Spatial association network and structural robustness of human-water system resilience in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Study region The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), China. Study focus This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, spatial association network, and structural robustness of human–water system resilience (HWSR) across 110 prefecture-level cities in the YREB from 2006 to 2022. A multidimensional HWSR framework incorporating resistance, recovery, and adaptability was developed. The projection pursuit–genetic algorithm model was used to quantify city-level HWSR, while standard deviational ellipse analysis, a modified gravity model, social network analysis, network attack simulations, and QAP regression were applied to reveal spatial patterns, intercity associations, network robustness, and driving mechanisms. New hydrological insights for the region HWSR in the YREB increased steadily during 2006–2022, with high-resilience clusters concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, Chengdu–Chongqing region, and provincial capitals. The spatial association network showed low density, high connectedness, and strong hierarchy, indicating that HWSR is shaped not only by local city-level capacity but also by intercity hydrological, socioeconomic, and governance linkages. Network attack simulations revealed that the HWSR network is relatively robust to random node failures but highly vulnerable to the loss of high-centrality cities. QAP regression further showed that geographic proximity and openness promote HWSR associations, while disparities in informatization and technological innovation inhibit early-stage connectivity. These findings suggest that improving regional water resilience in the YREB requires a shift from single-city management toward basin-wide, networked, and differentiated collaborative governance.