Rural-urban Transformation Research Articles

From center to outlying areas: Navigating built-up land dynamics along urban-rural gradients in Global South megaregions

Understanding the dynamics of built-up land amidst the urban-rural transformation process is crucial for balancing the benefits of urbanization against the challenges of uncontrolled expansion. Yet, how built-up land develops across different types of human settlements, particularly within emerging Global South megaregions (GSMs), is not well documented. Employing an urban-rural gradient (URG) approach, we investigate built-up land dynamics across six representative emerging GSMs spanning 1985–2020, contextualizing our findings within urbanization theory and sustainable development discourse. Our analysis reveals that urban center growth and peri-urbanization drive a substantial proportion of built-up land expansion (36.47% and 27.39%, respectively), in contrast to the minimal increases observed in rural clusters and semi-dense areas (2.48% and 2.44%, respectively). The predominant expansion mode is sprawling growth, notably evident in peripheral areas, while densifying growth is mainly confined to urban centers and mostly uninhabited areas. Sprawling shrinkage is observed in dense and semi-dense urban areas, as well as rural clusters. These nuanced dynamics illustrate the varied ways in which regional territories engage with and are shaped by the urbanization process. Through the lens of the URG analysis, our study enhances understanding of spatial transformations in the GSMs, offering informative insights for fostering sustainable cities and human settlements.

The Urban–Rural Transformation and Its Influencing Mechanisms on Air Pollution in the Yellow River Basin

Air pollution has recently gained much attention from the general population. Despite pollution control being an issue in both urban and rural regions, most of the available research has concentrated on urban districts. Hence, investigations into how urban–rural transition affects PM2.5 are warranted within the framework of urban–rural integration. Using the Yellow River Basin as a case study, this study employed the entropy method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to uncover the extent of urban–rural transformation. It then used the spatial autocorrelation method to investigate the spatiotemporal features of PM2.5 and the spatial econometric model to investigate the mechanisms that influence the relationship between urban–rural transformation and PM2.5. The results are as follows: (1) The level of urban–rural transformation shows an obvious upward trend with time. The development has progressed from asymmetrical north-east and south-west elevations to a more balanced pattern of north-east, middle-east, and west-west elevations. (2) The PM2.5 concentration increased steadily, then fluctuated, and finally decreased. Notably, the general pattern has not changed much, and it is high in the east and low in the west. (3) Different subsystems of the urban–rural transformation have different impacts on air pollution at different stages. The influence of industrial transformation (IT) on PM2.5 showed an inverted “N-shaped” curve of negative–negative–changes, and the industrial structure played a leading role in the spatiotemporal evolution of PM2.5. An inverted “U-shaped” curve forms the left side of the impact of population transition (PT) on PM2.5. Land transformation (LT) has a “U-shaped” curve for its effect on PM2.5. This study provides a new perspective on the topic of PM2.5 and its connection to urban–rural integration, which is crucial to understanding the dynamics of this shift. To achieve the goal of high-quality development, this study supports regional initiatives to reduce PM2.5 emissions in the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, the results of this study can provide a reference for decision-makers in the world’s densely populated areas that suffer from serious air pollution.

China’s ongoing rural to urban transformation benefits the population but is not evenly spread

China prioritizes a coordinated and sustainable shift from rural to urban areas, termed rural-urban transformation. This involves land, population, and industry urbanization. Here we explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of rural-urban transformation patterns in China, focusing on the degree of integrated transformation and the coupling between the three tracks. To conduct our investigation, we utilized the urbanization cube theory, satellite-derived gridded datasets, and the self-organizing map. Our findings show that eastern China has higher levels of integrated transformation and coupling compared to western China. There has been an overall increase in the coupling of China’s three rural-urban transformation tracks. We identified six typical rural-urban transformation patterns across China. Over time, 53.58% of prefectures improved in rural-urban transformation patterns, 3.44% degraded, and 42.98% (mainly in western China) remained unchanged. More importantly, we highlight that the increasing and coupling rural-urban transformation in China has reduced inequities in urban and rural well-being.

