Spatiotemporal Patterns of Urbanization in a Developed Region of Eastern Coastal China

Jiadan Li, Jinsong Deng, Ke Wang, Jun Li, Tao Huang, Yi Lin and Haiyan Yu
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Jiadan Li: Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jinsong Deng: Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ke Wang: Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jun Li: Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Tao Huang: Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yi Lin: Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Haiyan Yu: Zhejiang Environmental Monitoring Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310015, China

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: This study presents a practical methodology to monitor the spatiotemporal characteristics of urban expansion in response to rapid urbanization at the provincial scale by integrating remote sensing, urban built-up area boundaries, spatial metrics and spatial regression. Sixty-seven cities were investigated to examine the differences of urbanization intensity, urbanization patterns and urban land use efficiency in conjunction with the identification of socio-economic indicators and planning strategies. Planning proposals to allocate the urbanization intensity among different-sized cities by considering sustainable urban development were also explored. The results showed that the urban area of Zhejiang Province expanded from 31,380 ha in 1980 to 415,184 ha in 2010, indicating that the area of the urban region expanded to more than 13-times the initial urban area. The urban built-up area boundaries became more complex and irregular in shape as the urban area expanded throughout the entire study period. Rapid urban population growth and economic development were identified as significant in stimulating the urban expansion process. However, different-sized cities exhibited marked differences in urban development. Small cities experienced the rapidest urbanization before 2000. Large cities, which are estimated to have the highest urban land use efficiency, had the most dramatic sprawl in urban area at the beginning of the 21st century. Promoting the development of large cities to mega-cities is recommended in Zhejiang Province to ensure sustainable urban development with consideration of land resource preservation.

Keywords: urbanization; urban built-up area boundaries; spatial pattern; land use efficiency; different-sized cities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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