The correlation mechanism and transmission path of green regeneration of urban industrial brownfields from the perspective of social-ecological system resilience

• Introduce the social-ecosystem resilience theory to enrich the research system of industrial brownfields green regeneration. • Construct the influencing factor system of green regeneration of industrial brownfields. • Using DEMATEL-AISM to study correlation and transmission path in industrial brownfield social-ecological systems. As a bearing space for urban social-ecological systems, industrial brownfields have exposed dual vulnerabilities in the social and ecological sectors. Therefore, this study introduces social-ecosystem resilience theory, which is pivotal for transforming industrial brownfields into a more resilient and robust green regeneration mode. From the perspective of social-ecological system resilience, a system of factors influencing green regeneration in industrial brownfields was constructed. Using the DEMATEL-AISM model, this study investigated the internal correlation mechanism and transmission path of the social-ecological system, providing valuable insights for the green regeneration of industrial brownfields. The findings reveal that (1) DEMATEL identifies key factors of green regeneration in industrial brownfields, including natural resource endowment, soil remediation ability, water treatment ability, regional quality, living service ability, multiple-input mechanisms, economic trends, green regeneration strategies, and green regeneration technologies. (2) The AISM clarifies the hierarchical transmission paths between factors. The seven levels were categorized into essential, transitional, and surface causes, and the resilience response relationship of the key factors was analyzed. These results provide valuable guidance for green regeneration in industrial brownfields. The coupled interaction of social-ecological systems promotes the resilient and sustainable progression of green regeneration.