Urbanization and the Emergence of Small Towns: Rural Urban Transformations and the Formation of Urban Vernacular Settlements in East Kazakhstan

Urbanization and the Emergence of Small Towns: Rural Urban Transformations and the Formation of Urban Vernacular Settlements in East Kazakhstan

Does off-farm work induce farmland abandonment? Evidence from China

PurposeThis study investigates whether, how and under what circumstances off-farm work induces farmland abandonment, which is of great importance for developing countries to cope with food security.Design/methodology/approachExploiting large-scale panel data from the newly released Chinese Family Database, this study employs a two-way fixed effects model to empirically estimate the causal relationship between off-farm work and farmland abandonment.FindingsIn the context of large-scale labor migration in rural China, current off-farm work leads to an increase in the probability and area of farmland abandoned due to insufficient agricultural labor. However, off-farm work does not harm farm households in plain areas, or villages with land rental markets, abundant agricultural labor, and agricultural machinery, while it harms others. Moreover, farmers who work off-farm in the local area are less likely to abandon their farmland than those in other areas. Additionally, when the number of off-farm workers in a household exceeds two, the probability and area of farmland abandonment will miraculously decline, as the household will no longer live entirely on agriculture.Originality/valueThis study may fill the gap in clarifying the relationship between off-farm work and farmland abandonment, and identify scenarios where off-farm work may not cause farmland abandonment through multiple dimensions, providing insights into the governance of farmland abandonment during rural-urban transformation in developing countries.

Unravelling the non-linear response of ecosystem services to urban-rural transformation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China

In our transforming world, ecosystem services (ESs) and biodiversity are threatened by urban sprawl with rapid urban-rural transformation (URT), jeopardizing human well-being. Understanding the effect of URT on ESs is critical, particularly in areas those have undergone rapid urbanization. Taken the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region of China as a typical case, this study measures the URT from the population-land-industry perspective and elucidates the influence of each index of URT on ESs at different stages. The URT process experienced a decline in population growth, an increase in land urbanization, and stability in non-agriculturalization rate. In particular, this study reveals an intricate and complex non-linear relationship between URT and ESs. URT negatively affects grain production (GP), habitat quality (HQ), soil retention (SR), and carbon sequestration (CS) and has a positive impact on water yield (WY). Furthermore, it was found that the response threshold of ESs to URTIs increased over time, indicating that ESs can maintain a certain degree of stability and resilience in the face of URT activities. However, ensuring the continued stability and resilience increasingly depends on the implementation of effective management and protection measures. This study advances our knowledge of the complex dynamics between URT and ESs in rapidly urbanizing areas and provides valuable insights for policymakers and planners to guide sustainable development and effective resource management.

Haunted Modernization: Urban Legends and Cultural Transition in Contemporary China

Over the past half-century, a series of reforms in China have brought about economic prosperity and rapid urban development. Urban legends in contemporary China constitute an essential part of folk culture, reflecting the distinctive features of Chinese urbanization and its subsequent problems. This article aims to explore some of the most representative popular urban legends, including the ‘Legends of the Campus and Shopping Mall’, ‘The Vanishing Hitchhiker’, and the ‘Legends of Phoenix Men’, in relation to social development in the period of rural–urban transformation. The article argues that Chinese contemporary urban legends provide an alternative narrative of cultural transition and fragmentation, stretching from the rural traditions to modern urbanization. They express Chinese people’s wishes, hopes, and desires for a better world, yet at the same time they also reveal their fears, anxieties, and concerns about the rapid pace of social change and the subsequent problems it brings, such as higher crime rates, political corruption, a deeper class divide, and a shaken cultural foundation. It is hoped that this article will provide a fresh insight into studies of folk culture and urban legends.

Acoustic prediction and testing for "Basajaun" EU Project demo building using neural network, prediction for innovative wooden partition wall with composites and bio-based insulation

"Basajaun" is a major European innovation action about sustainable building with wood. The main objective is to demonstrate how wood construction chains can be optimized to foster both rural development and urban transformation whilst being connected with sustainable forest management in Europe. The project scrolls the full value chain of wood construction in Europe, and it include a demo project in south of France demonstrating implementation of various innovations, among which the studied innovative facade made of pultruded composites, structural insulated panels (SIP) plywood, wooden cladding and bio-based insulation. In building projects, partition walls are commonly designed for mechanical stability, thermal insulation and fire safety, in this article authors focus on acoustic aspects starting from design, optimization, lab testing, implementation specifications and in situ validation. For the design and optimization phase, authors developed prediction tool based on Artificial Intelligence. Programming and data feeding of the tool is described, and predictions are compared to laboratory measurements.

