Measuring the Functional Compatibility of Land from the Perspective of Land-Use Mix: A Case Study of Xiangtan

Land-use mix is regarded as an effective method to improve urban quality and optimize built-up areas. In urban studies, this theory is usually defined in terms of diversity. Methodological approaches rely heavily on diversity in land use, but they often fail to consider functional compatibility as another critical characteristic, thus providing only a partial picture of land-use patterns. Although quantitative frameworks of land-use mix are mature and comprehensive, methods to measure functional compatibility are seldom discussed. Thus, by reviewing the literature on functional compatibility measurements, this paper proposes three new indices to gauge the degree of compatibility between land uses based on the quantitative approaches of social segregation. After considering existing methodologies, the paper first focuses on all land-use types, including undeveloped land, in order to capture hidden incompatibility; second, it considers all possible geo-features and includes them in the measurement process; and