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Observing the compact trend of urban expansion patterns in global 33 megacities during 2000–2020

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Abstract

Megacities serve as global centers for economic, cultural, and high-tech industries. The structural features and population agglomerations are typical traits of urbanization, yet little is known about the morphological features and expansion patterns of megacities worldwide. Here we examined the spatiotemporal variations of urban land in megalopolises from 2000 to 2020 using the Urban Expansion Intensity Differentiation Index. The fractal features and expansion patterns of megacities were analyzed using the Area-Radius Multidimensional Scaling Model. Urban land use efficiency was then evaluated based on the linear relationship between urban land area and population. We found that Southeast Asia and China were the hotspots of urban expansion in megacities from 2000 to 2020, with urban land areas expanding by 3148.32 km2 and 5996.26 km2, respectively. The morphological features and expansion patterns of megacities exhibited a growing trend towards intensification and compactness, with the average radial dimension increasing from 1.54 to 1.56. The annual decrease in fractal dimensions indicated the integration of inner urban areas. North America and Europe megacities showed a low urban land use efficiency, with a ratio of urban land area to population ranging from 0.89 to 4.11 in 2020. Conversely, South Asia and Africa megacities exhibited a high urban land use efficiency, with the ratios between 0.23 and 0.87. Our results provide information for promoting efficient urban land utilization and sustainable cities. It is proposed to control the scale of urban expansion and to promote balanced development between inner and outer urban areas for achieving resilient and sustainable urban development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Bei**g, 100101, China

    Yali Hou, Wenhui Kuang & Yinyin Dou

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100049, China

    Yali Hou

Authors
  1. Yali Hou
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  2. Wenhui Kuang
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  3. Yinyin Dou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yinyin Dou.

Additional information

Foundation: The Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.XDA20040403, No.XDA23100201

Author: Hou Yali (1995–), Master Candidate, specialized in remote sensing of urban. E-mail: houyl.19s@igsnrr.ac.cn

This paper is initially published in Acta Geographica Sinica (Chinese edition), 2022, 77(11): 2687–2702.

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Hou, Y., Kuang, W. & Dou, Y. Observing the compact trend of urban expansion patterns in global 33 megacities during 2000–2020. J. Geogr. Sci. 33, 2359–2376 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-023-2180-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-023-2180-0

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