited surrounding commercial development. (3) All seven commercial sectors show significant positive spatial associations with metro network topological centrality, although finance exhibits the strongest association. The remaining sectors display broadly comparable correlation strengths but differ considerably in their spatial concentration patterns. These findings enhance understanding of the spatial organization of commercial activities in relation to metro network topology and provide empirical evidence to support commercial planning, transit-oriented urban development, and more sustainable patterns of urban commercial development.