Exploring the Coupling Relationship Between Urbanization and Ecological Quality Based on Remote Sensing Data in Shenzhen, China

Fangfang Sun, Chengcheng Dong, Longlong Zhao, Jinsong Chen, Li Wang, Ruixia Jiang () and Hongzhong Li ()
Additional contact information
Fangfang Sun: Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Science, Shenzhen 518001, China
Chengcheng Dong: Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Science, Shenzhen 518001, China
Longlong Zhao: Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Jinsong Chen: Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Li Wang: School of Surveying and Land Information Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China
Ruixia Jiang: Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Hongzhong Li: Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-24

Abstract: As a flagship city of China’s reform and opening-up policy and the core engine of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen faces dual challenges of economic development and ecological conservation during its rapid urbanization. This study systematically investigates the relationship between urbanization and ecological quality in this high-density megacity over the past three decades (1990–2020) using multi-temporal Landsat imagery, incorporating an enhanced Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), impervious surface extraction techniques, and a Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model. Key findings include: (1) Impervious surfaces expanded from 458.15 km 2 to 709.23 km 2 , showing a tri-phase pattern of rapid expansion, steady infill, and slight contraction, with an annual growth rate of 1.47%; (2) Ecological quality exhibited a “decline-recovery” trajectory, with RSEI values decreasing from 0.477 (1990) to 0.429 (2000) before rebounding to 0.491 (2020), demonstrating phased ecological fluctuations and restoration; (3) The CCD between urbanization and ecological environment improved significantly from “marginal coordination” (0.548) to “primary coordination” (0.636), forming a distinct “west-high-east-low” spatial pattern with significant clustering effects. This study reveals a novel three-dimensional synergistic pathway (“industrial upgrading-spatial optimization-ecological restoration”) for sustainable development in megacities, establishing the “Shenzhen Paradigm” for ecological governance in rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide.

Keywords: urbanization; ecological quality; coupling coordination degree; spatial autocorrelation; Shenzhen City (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5887/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5887/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:5887-:d:1688270

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().