Analysis of the spatial characteristics and driving forces of underground consumer service space in Chinese megacities based on multi-source data

• The differences in spatial characteristics between UCSS and ACSS were analyzed. • A preliminary comprehensive analytical framework for the driving forces of UCSS was constructed. • The validation and deepening of central place theory by UCSS has been confirmed. • Two key scales for understanding the spatial distribution of UCSS were revealed. • The spatial selection of market-driven UCSS was analyzed. Underground consumer service spaces (UCSS) offer new solutions for urban residents’ daily needs, but existing studies on their distribution and driving forces are often fragmented and overshadowed by research on other underground spaces, lacking targeted analysis. This study examines UCSS in the central urban areas of seven representative Chinese megacities. Using spatial analysis methods like kernel density estimation, multi-distance spatial clustering, and geographical detectors, the spatial characteristics and driving forces of UCSS are analyzed alongside aboveground consumer service spaces (ACSS). Results show that both ACSS and UCSS exhibit multi-centered, concentric spatial patterns, though UCSS demonstrates higher spatial aggregation. Unlike other underground public spaces (UPS), UCSS relies more on service industry agglomeration and market factors, while other UPS are more influenced by surrounding development intensity. UCSS follows the core principles of central place theory but deviates from the market-driven patterns typical of ACSS. Socioeconomic conditions and transportation infrastructure form the foundational basis for UCSS distribution, while service industry agglomeration, market dependence, and land development intensity exert more direct influence. The commercial atmosphere and existing underground space development play critical roles in UCSS distribution. Two key spatial scales for understanding UCSS distribution are the strong influence zones of shopping malls and metro stations, and high-density urban areas.