Abstract:

Since artificial neural network (ANN) is a powerful tool applied in the field of natural science and engineering technology, this paper explored, using ANN, the urban strength hierarchy in the Yangtze Basin to build up a bridge to link ANN to humanities. 20 indexes were selected including economic development level, radiation and attractive forces, the level of life convenience and cultural establishments, and the data in 2004 city statistical yearbook of China were analyzed with the software Matlab 6.5. The results indicated that to classify the hierarchy of urban comprehensive strength to six groups is accordant with the reality, showing the excellent clustering function of selforganizing artificial neural network; there is one or two metropolis with great significance to a greater region even to the whole country in different sections of the basin-namely, Chongqing and Chengdu in the upper reaches, Wuhan in the middle reaches, and Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou in the lower reaches-providing persuasive reasons for constructing reasonable urban agglomerations in the basin. Also, the nonequilibrium status of urban hierarchy in the Yangtze Basin was analyzed in the paper.

Key words: the Yangtze Basin, urban comprehensive strength hierarchy, selforganizing artificial neural network