Spatiotemporal Evolution of 3D Spatial Compactness in High-Speed Railway Station Areas: A Case Study of Chengdu-Chongqing North–South Line Stations (2015–2025)

As a pivotal node in urban spatial restructuring, the evolution of three-dimensional (3D) compactness in high-speed rail station areas is crucial for sustainable development. However, the existing research predominantly focuses on two-dimensional forms and lacks dynamic analysis and models that are adaptable to complex terrains. This study develops an enhanced 3D gravitational model that integrates satellite imagery and Gaode building data to quantify the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and carry out multidimensional classification of the compactness across 16 stations in the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration (2015–2025), with driving factors being identified through correlation and regression analyses. The key findings reveal the following: (1) The mean compactness increased by 22.41%, exhibiting nonlinear heterogeneity characterized by high initial values with low growth rates versus low initial values with high growth rates. Spatially, the southern line evolved from a dual-core pattern at the terminals to multigradient development , while the northern line maintained stable growth despite gradient discontinuities. These spatial differentiations resulted from synergistic effects of urban sizes (station hierarchy), terrain features, administrative divisions, and the line affiliation. (2) The built-up land area (under equal study conditions) and vertical development emerged as key drivers, with the building height diversity demonstrating dual spatial effects (enhancing both compactness and aesthetic richness). Complex terrain characteristics were found to promote clustered urban land use and compact efficiency during initial development phases. This study proposes a planning framework that integrates morphology-adaptive zoning control , ecology-responsive compactness principles , and urban–rural integrated settlement patterns , providing quantitative tools for mountainous station development. These findings offer theoretical and practical support for achieving urban sustainability goals and meeting the 3D compactness and transit-oriented development requirements in territorial spatial planning.