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Detection of City Integration Processes in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas Based on Remote Sensing Imagery

Author

Listed:
  • Zihao Zheng

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy)

  • Zhifeng Wu

    (School of Geographical Sciences and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China)

  • Yingbiao Chen

    (School of Geographical Sciences and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Zhiwei Yang

    (School of Geographical Sciences and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Francesco Marinello

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

Since China’s reform and development commenced, in the context of rapid urbanization and coordinated regional development, Chinese cities with a close geographic proximity and social ties have gradually formed an integrated city development model. As a new phenomenon in China’s urbanization process, existing research on China’s integrated cities mainly focuses on typical case studies, and most research has been limited to literature reviews and theoretical analyses. The growing application of remote sensing technology in urbanization research in recent years has provided new opportunities for the analysis of city integration. Therefore, based on multi-spectral Landsat-8 and nighttime light images (SNPP/VIIRS, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Platform/Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite), this paper selects four of the most representative integrated cities with different backgrounds in China to analyze the land-use conversion, plot light fluctuation, and light gravity center shift in the boundary zone between cities. The results show that (1) Guangfo has the highest level of integration and urban expansion is mainly concentrated in the south-central part of the boundary area; (2) Guanshen’s level of integration is second to Guangfo’s and is mainly concentrated in the west; (3) HuSu’s integration is still in the initial stage and its increase in light intensity lags behind the expansion of building land during the study period; (4) although the light intensity and building land area increased significantly during the study period in Xixian, the overall development level of Xixian still lagged behind coastal cities due to the restriction of its geographical location. Our application results expand the data sources for integrated city research and the obtained results can potentially support decision-making and planning in the process of urban development.

Suggested Citation

  • Zihao Zheng & Zhifeng Wu & Yingbiao Chen & Zhiwei Yang & Francesco Marinello, 2020. "Detection of City Integration Processes in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas Based on Remote Sensing Imagery," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:10:p:378-:d:424797
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rizwan Muhammad & Wenyin Zhang & Zaheer Abbas & Feng Guo & Luc Gwiazdzinski, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Change Analysis and Prediction of Future Land Use and Land Cover Changes Using QGIS MOLUSCE Plugin and Remote Sensing Big Data: A Case Study of Linyi, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-24, March.

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