Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors

Engineering and Technology Journal e-ISSN: 2456-3358 Volume 10 Issue 12 December-2025, Page No.-8324-8335 DOI: 10.47191/etj/v10i12.34, I.F. – 8.482 © 2025, ETJ 8324 Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors Xing Lian School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003, China ABSTRACT: Taking Henan Province as the research subject, this study constructs an evaluation index system for urbanization and ecological environment. Using the entropy method, coupling coordination degree model, and spatial center of gravity–ellipse model, the spatio-temporal evolution pattern of the coupling coordination between urbanization and ecological environment in Henan Province from 2011 to 2022 is quantitatively measured. The scissor difference model is employed to calculate the degree of discrepancy between the two systems. Additionally, the GTWR model is applied to analyze the influencing factors of their coupling. The results show that: 1) Both urbanization and ecological environment in Henan Province exhibited an upward trend, with significant spatio-temporal coupling characteristics. 2) The spatial center of gravity shifted only slightly during the study period, moving near the border of Xinzheng. 3) The coupling coordination degree showed a trend of “fluctuation–decline–rise” over the study period. 4) Macro-level government regulation, scientific and technological progress, and informatization exerted positive effects on the coupled system, whereas transportation construction-imposed pressure on the ecological environment, generating negative effects. KEYWORDS: urbanization; ecological environment; coupling coordination; spatial center of gravity; scissor difference; influencing factors. 1 INTRODUCTION Urbanization is an inevitable pathway for any country or region to achieve industrialization and modernization1. Since the 21st century, countries worldwide have embarked on urbanization initiatives. China's urbanization started relatively late and remained at a comparatively low level, with significant academic and policy attention emerging around 2009. In 2013, urbanization was highlighted as an independent key agenda item by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for the first time. In 2014, the National New-Type Urbanization Plan was officially released, piloting new-type urbanization in selected key cities. This new approach emphasizes a people-oriented transformation, encompassing shifts in industrial structure, environmental sustainability, and other dimensions. By 2017, urbanization had achieved phased outcomes, and as of 2020, China continues to vigorously advance urbanization development. As noted in the State Council Government Work Report, efforts should focus on strengthening new-type urbanization and deepening its progress. Data indicate that China’s urbanization rate increased from 10.64% in 1949 to 17.92% in 1978. Following the reform and opening-up policy, urbanization accelerated significantly, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 1%. By 2016, the urbanization rate had reached 58.84%, and by 2022, it climbed to 65.22%. This rapid growth represents a remarkable achievement in the history of urbanization. However, the swift pace of urbanization has also exacerbated ecological and environmental degradation, including issues such as air and water pollution. Conversely, the state of the ecological environment directly constrains the progress of urbanization. Therefore, studying the coupling coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment has become a critical subject in contemporary societal development. Coupling coordination implies that urbanization must fully consider and protect the ecological environment, achieving a win-win scenario for urban development and ecological conservation through rational planning, scientific management, “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 and effective policies. Only by establishing a harmonious relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment can sustainable urban development be realized, ensuring long-term societal prosperity and the healthy coexistence of ecosystems. Research on the interaction and coupling between urbanization and the ecological environment has gained increasing attention from scholars in recent years, primarily focusing on two dimensions: content and regional scope. In terms of content, studies have mainly addressed theoretical frameworks and future predictions. Theoretically, Fang et al. conducted theoretical analyses of this coupling, discussing its