Abstract
Against the background of coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH), it is of great significance to quantitatively reveal spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion for optimizing the layout of urban land across regions. However, the urban expansion characteristics, types and trends, and spatial coevolution (including urban land, GDP, and population) have not been well investigated in the existing research studies. This study presents a new spatial measure that describes the difference of the main trend direction. In addition, we also introduce a new method to classify an urban expansion type based on other scholars. The results show the following: (1) The annual urban expansion area (UEA) in Beijing and Tianjin has been ahead of that in Hebei; the annual urban expansion rate (UER) gradually shifted from the highest in megacities to the highest in counties; the high–high clusters of the UEA presented an evolution from a “seesaw” pattern to a “dumbbell” pattern, while that of the UER moved first from Beijing to Tianjin and eventually to Hebei. (2) Double high speed for both UEA and UER was the main extension type; most cities presented a U-shaped trend. (3) Qinhuangdao has the largest difference between the main trend direction of spatial distribution of urban land, GDP and population; the spatial distribution of GDP is closer to that of urban land than population. (4) The area and proportion of land occupied by urban expansion varied greatly across districts/counties. BTH experienced dramatic urban expansion and has a profound impact on land use. These research results can provide a data basis and empirical reference for territorial spatial planning.
Highlights
Urbanization is an important symbol of the economic development level of a country or region
The motivation of this paper is to explore the urbanization characteristics of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Coordinated Development region (BTH) from 2000 to 2015 by studying the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of urban expansion, as well as the differences in the spatial distribution of urban land, urban population, and GDP
The adjustment and optimization of the urban land layout is an important part of the coordinated development of BTH
Summary
Urbanization is an important symbol of the economic development level of a country or region. It reflects the historical process of a region’s gradual transformation from a traditional rural society dominated by agriculture to a modern urban society dominated by non-agricultural industries, such as industry and the service industry. China’s urbanization process is advancing at an unprecedented speed. It is of great empirical significance to study the urbanization process in China after 2000, especially in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Coordinated Development region (BTH), one of China’s three major urban agglomerations. Urbanization is a complex engineering system, Sustainability 2021, 13, 1579.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have