Toward a better understanding of urban sprawl: Linking spatial metrics and landscape networks dynamics

Abstract

Although many studies have been made on urban land use change, most of them focus on a specific aspect (e.g., landscape or policy) with fewer considerations of spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl. In this study, we explored the urban sprawl process in Beijing over the past three decades (1984–2013) on an annual basis by linking spatial metrics and landscape networks to trace the dynamics of urban patches. First, we identified six main growth periods of urban expansion with different patterns, through a relatively comprehensive change analysis of different landscape matrix. Second, we used the urban landscape network to explain the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban patches, with a linkage to policies (or planning) behind each hotspot of urban expansion. We found the major trajectory of urban growth in Beijing started from the northern and southern parts of the central built-up region to its southeast side, which is different from the planned two axes (i.e. horizontal and vertical) along the core area of the city. Our results indicated that urban expansion is highly uneven both in time and space, which relies on more satellite observations for a better understanding of this process. Also, the identified urban growth periods and patterns are valuable to the development of urban sprawl model.