Abstract
Urban sustainable development strategies are of great importance to rapidly urbanized countries such as China. One of the most challenging problems is how to coordinate urban spatial development with social efficiency and environmental protection, e.g., highly efficient low-carbon urban traffic. Despite broad research efforts with respect to the influence of urban form on travel patterns, questions persist as to the impact of compact urban form on travel distance and modes. In this study, we adopted urban form metrics to capture key dimensions of urban form with the aid of image processing and spatial analysis based on satellite images and statistical data from the cases of 35 cities. Combined with urban travel survey data, we empirically examined the relationships between urban form and travel patterns of local urban residents. The results showed that urban form and travel patterns have regionalized characteristics, e.g., the eastern cities are characterized by disperse urban development patterns and longer commuting times on average compared with western and central cities. We found that relatively smaller built-up areas, higher degrees of urban spatial agglomeration and more paved road area per person would decrease the commuting time of urban residents. We also found that the public transport choices of urban residents are positively associated with built-up areas and commuting times, which suggests the need for provision and promotion of facilities for a high-quality public transport system. The findings provide helpful suggestions for the planning of sustainable urban form and development of transportation.
Highlights
Research on sustainable urban form has been largely stimulated by the increasingly serious worldwide environmental and social problems related with urban development [1,2,3]
We found that the most part of the public transport choices of urban residents are significantly associated with larger built-up areas (Figure 6), and are positively correlated with longer commuting times (Table 2), which might suggest the need for provision and promotion of facilities for a high-quality public transport system
This study aimed to explore the relationship between urban form and urban travel patterns, which remains far from clear, despite broad research efforts in this area
Summary
Research on sustainable urban form has been largely stimulated by the increasingly serious worldwide environmental and social problems related with urban development [1,2,3]. Compact development patterns, featured by relatively high population density, mixed land use, and accessible facilities, are beneficial for walking, cycling and public transportation. Their direct advantages are reduced travel demand and shortened travel distance and time [15,16,17]. The widely cited ECOTEC report provided several factors in the link between population density and travel patterns, e.g., increased accessibility of contacts and activities for the local residents, reduced average spatial distances between destinations of various services, and distance to public transport facilities [18]. The purpose of this study is to provide effective urban form metrics related to time-efficient and low-carbon travel patterns. SSttuuddyy AArreeaa TThheerreeaarreessoommeeddisisccrreeppaanncciieessaabboouutttthheeddeefifinniittiioonnssooffuurrbbaannoorruurrbbaanniizzeeddaarreeaass..IInnBBrriittaaiinn,,ffoorr eexxaammpplele, ,tthheekkeeyypprriinncciipplleeuunnddeerrllyyininggtthheeuurrbbaannaannddrruurraallddoommaaiinnssiissiittss rreelliiaanncceeoonn tthhee iiddeennttiifificcaattiioonn aannddcchhaarraacctteerriizzaattiioonn ooffpphhyyssiiccaallsseettttlleemmeennttss bbaasseeddoonntthheeddwweelllliinnggddeennssiittyyccaalclcuullaattiioonn[[4400]]. (b) FigurFLeiag2nu.drAsean2t .TeAxMnamiemxpaalmgeeporlyfe.uo(arf)buTarnbhaecnLocanonsndtrsstuarctutTcitoMionnilmalanangddeiiannntteedrrpipnrrteeettraapttiroieontnefdofrourBrbeBaijeninijbginuCgilittC-yuipitnyatirhneeat2ho0fe1B02se0ib1jia0nssgebdCaiotsnyed on Landsinat2T01M0; iamndag(be)ryth. e(at)ecThhneicLalafnlodwsacthTaMrt oimf thage einatenrdprienttaetriopnr.eted urban built-up area of Beijing City in 2010; and (b) the technical flow chart of the interpretation
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