Study on the Spatial Distribution Patterns and Influencing Factors of Dai settlements in Yunnan Province

Abstract This study employs the ArcGIS spatial analysis platform to examine the spatial distribution pattern of 3504 Dai settlements in Yunnan Province, China. To this end, the nearest-neighbor index and imbalance index are calculated, and geographic probes are utilized to explore the underlying influence mechanism. The findings demonstrate that: (1) the overall spatial distribution of Dai settlements in Yunnan Province tends to be cohesive; however, at the provincial scale, it displays an uneven distribution pattern, with many dense areas in the province and a spatial distribution pattern of "two cores, one belt, one area, and two points"; (2) The majority of Dai settlements are found in an area with an elevation between 500 and 2000 meters, a slope between 0 and 15 degrees, entire slope, high temperatures, and high humidity, which indicats a "near traffic" and "along the river" distribution pattern, but the distribution of the settlements is influenced by the percentage of Dai people living there. (3) The detector probe's findings indicate that among the variables affecting the geographic distribution of Dai settlements, racial and cultural factors have the greatest explanatory power, followed by socioeconomic and environmental variables, while transportation variables have a smaller impact.