mechanismsError! Reference source not found., fundamental principlesError! Reference source not found., and key evolutionary stages4. Regarding coupling predictions, Wu et al.5 utilized a projection pursuit model to analyze the coupling coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment system. Liu et al.6 employed a spatial Markov chain to study the coupling coordination degree between urbanization and the ecological environment. Muhadaisi Ariken et al.7 examined the spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors of the coupling between new-type urbanization and the ecological environment. In terms of regional scope, research has expanded progressively from the provincial level to urban agglomerations, river basins, and the national scale. Examples include studies on urban agglomerations89, the Yellow River Basin1011, the Yangtze River Delta and the Yangtze River Basin1213, and nationwide analyses1415. Internationally, the relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment has also attracted scholarly attention. Approaches such as the Environmental Kuznets Curve16 and the Pressure-State-Response model17 have been used to explore the coupling between the ecological environment and economic or high-quality development. Research regions internationally often focus on smaller units like districts or villages1819. Overall, studies on the relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment, whether domestic or international, have predominantly concentrated on theoretical mechanisms, spatiotemporal distribution, and evolutionary characteristics. However, there remains a need for deeper exploration into the spatiotemporal evolution of coupling coordination and its driving influences. Based on the above discussion, this paper takes municipal districts within Henan Province as the basic research units. It constructs an urbanization-ecological environment indicator system and framework, employing a coupling coordination model to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics between urbanization and ecological environment development in Henan Province. Subsequently, the spatial center-of-gravity model and the scissors difference model are applied to further explore the patterns and disparities in spatio-temporal evolution. Following this, the GTWR (Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression) model is used to analyze the influence of indicators across different dimensions. The study aims to provide references and theoretical support for coordinating the relationship between urbanization and ecological environment construction in Henan Province. 2 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY AREA Henan Province (see Fig 1) is situated in central-eastern China, within the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. With a total area of 167,000 square kilometers, it is one of the most populous provinces in the country. In terms of resources, Henan lies at the junction of the coastal open regions and the central-western inland cities, serving as a major producer of agricultural products and a province rich in mineral resources. In 2022, Henan's GDP reached 6.1345 trillion yuan, ranking fifth in the nation, while its resident population stood at 98.72 million, placing it third nationwide. However, its urbanization rate was only 57.07%, significantly lower than that of other provinces. In recent years, Henan has been accelerating its urbanization process. Therefore, studying the coupled and coordinated relationship between urbanization and ecological environment development in Henan holds considerable significance, as it can provide theoretical support and reference for the provincial government. 8325 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 Fig1. Study Area 3 DATA AND METHODOLOGY Building on prior research and contemporary definitions of urbanization, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for assessing the coupled coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment (see Tab 1). The urbanization system is evaluated based on four key dimensions: coordinated development, open development, shared development, and cultural and innovative development. Meanwhile, the ecological environment system is assessed using a framework that encompasses three aspects: environmental condition, resource utilization, and conservation efforts. The data used in this study were primarily sourced from the Henan Statistical Yearbook (2011–2022), environmental statistical bulletins of various cities in Henan Province, and statistical bulletins on national economic and social development of