A framework for quantifying the resilience of urban agglomeration under multidimensional association rule

• A resilience location quotient method is introduced for assessing urban resilience. • The urban resilience system is constructed with four dimensions and deconstructed to explore the underlying correlation mechanisms. • Optimal distance thresholds vary among the different resilience dimensions. • Ecological resilience shows positive spatial spillovers, while increases in economic and infrastructural resilience negatively impact it. • This study aids in achieving sustainable development goal 11 (Sustainable cities and Communities). The concept of urban resilience has inspired new approaches to urban disaster prevention and mitigation. However, gaps remain in the assessment of resilience and in understanding the interrelationships within Urban Resilience System (URS). This study introduces a Resilience Location Quotient (RLQ) method which integrates ecological, economic, social, and infrastructural dimensions into a unified framework for assessing urban resilience. Three provinces of the Bohai Rim region are used as the study area. The study deconstructs the URS and employs spatial analysis methods to explore the spatial correlation mechanism within this area. The findings reveal several key insights: (1) The optimal distance thresholds differ across the various resilience dimensions. (2) There are negative spatial correlations between ecological resilience and the other dimensions. (3) Ecological resilience exhibits a positive spatial spillover effect. However, increases in economic and infrastructural resilience adversely affect it. This research contributes an innovative urban resilience assessment framework, offering a new perspective on quantifying resilience levels, identifying developmental gaps, and analyzing spatial associations. The framework also serves as a transferable tool to facilitate coordinated resilience development in urban clusters, providing actionable propositions for resilience-oriented urban planning.