Transitional streets serve as intermediary spaces between the Central Business Districts (CBDs) and surrounding residential areas, offering diverse functions and activities within urban interiors. However, a practical methodology for accurately classifying these streets has been lacking, due primarily to transitional areas’ spatial constraints and functional complexities. This study leverages Point of Interest (PoI) data from 2023 to develop an innovative methodological framework that addresses these challenges. This framework analyses transitional streets’ functional distribution and typology, employing PoI frequency density and functional type ratios to identify and classify functional zones. It generally delineates eight main types of transitional streets in the CBD of Chongqing, a prototypical hillside city. Utilising advanced data technology from internet maps, this research pioneers new approaches for identifying and analysing the functionality of transitional streets. The findings underscore the effectiveness of PoI data in precisely recognising the functional types of transitional streets, thereby providing a robust theoretical and practical foundation for the in-depth study of transitional streets. Moreover, the results enhance urban spatial planning in hillside cities of China, effectively demonstrating the advantages of PoI data in defining street typology compared to traditional methods. This approach provides a more detailed understanding of urban functional dynamics by allowing for a more nuanced data analysis of street functions.

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Purpose: This study aims to explore the role of urban streets as transitional edges in coordinating socio-spatial interactions within the urban environment. It will focus on how streets can revitalize their surrounding environments and shape sustainable urban living through their characteristics.Design/methodology/approach: Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, this study systematically reviewed 67 international research articles published from 2013 to 2023. It delved into the functionalities of urban streets as transitional edges under various social and physical interactions, covering the multidimensional impacts of streets at the social, spatial and individual levels.Findings: The results demonstrate that the physical and social dimensions of streets, through their characteristics as transitional edges, not only complement each other but also effectively promote social space interactions and sustainable urban development. As a key public space at the interface of social and physical realms, streets influence residents' daily lives and balance the socio-spatial environment.Research limitations/implications: Although this study deepens the understanding of urban streets as transitional edges, it faces limitations due to the scarcity of literature related to transitional edges, which may affect the depth and breadth of the research. Future studies are required to further verify theoretical findings through field research and case studies and to explore practical applications of street design to enhance data comprehensiveness and availability.Originality/value: The originality of this article lies in defining urban streets as dynamic transitional edge spaces, redefining their dual role in urban design to connect physical forms and social functions. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study provides theoretical support for urban planning and design practices, emphasizing their application value in promoting urban social interaction and sustainable development.

In rapid urbanization, the socio-spatial environment between inner-city functional areas faces numerous challenges. Assessing and enhancing the environmental quality of these areas has become an urgent research issue. This study quantitatively evaluates the social-spatial environment of inner-city transitional edges, selecting Chongqing’s Yuzhong District as the case study area. It explores the relationship between spatial environmental factors and social activities. Integrating spatial data, internet “big” data, and field survey data, a multidimensional evaluation of the quality of the social-spatial environment framework is constructed, encompassing four dimensions: connectivity, social function, comfort, and conviviality. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression model is used to explore the main environmental factors influencing social activities on transitional edges. The results show that the density of street trees, lighting facilities, functional density, and functional diversity significantly impact social activities, demonstrating the correlation between the spatial environment of inner-city transitional edges and social activities. Corresponding optimization strategies for each dimension in transitional edges are then summarized. This study provides references for coordinating inner-city functional areas, optimizing urban environments, and promoting sustainability. It can also be applied to a broader range of transitional edge evaluation studies.

This research, framed within the discipline of urban morphology, addresses the issue of identifying and understanding transitional urban areas in rapidly urbanizing hillside cities. It specifically focuses on the area between the Central Business District (CBD) and residential zones in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China. In hillside cities such as Chongqing, the complex terrain complicates urban development, often leading to incomplete or fragmented urban data, which challenges traditional planning methods. To overcome these challenges, we integrate map data, official planning documents and field survey outcomes to elucidate the complex urban form between the CBD and the inner residential areas of this hillside city. Our analysis employs an integrated approach using Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS)-based spatial analysis, field surveys and document analysis. Leveraging data overlay and spatial positioning techniques ensures the accuracy and effectiveness of the research. The results disclose the persistence of traditional concentric circular structures in transitional areas between residential zones and the CBD, underscoring their role in accommodating a variety of commercial and social activities. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the spatial and social dynamics in Chongqing’s urban transitional areas. It establishes a foundational framework for further exploring their role in urban planning.