the respective cities. Tab 1. Evaluation Indicator System and Weights for the Coordinated Development of Urbanization and Ecological Environment Coupling Level 1 Indicator Level 2 Indicator Unit Comprehensive Weight Attribute Urbanization Development System Coordinated Development Urbanization Rate % 0.08922 + Proportion of Employment in Secondary and Tertiary Industries % 0.09300 + Per Capita Disposable Income of Urban Residents RMB 0.09218 + GDP per capita RMB 0.09140 + Open Development Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods 10000 RMB 0.09280 + Proportion Of Tax Revenue % 0.12268 + Shared Development Number of Hospital Beds per 10,000 Population Number 0.09182 + Urban Built-up Area per 10,000 Population Km² 0.09953 + Water Supply Coverage Rate % 0.09420 + Cultural Development Proportion Of Education Expenditure % 0.13318 + 8326 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 Ecological Environment Development Ecological Status Green Coverage Rate of Built-up Area % 0.12995 + Per Capita Public Green Space Area m² 0.14668 + Gas Coverage Rate % 0.13190 + Ecological Pressure Per Capita Daily Water Consumption L 0.16258 - Industrial Energy Consumption Ton 0.16653 - Ecological Protection Harmless Waste Treatment Rate % 0.13794 + Wastewater Treatment Rate % 0.12442 + 3.1 Entropy Method The entropy method is an approach that objectively reflects the required information and determines indicator weights based on the degree of data dispersion of the indicators20. It can avoid the influence of subjective factors, as the information reflected is entirely determined by the data itself. The formulas are as follows: (1) Normalization: Positive indicator：𝑋𝑖𝑗 =𝑥𝑖𝑗−𝑥𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥−𝑥𝑚𝑖𝑛 (1) Negative indicator：𝑋𝑖𝑗 =𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥−𝑥𝑖𝑗 𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥−𝑥𝑚𝑖𝑛 (2) In this formula,𝑥𝑖𝑗 (i11,2,…m;j11,2,…n) represents the data of the j-th indicator in the i-th year. (2) The weight of the i-th city under the j-th indicator: 𝑃𝑖𝑗 =1+𝑋𝑖𝑗 𝛴𝑖=1 𝑚(1+𝑋𝑖𝑗) (3) (3) The entropy value of the j-th indicator: 𝑒𝑗=− 1 𝑙𝑛𝑚∑ 𝑃𝑖𝑗 𝑚 𝑖=1 𝑙𝑛𝑃𝑖𝑗 (4) (4) Calculate the coefficient of variation for indicator j: 𝑔𝑗=1−𝑒𝑗 (5) (5) Calculate the weights: 𝑊1𝑗 =𝑔𝑗 𝛴𝑗=1 𝑛𝑔𝑗 (6) 3.2 Coupled Coordination Model This paper employs a Coupling Coordination Degree Model to investigate the coupling coordination relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment. Since the results calculated using the traditional coupling formula generally indicate a high level of coupling, which does not align with reality, a modified coupling coordination model is adopted for this study. Assuming that max𝑈𝑖 is 𝑈2 , the calculation formula is as follows: 𝐶=√[1−√(𝑈2−𝑈1)2]×𝑈1 𝑈2=√1−(𝑈2−𝑈1)×𝑈1 𝑈2 (7) 𝑇=𝛼1𝑈1+𝛼2𝑈2,𝛼1+𝛼2=1 (8) 𝐷=√𝐶×𝑇 (9) In the formula, C represents the coupling degree, reflecting the interaction between the urbanization and ecological environment systems. The closer the value of C is to 1, the higher the coupling degree. T denotes the coordination degree, characterizing the contribution of the two systems to coupling coordination. 𝛼1 and 𝛼2 are coefficients, with 𝛼1= 𝛼2=0.5. D stands for the coupling coordination degree, which comprehensively reflects the development levels of urbanization and the ecological environment. The closer D is to 1, the higher the coordination degree. This paper classifies the coupling coordination degree into five categories (Tab 2): Tab.2. Coupling Coordination Classification Table Coupling Coordination Type Coupling Coordination Degree Declining Imbalance 0≤D<0.3 Low-Level Coordination 0.3≤D<0.4 Primary Coordination 0.4≤D<0.5 Positive Coordination 0.5≤D<0.8 Advanced Coordination 0.8≤D<1 8327 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 3.3 Center of Gravity Shift Analysis This study employs the Center of Gravity Shift Model to analyze the spatio-temporal variation patterns between urbanization and the ecological environment. While reflecting the coordination between the two systems, this approach also reveals the positional trends between them over time. The formula is as follows: (𝑋,𝑌)=(∑𝐸× 𝑛 𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 𝛴𝑖=1 𝑛,∑𝐸× 𝑛 𝑖=1 𝑦𝑖 𝛴𝑖=1 𝑛) (10) In the formula, E represents the coupling coordination degree between the two systems,𝑥𝑖, 𝑦𝑖 denote the longitude and latitude coordinates of the city, and (𝑋,𝑌) represent the coordinates of the center of mass. The subscript I corresponds to the years 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022, respectively. 