Urban-Rural Transformation and Urban Growth Scenario Using Cellular Automata in Lebak District - Banten Province

The development of Lebak District has been significant during the previous ten years, with the impact of urbanization, changing the community’s physical, social, and economic shape. The construction of the Serang-Panimbang toll road, which facilitates access to the Metropolitan City of DKI Jakarta, has rapidly transformed Lebak District, which indicates an urban-rural transformation. This study aims to see how rural-urban transformation occurs in Lebak District and to create a scenario of urban development in Lebak District in 2030. Assessment of the level and pattern of transformation based on physical, social, and economic aspects using geographic information system (GIS) applications is conducted. This research uses cellular automata to create urban development scenarios in Lebak District in 2030. The results of this study indicate that the urban-rural transformation in Lebak District occurred due to the influence of urbanization and the construction of a toll road that connects Lebak District with the metropolitan city of Jakarta. Lebak District has four development areas. First is the urban agglomeration of Rangkasbitung, the hub of administration and economy. Second, coastal development areas are located in the southern region of Lebak District. The third strategic development area is the toll road integration area, with a development plan for an integrated industrial region. The fourth location has modest development and is located in terrain with limited accessibility. The results of urban development scenarios using cellular automata show that the development of the Serang-Panimbang toll road led to an increase in urban growth by 21% in 2030.

Rural-to-urban reclassification and its impact on urbanization in Indonesia: a case study of West Java Province

Rural-urban reclassification is a process in which rural areas evolve into urban areas, leading to significant changes in population, economy, and infrastructure. This process is a component of urbanization. Generally, urbanization studies focus on major cities and their surrounding areas as rural regions transform into urban ones. Meanwhile, according to the latest reclassification data, the conversion of rural areas into urban ones has also occurred in locations distant from existing city centers, thus creating new urban areas. This article’s objective is to analyze the pattern of rural-to-urban reclassification in West Java, focusing on the gradual shift of localities from rural to urban. The study employs descriptive analysis of statistical data related to rural-urban transformation, population size, and growth. The study reveals that the rural-urban transformation in West Java is multifaceted and dynamic, encompassing challenges and opportunities. The study’s findings underscore the need for effective policies and strategies to manage the urbanization process and address the challenges related to rural-urban transformation.

Monitoring rural-urban transformation in the coastal region of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Morocco.

Worldwide urbanization drives rural-urban transformation (RUT) which has major consequences in many countries of the Global South where there is an urgent need to better understand and manage the underlying processes and consequences for ecosystem services. To fill existing knowledge gaps on the extent and time course of RUT in Morocco, this study focused on (i) analyzing the spatial patterns of rural-urban transformation in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (RSK) region from 1972 to 2020, (ii) identifying key mechanisms of change, and (iii) defining the main driving forces behind the spatial transformation patterns. To this end, we processed data of the Landsat free archive, historical grayscale Corona images, and nighttime lights datasets on Google Earth Engine (GEE) using machine learning classifiers and LandTrendr spectral-temporal segmentation algorithms. With an overall accuracy (OA) ranging from 88-95%, the results revealed that during the study period the RSK region experienced a 473% growth of horizontal built-up reflected in an area increase from 63.4 km2 to 299.9 km2. The main changes occurred along the Kenitra-Rabat-Temara axis and in central cities connected to the main road network. The horizontal expansion of large and medium-sized cities led to the formation of a Rural-Urban Interface (RUI) on the outskirts. The urban sprawl of some cities has affected the surrounding rural lands within the RUI. Environmental, social, economic, and political forces have interacted in shaping the changes in rural-urban landscapes.

Domestic practices for accessing water and rural-urban transformations: example of emerging urban centres in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The transition from rural to urban spurred by population growth and housing densification has implications for the planning of service provisions, not least domestic water supplies. The objective of this paper is to document the status of domestic water access and examine existing options for domestic water provision along the rural–urban transition. The study employs a combination of research methods in both data collection and analysis. Given the dual character (rural–urban) of the emerging urban centres, there is limited distinction in the domestic water services provided since they tend to be in between the two, in a state of transition.

