Investigating the spatial distribution and influencing factors of traditional villages in Qiandongnan based on ArcGIS and geodetector

Qiandongnan, China, is one of the first batches of traditional villages in the demonstration area of concentrated and continuous protection and utilization. The study of the spatial distribution characteristics of traditional villages and their influencing factors is crucial to the centralized and continuous protection of traditional villages. This study uses 415 traditional villages in six batches in Qiandongnan as the research object. Using ArcGIS spatial analysis and Geodetector methods, we analyzed the spatial–temporal evolution characteristics of traditional villages in Qiandongnan and the influencing factors. The findings reveal that traditional villages exhibit a clustering trend with poor spatial equilibrium, forming four high-density regions. The villages primarily formed during the Ming Dynasty, displaying a "point-axis" expansion characterized by the agglomeration of "Place Two Districts—Trace Water into Mountains—Expand Periphery—Consolidate Pattern". The results of Geodetector analysis show that natural, social, historical, and other factors jointly influence the spatial distribution of traditional villages, in which river density and population are the main influencing factors, and the interaction of multiple factors shows an upward trend. The results of the study can provide scientific guidance and suggestions for the centralized and continuous protection and utilization of traditional villages in Qiandongnan.