3.4 Scissors Difference Model The Scissors Difference Model can be used to analyze the variation disparities between systems. In this study, the model is applied to examine the difference in change rates between the urbanization and ecological environment systems21. The formula is as follows: 𝑓′(𝑥)=ⅆ𝑥 ⅆ𝑡 (11) 𝑓′(𝑦)=ⅆ𝑦 ⅆ𝑡 (12) 𝜃=𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛| 𝑓′(𝑥)−𝑓′(𝑦) 1+𝑓′(𝑥)×𝑓′(𝑦)| (13) 𝑓′(𝑥) and 𝑓′(𝑥) represent the change trends in year t. A larger angle 𝜃 indicates a more significant change trend. 3.5 GTWR Combined Model Given the complex relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment, statistical models often overlook the spatial heterogeneity and non-stationarity between the two systems. The Spatio-temporal Geographically Weighted Regression model is a modified local linear regression model that extends the general linear regression model by incorporating a temporal dimension, effectively addressing issues of regional correlation. The formula is as follows: 𝑌𝑖=𝛽0(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖)+𝛴𝑘𝛽𝑘(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖)𝑋𝑖𝑘 +𝜀𝑖 (14) In the formula, (𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖) represent the spatiotemporal coordinates of the study element i, 𝛽𝑘(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖) denotes the kth regression coefficient for the i-th study element, and 𝜀𝑖is the random error term. The calculation formula for 𝛽𝑘(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖) is as follows: 𝛽 󰆹(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖)=[𝑋𝑇𝑊(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖)𝑋]−1𝑋𝑇𝑊(𝑢𝑖󰇗,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖)𝑌 (15) 𝑊(𝑢𝑖,𝑣𝑖,𝑡𝑖)=𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔(𝑎𝑖1,𝑎𝑖2,···,𝑎𝑖𝑛) , 𝑎𝑖𝑗 =exp(−𝑑𝑖𝑗𝑆𝑇2∕ ℎ𝑆𝑇2) (16) In the formula,𝑑𝑖𝑗 represents the spatiotemporal distance between cities, and h is determined using cross-validation to minimize the sum of squared errors, i.e.: ℎ=∑(𝑦𝑖− 𝑖 𝑦≠1(ℎ))2， 𝑑𝑖𝑗𝑆𝑇 = √𝜆[(𝑢𝑖−𝑢𝑗)2+(𝑣𝑖−𝑣𝑗)2]+𝜇(𝑡𝑖−𝑡𝑗)2. This study further investigates the impact of urbanization on the ecological environment in Henan Province from 2011 to 2022 under spatiotemporal conditions using the Spatiotemporal Geographically Weighted Regression model. Influencing factors of urbanization across different dimensions are treated as independent variables in the Geographically Weighted Regression model, while changes in ecological environment development serve as the dependent variable. 8328 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 4.1 Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urbanization and Ecological Environment Development 4.1.1 Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urbanization Fig 2. Urbanization Level From 2011 to 2022, the overall urbanization level in the province showed an upward trend, rising from 0.348 in 2011 to 0.52 in 2022. Spatially, the changes were more complex, evolving from an initial pattern of "higher in the center and lower in the periphery" to a "stepped distribution with higher levels in the west and lower levels in the east" (Fig 2). High levels of urbanization were primarily concentrated in the Yellow River Basin region. As the driving force of Henan's development and located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, this region—represented by cities such as Zhengzhou and Jiyuan—took the lead in achieving economic growth and higher urbanization, subsequently radiating its influence northward from Zhengzhou. During this period, spatial disparities across the province also began to shift, forming two high-level urban clusters: the "Zhengzhou-Jiyuan Yellow River Basin Zone" and the "Anyang-Hebi Metropolitan Area." This demonstrates the significant radiating and driving effect of the Zhengzhou economic metropolitan area. In contrast, cities like Shangqiu and Zhoukou developed more gradually, while Zhumadian—the only city initially at a relatively low level—also progressed to a moderate level. 4.1.2 Spatiotemporal Analysis of Ecological Environment Level Fig.3. Ecological Environment Level 8329 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 From 2011 to 2022 (see Fig 3), the ecological environment development level in the province advanced rapidly, rising from 0.524 in 2011 to 0.73 in 2022. Spatially, it exhibited a "higher in the west, lower in the east" distribution pattern. During 2011–2015, Most cities in the province were at a moderate level with relatively weak ecological conditions, largely due to the extensive mining of coal resources in Henan during this period. From 2019 to 2022, the ecological environment in the province gradually improved, with the majority of cities reaching a relatively high level (above 0.64). Development began to radiate in a circular pattern centered on Zhengzhou, and nearly all cities achieved high-level ecological development, forming two zones of extremely high ecological level (above 0.74)—one north of the Yellow River and one south of it. Sanmenxia and Nanyang, located in the Qinling mountain region, lagged in development. Shangqiu experienced a slight decline. 