Evaluating and optimizing public service facilities within the 15-min community life circle-evidence from Nanchang, China.

As urban areas expand rapidly, the development of public service facilities has become a critical strategy for optimizing urban spatial structures and addressing the diverse, high-quality living needs of residents. This study presents a referable and evidence-based closed-loop framework for evaluating and optimizing public service facilities within the "15-min community life circle," specifically applied to Nanchang, China. By analyzing the spatial distribution, accessibility, and developmental coordination of 28,082 public service facilities within the six districts and three counties of Nanchang, the research findings reveal that: (1) significant spatial heterogeneity exists in the distribution and accessibility of public service facilities within the study area; (2) the overall coverage efficiency of the 24 categories of public service facilities is low, with notable disparities in coverage among different facility types; and (3) a mismatch exists between the supply of public service facilities and the population distribution. Furthermore, by employing a location allocation model and considering the current developmental context of Nanchang City, we propose targeted optimization strategies for areas experiencing supply-demand mismatches. The findings offer decision support for policymakers in formulating targeted urban renewal strategies and have practical implications for promoting the high-quality development of the 15-min living circle.