Urban network analysis based on the perspective of Baidu index

Based on the baidu index data of Wuhan urban agglomeration (WUA) in 2014 and 2019, this paper uses social network analysis method to study the network characteristics of WUA from the aspects of connection intensity, connection types and cohesive subgroups. The results show that: (1) Compared with 2014, the overall information connection intensity of WUA has increased significantly in 2019, and regional differences have gradually eased, forming a complex network pattern with multiple axis distributions. (2) From 2014 to 2019, the number of marginal cities of regional information connection decreased. Wuhan has always been the central city for information connection. In 2019, Xianning and Ezhou are the leading cities, while Xiaogan and Huanggang are subordinate cities. (3) The four cities of Xiaogan, Xiantao, Tianmen, and Qianjiang in the western region are not closely connected. Xiantao became a subgroup independently in both years. Finally, it proposes a functional orientation suggestion of "one leader and multiple centers" with Wuhan as the leader, Xianning and Ezhou as the radiation centers, and Xiaogan and Huanggang as the undertaking centers.