Rurbanity: a concept for the interdisciplinary study of rural–urban transformation

Along with climate change, population growth, and overexploitation of natural resources, urbanisation is among the major global challenges of our time. It is a nexus where many of the world’s grand challenges intersect, and thus key to sustainable development. The widespread understanding of urbanisation as a successive and unidirectional transformation of landscapes and societies from a rural to an urban state is increasingly questioned. Examples from around the globe show that ‘the rural’ and ‘the urban’ are not only highly interdependent, but actually coexist and often merge in the same space or livelihood strategy. Our concept of rurbanity provides an integrated theoretical framework which overcomes the rural–urban divide and can be operationalised for empirical research. Rurbanity is the next stringent step following the gradual widening of previous concepts from urban-centred approaches through the emphasis on urban peripheries to attempts of abolishing any distinction of a rural environment and acknowledging the highly dynamic nature of globalising urbanisation. Building on complex systems theory and assemblage thinking, our concept explores complementary aspects of the distinct epistemic worldviews dominating the natural and social sciences. Within this theoretical frame, we derive four analytical dimensions as entry points for empirical research: Endowments and Place, Flows and Connectivity, Institutions and Behaviour, and Lifestyles and Livelihoods. Two examples illustrate how these dimensions apply, interact, and together lead to a comprehensive, insightful understanding of rurban phenomena. Such understanding can be an effective starting point for assessing potential contributions of rurbanity to long-term global sustainability.

Can the Belt and Road Initiative Promote the Industrialization of Developing Countries?

While industrialization has profound implications for human well-being, the industrialization of developing countries faces multiple challenges today. Based on the theoretical framework of development economics, this article discusses how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a new model of international development cooperation can complement and improve the traditional model and analyzes how the new model can promote the industrialization of developing countries. The findings show that BRI has improved the traditional international development cooperation model in terms of emphasizing investment in developing countries, infrastructure construction, the principles of achieving shared growth through consultation and collaboration, the role of the government, and systematic and open development cooperation. At the same time, the BRI can facilitate the industrialization of developing countries by improving agricultural productivity, building infrastructure, capital formation, trade promotion, rural–urban transformation, and upgrading technology and knowledge. However, the facilitation effect depends on how developing countries formulate industrialization strategies keeping in perspective their national conditions and development needs and the international economic environment.

Special Issue “Rural–Urban Transformation of Asian Megacities from a Social-Ecological Systems Perspective”

In 2021, 56% of the global population lived in cities, and by 2050 the ratio of urban-to-rural population is expected to reach 67% [...]

Image Analysis of Spatial Differentiation Characteristics of Rural Areas Based on GIS Statistical Analysis

In rural geographic studies, the topic of multi-functions of rural regions has been gaining growing interest. Geographic areas with a complicated arrangement of activities of society and nature and the regional landscape noticeably articulate spatial differentiations. The image analysis and classification study of the spatial differentiation characteristics and patterns of rural regions are the basis of efficient governance and arrangements of village space, which play leading roles in rural revitalization and new-type urbanization policy. With rapid urban–rural transformation, rural development faces challenges under the progressive drive of accurate urban–rural integration development. Therefore, this paper proposes a spatial differentiation model based on a sociophysical information system and geographic information system, which is used to study rural development planning and land classification. The data are taken from the dataset of ucsd for analyzing the rural geographical data. The gis is a computer-aided system for analyzing, acquiring, displaying, and storing rural geographic information. This article discusses several noteworthy features of rural settlement distribution using a gis-based information processing approach and image analysis.

Vegetation Cover Dynamics in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco

Since the 1990s, Morocco’s agriculture has been characterized by the co-existence and transformation of both modern and traditional smallholder systems. In the Atlas Mountains, the effects of rural–urban transformation have led to intensified irrigated agriculture in some agricultural areas, while others were abandoned. To better understand these effects, this study aimed at (1) analyzing the land use and land cover (LULC) changes, (2) assessing the structure and dynamics of vegetation, and (3) comparing a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification approach with a seasonal rules-based approach. We, therefore, employed a semi-automatic supervised classification of LULC using Landsat data from the 1990s to the 2020s to distinguish between Open Canopy Vegetation, Bareland, Forest, and Water. Overall accuracies achieved ranged from 88% to 90% in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. SVM results indicated the share of Bareland as >80% of the landscape in all periods. With the seasonal rules-based approach, 10% less Bareland was detected than with the SVM approach. Our findings indicate the limitation of detecting vegetation reflectance in semi-arid mountainous regions such as that prevailing in Morocco using a single machine learning method.