4.2 Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urbanization and Ecological Environment Coupling Fig.3. Coupling Development Level From a temporal perspective (see Fig 3), the coupled and coordinated development of urbanization and the ecological environment in cities across Henan Province generally showed an upward trend from 2011 to 2022. Spatially, the provincial pattern shifted from being "centered on Zhengzhou and declining toward the periphery" to a "dual-core pattern radiating outward with declining levels." In 2011, all 16 cities in the province had achieved a high level or above (above 0.5) of coupling coordination, with only Zhoukou and Zhumadian at a moderate level. High-quality coupling coordination (above 0.6) was mainly distributed in cities within the Yellow River Basin region. By 2015, the coupling coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment in the province had gradually improved, though the pace of development remained relatively slow. The relatively high-level coupling coordination areas continued to radiate outward from Zhengzhou, while Shangqiu experienced a slight decline. Zhoukou and Zhumadian progressed to a moderately high level, revealing pronounced spatial ladder differences. By 2019, the province had developed rapidly, with all cities achieving a coupling coordination level above 0.5. Except for Shangqiu, Zhoukou, and Zhumadian, all other cities reached levels above 0.6, while Luoyang and Jiyuan exceeded 0.7, and Zhengzhou advanced to an extremely high level (above 0.8). In 2022, the province further accelerated its development, with all cities attaining levels above 0.6. Jiyuan progressed to an extremely high level, spatially forming a trend centered around the dual cores of Zhengzhou and Jiyuan, with other areas gradually declining in level. Thus, the spatial and temporal disparities in Henan Province are primarily attributed to the radiating influence of the Yellow River Basin and the strong support and development policies implemented by the national and local 8330 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 governments in recent years, particularly for Jiyuan. 4.3 Center of Gravity Model Analysis Fig.5. Trajectory Migration Map In the study, the center of gravity shift model was used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of the center distribution and evolutionary trends in the coupling coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment. The results are shown in Figure 4. The findings indicate that the center of gravity for the coupling coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment is generally located in the southern part of Zhengzhou, shifting within the area of Xinzheng City. The longitude and latitude variations are approximately between 113°40.5′E and 113°42.25′E, and 34°22′N and 34°24′N, indicating a relatively stable position. In 2013, the center of gravity shifted briefly to the northeast, then moved back westward, and began shifting northwestward. Starting in 2017, it began moving southward, with the most significant shift occurring by 2021. This period also saw the fastest growth in the degree of coupling coordination. Overall, the center of gravity has been shifting toward the western region, suggesting that in recent years, the development speed of coupling coordination levels in the western part of Henan Province has been higher than that in the eastern part. This aligns with the earlier finding that the coupling coordination level evolved from a ladder-like differential distribution centered around Zhengzhou to a trend of higher levels in the west and lower levels in the east. However, the overall range and magnitude of change are relatively small, remaining concentrated in the Xinzheng City area. 4.4 Scissors differential analysis To fully demonstrate the disparities in the coupled and coordinated development between urbanization and the ecological environment, the scissors differential method was further employed to analyze the evolutionary process between the two (see Tab 3). Tab 3. Scissors Differential Results Time Urbanization Development Rate Ecological