ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Built Environ.
Sec. Transportation and Transit Systems
Volume 11 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2025.1598965
This article is part of the Research TopicTechnologies for Cleaner and Resilient Transportation and Transit SystemsView all 6 articles
Exploring the dual effects of digital technology on efficiency of highway transportation: evidence from Heilongjiang province, China
Provisionally accepted
- 1Heilongjiang Communications Planning and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd, Harbin, China
- 2Heilongjiang Highway Construction Center, Heilongjiang, China
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Digital transformation has been recognized as a key driver for enhancing the efficiency of urban highway transportation, achieving high-quality development, and advancing national transportation strategies. However, the comprehensive impact and synergistic mechanisms between urban digital technology level (UDTL) and efficiency of highway transportation (EHT) have not been thoroughly elucidated, particularly within the context of the Northeast Revitalization Strategy. In this study, panel data from twelve prefecture-level cities in Heilongjiang Province covering the period from 2011 to 2022 were utilized. The dual effects of UDTL on EHT were systematically assessed using econometric models and coupling coordination degree models, while kernel density estimation and the geographic detector method were employed to examine the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving forces behind their synergistic evolution. The findings revealed that UDTL exerts a significant positive influence on EHT across the examined cities; nevertheless, the overall synergy between the two factors remains moderately imbalanced.Further investigation identified notable regional disparities and a pronounced polarization trend, with peripheral cities experiencing considerable challenges in achieving coordinated development.Prefecture-level cities in Heilongjiang are undergoing a transition toward multi-dimensional integrated growth, indicating that traditional single-factor driven approaches can no longer accommodate the complexity of their collaborative development needs. This study extends the conceptual framework of transportation efficiency research in the digital era and offers practical implications for policymakers and enterprises aiming to promote the green and sustainable advancement of road transportation systems.
Keywords: Digital technology, efficiency of highway transportation, dual effects, Spatiotemporal differences, Driving factors
Received: 24 Mar 2025; Accepted: 31 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Chen, Liu, Hou, Yang and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Huiji Zhang, Heilongjiang Communications Planning and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd, Harbin, China
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