Reconstructing Rural Settlements Based on Structural Equation Modeling—Taking Hongshanyao Town of Jinchang City as an Example

Rapid urbanization has driven great changes in China’s rural areas. In order to adapt to the changes in the internal elements and external regulation of the countryside, rural reconfiguration, i.e., to make rural development more adaptable to the spatial pattern of social development through optimal allocation and effective management, can achieve structural optimization and functional improvement within the rural territorial system. This study selects Hongshanyao Town of Jinchang City as the study area, constructs a structural equation model and an adaptability evaluation system to investigate the suitability of rural settlement layout, and constructs a differentiated and suitable rural settlement reconstruction model for different villages based on meeting farmers’ wishes, to intending to serve the current major national strategic needs and solve the real dilemmas faced by rural areas in the process of urban-rural transformation and development. The corresponding strategies are proposed, which provide a theoretical basis for future village development and spatial reconfiguration practices in rural areas, and are of great significance for realizing rural revitalization as well as village planning and construction.

Identifying and tracking the urban–rural fringe evolution in the urban–rural transformation period: Evidence from a rapidly urbanized rust belt city in China

Urban–rural fringe, the frontier space for urban–rural linkage and the ecological barrier for urban–rural integration, is the most intensive area of man–land conflicts. Its scientific identification and dynamic monitoring are of great significance for balancing urban and rural development and spatial governance in the new era of China. However, existing demarcation methods are often limited to territorial uniqueness and not conducive to replication and reconstruction, making it difficult to determine the boundary accurately and objectively, let alone carry out the longitudinal comparison of the identification results. In this context, this research introduced the iterative unsupervised classification method and central gravitational agglomeration, combined with the land use information entropy model, to realize the urban–rural fringe identification of the long-time series of low-density development-type cities. Changchun city as a typical rust belt city in Northeast China was chosen as an example to identify and track the development pattern of its urban–rural fringe from 1990 to 2020. Meanwhile, time-series land use transfer and landscape analyses were applied to comparatively measure the spatial variations of stable, expanded, and reduced urban–rural fringes. The results indicated that Changchun has undergone significant peri-urbanization over the past 30 years. The urban–rural fringe primarily presented a significant ring-belt shape with continuous outreach features which could be described as “inner circle subtraction, internal hollow filling, leaping expansion, and extension spreading” types of evolution. The land use structure was mainly manifested by an obvious ecological degradation and the internal conversion in stable urban–rural fringe was particularly prominent. As the result of uninterruptedly exogenous and endogenous conflicts, the spatial arrangements were increasingly fragmented, complex, and heterogeneous, whereas these phenomena were slightly alleviated during 2015–2020, especially in stable and expanded urban–rural fringes. These findings intend to assist in the regeneration of rust belt cities and provide a reference for the new urban–rural planning system.

Impact of off-farm employment on cooking fuel choices: Implications for rural-urban transformation in advancing sustainable energy transformation

Off-farm employment is a prominent manifestation of rural-urban transformation in developing countries, and it theoretically plays a critical role in rural sustainable energy transformation. Exploiting the nationally representative household-level panel data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study employs a multi-dimensional fixed-effects (MDFE) model, an inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) technique and a propensity score matching (PSM) approach to investigate the impact of off-farm employment on cooking fuel choices. The results show that off-farm employment exerts a positive and significant impact on the probability of adopting clean fuels for cooking, with specific reductions in biomass and coal and increases in electricity and gas. Furthermore, this effect is mainly realized by reducing the amount of available labor, the number of family meals, and increasing kitchen equipment purchases. However, the relationship between off-farm employment and cooking fuel choices varies considerably across the region, village and household groups. Off-farm employment mainly benefits the eastern, central and western regions of China, villages in plain areas, with brick-concrete houses and ethnic Han Chinese, households with children or the elderly, with poor health and more females, while it is less beneficial for others. The study highlights the important policy implications of rural-urban transition for sustainable energy transition through the creation of off-farm jobs.