Development Rate Scissors Differential 2012 0.052001 0.024081 0.027878 2013 0.061845 0.037068 0.024715 2014 -0.004 0.039215 0.043195 2015 -0.01815 0.021325 0.03947 2016 0.034897 0.067328 0.032344 2017 0.096475 0.056606 0.039632 2018 0.069598 0.025004 0.044487 8331 “Coupling Coordination Between Urbanization and Ecological Environment in Henan Province and Its Influencing Factors” Xing Lian, ETJ Volume 10 Issue 12 December 2025 2019 0.041161 0.007005 0.034133 2020 0.021645 0.020847 0.000798 2021 0.059897 -0.01304 0.072865 2022 -0.00048 0.056298 0.056719 From the perspective of the development rates of the two systems, both urbanization and ecological environment development show an overall upward trend. First, looking at the ecological environment, it experienced rapid development during 2012–2015 and 2016–2017, followed by a declining trend from 2020 to 2021, before rebounding in 2022. In contrast, the development of urbanization has been more complex and variable. During 2012–2013 and 2015–2019, urbanization in Henan Province exhibited relatively fast growth rates. Although there were fluctuations in 2018, the overall pace remained substantial. Growth slowed from 2019 to 2020, but picked up again in 2021. From the perspective of the scissors differential, the overall trend shows a pattern of "fluctuation–decline–rise." From 2012 to 2017, the fluctuation was relatively minor with no extreme deviations, indicating a relatively stable match between the two systems during this period. Although fluctuations occurred after 2014, the differential generally remained within a moderate range of 0.03–0.045, suggesting that the tension between urbanization and the carrying capacity of the ecological environment was gradually emerging but had not yet intensified. In 2019, an extreme minimum value appeared, approaching a state of near-zero scissors differential. This can be attributed to policies implemented around that time, such as pollution reduction, ecological restoration, and stricter control over disorderly urban expansion. In 2020, the scissors differential surged sharply, indicating that the contradiction between urbanization and the ecological environment had fully erupted, with the development gap between the two reaching its peak. This may be related to the "economic recovery first" policy orientation following the pandemic in 2020, which temporarily prioritized economic revival over ecological protection, causing the ecological environment to lag behind the pace of urbanization. In 2021, the value decreased slightly but remained significantly higher than the average level of 0.035 observed between 2012 and 2018. This indicates that while the tension had somewhat eased, it remained at a high level and had not yet returned to a moderate and coordinated range. 4.5 Analysis of Influencing Factors To investigate the factors that may influence the coupling level between urbanization and the ecological environment in Henan Province, this study employs the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model for further analysis. In the process of urbanization, the improvement of transportation infrastructure is a key factor driving urban expansion and economic development. Additionally, favorable transportation conditions rely on advancements in science and technology and the widespread application of internet-based solutions, enabling intelligent traffic management and promoting green travel. At the same time, government policy support can help strike a balance between urban expansion and ecological protection, fostering the development of green technologies and the preservation of the ecological environment. The widespread adoption of internet technologies and the innovation in science and technology have not only propelled the construction of smart cities but also provided data support and technological means for ecological management during urbanization, contributing to reducing the negative impacts of urbanization on the ecological environment. Overall, the synergistic effects among transportation, technology, government policies, internet integration, and the ecological environment will directly influence the trajectory of urbanization and the sustainability of the ecological environment. Therefore, this study takes the coupling relationship as the explanatory variable, selecting transportation conditions20, government support21, science and technology22, and internet integration23 as the influencing factors. Tab 4. Variable Description Influencing Factors Description Transportation Status Road Route Mileage Government Support General Public Budget Expenditure 8332