Research on the Evaluation and Spatial Distribution Optimization of the Field Intensity Effect of Rural Basic Education Infrastructure in Wuhan’s New Urban District: A Case Study of Liji Township

Education infrastructure is a critical public service facility in rural areas. The evaluation of rural education infrastructure could have important implications for the spatial distribution optimization of public educational services in countryside regions. Based on the elementary education data and survey data of Liji Town in 2022, this paper built an index evaluation system for Liji Township to explore the optimized spatial distribution mode of rural education infrastructure using models of MCR and field intensity. This system consisted of the potential energy of rural basic education infrastructure, as well as district and service thresholds. The results show the following: (1) The resistance of the rural education infrastructure in Liji Township was lower in the eastern and western parts of the township, as well as along the northern–southern county highway; however, the resistance was higher in the southern and northeastern areas. (2) There were significant differences in the potential energy component of education field intensity, showing a gradual decreasing tendency from the central villages to the peripheral villages. The spatial distribution of the central villages’ potential energy component was consistent with the component of the service threshold. However, the components of both district and service thresholds showed higher values for the suburban villages and lower values for the peripheral villages. (3) The rural basic education infrastructure can be divided into three types, and the corresponding development path is proposed in combination with different types. The optimization result is easy to explain and has potential applications in public education evaluation and facility layout planning. These modes can facilitate the allocation and spatial distribution optimization of basic education infrastructure in rural regions of metropolitan areas.