Urban structure transformation of Lhasa City after the peaceful liberation and democratic reform of Tibet

In Tibet, Buddhism coupled with its theocratic history has given its cities and urban areas unique forms and structures. As the political, religious, and economic center of Tibet, Lhasa City has a special urban form and has experienced typical urban transformation processes for a thousand years. The city has been experiencing significant urban structure transformation that has accompanied the socio-economic development in recent decades since the peaceful liberation and democratic reform of Tibet during the 1950 s. Hence, this study presents the time-series of urban structure changes in Lhasa City for the purpose of understanding the characteristics and mechanisms of transformation under the republican political system. First, the study illustrates the urban socio-economic changes of Lhasa City beginning in the 1950 s via statistical data analysis. We then divide the urban development into several stages. Subsequently, we identify the transformation characteristics of urban structure by investigating urban growth, street structure, land-use, and religious facilities via maps of the city from every development stage. This paper ultimately discusses the regulation of city transformation. This study clarifies several probable issues facing Tibetan cities and proposes suggestions for future urban development of Tibetan cities.

Analysis of Urban Agglomeration Network Structure Based on Baidu Migration Data: A Case Study of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Urban Agglomeration

The inter-city linkage heat data provided by Baidu Migration is employed as a characterization of inter-city linkages in order to facilitate the study of the network linkage characteristics and hierarchical structure of urban agglomeration in the Greater Bay Area through the use of social network analysis method.This is the inaugural application of big data based on location services in the study of urban agglomeration network structure,which represents a novel research perspective on this topic.The study reveals that the density of network linkages in the Greater Bay Area urban agglomeration has reached 100%,indicating a mature network-like spatial structure.This structure has given rise to three distinct communities:Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou,Guangzhou-Foshan-Zhaoqing,and Zhuhai-Zhongshan-Jiangmen.Additionally,cities within the Greater Bay Area urban agglomeration play different roles,suggesting that varying development strategies may be necessary to achieve staggered development.The study demonstrates that large datasets represented by LBS can offer novel insights and methodologies for the examination of urban agglomeration network structures,contingent on the appropriate mining and processing of the data.

The Study on the Evolution of Urban Spatial Structure in Zhuhai City Based on Spatial Syntax

With the deepening of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area strategy and the accelerated integration and development of the east and west sides of the Pearl River Estuary,Zhuhai’s hub position is becoming more and more prominent.The city of Zhuhai has a dense water network and is divided into two urban areas,the east and the west,under the influence of the Mordor Gate waterway.Based on the theory of spatial syntax,this paper carries out an analytical study on the urban spatial structure of Zhuhai,identifies the distribution characteristics of urban POIs,and provides theoretical support for the urban development of Zhuhai.

Influencing Factors for Formation of Urban and Rural Spatial Structure in Metropolis Fringe Area——Taking Shuangliu County of Chengdu in China as a Case

With rapid urbanization process, the pace of urban sprawl has been quickened and most metropolises have ex-perienced expansions in leaps and bounds in suburbanization, which has greatly changed the urban and rural spatial struc-ture of the metropolis fringe area. In this paper, Shuangliu County is taken as a case, since it is a typical fringe area of Chengdu Metropolis. Based on Landsat TM images of Chengdu City and Shuangliu County obtained in 1985, 2000 and 2004, characteristics of urban and rural spatial structure in Shuangliu County were analyzed, such as core-periphery spa-tial structure and some obvious integration trends. Then the influencing factors for the formation of urban and rural spatial structure were identified, including some natural, social, economic and political factors. According to the discussion of this paper, Shuangliu County is undergoing a key transition and reform period. Its formation of urban and rural spatial structure was affected not only by such common factors as the location, natural background, industrial transition, migra-tion, etc., but also by some unique factors such as city planning and policy guidance, which played an important role in accelerating its uneven spatial structure. The understanding of the role of the influencing factors would be useful for car-rying out spatial management and development planning of metropolis fringe area.

EVOLVEMENT OF URBAN SPATIAL STRUCTURE AND MAIN DRIVES IN WUXI, CHINA

With the quick development of urbanization, urban expansion has been paid more and more attention to by researchers from westem countries and China. Here Wuxi City of China is selected as a case study. Located in the core-area of Changjiang （Yangtze） River Delta, as the sources of Chinese township enterprise, Wu culture, and national industry, Wuxi has experienced great change in the urban spatial structure, especially in the land use structure, and urban shape and scale. The ratio of industrial land was about one-third of the construction land in 2003. Residential and public infrastructure land had decreased a little from 1956 to 2003, but it remains to be the main construction land at present. Green land has increased at the highest speed due to the demand of sustainable development. After the reform and opening to the outside world, this kind of evolvement of urban spatial expansion is helpful for sustainable development. Economic development, transportation, and administrative planning are the main reasons for these changes. During different periods, the main drives are different. Economic development is the basic factor that influences urban expansion. Transportation influences urban evolvement in different times, but now the importance is not as great as 30 years ago, because administrative force plays an important function in urban planning of China and influences urban evolvement.

URBAN REGIONAL STRUCTURES TRANSFORMATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: CASE STUDY OF NANJING MEGALOPOLIS

s: Since 1978, many changes have happened on the background of urban regional structure in China, such as the economy system restructuring, the social transforming including the population flow accelerating and social demand diversifying and individualizing, the political and economic systems reforms, the rise of the real estate market and the changing relationship between human and nature. From the macroscopic view, these changes make the national urban system to be a newer pattern with a widening gap among the cities in spite of the rising of the cities as a whole. At the same, the urban land use structures are changing with both the trends of intensification and diversification, and the trends of the regional diversification and the economic integration. Besides, urban structures with multiple centers are emerging in several metropolitan areas in China. These changes and trends mentioned above are confirmed by a case study of Nanjing City, a growing metropolitan area in east China. The case study also points out some problems in urban regional structure reforming, especially the poor social and ecological considerations. We should pay more attention to some ideas like balance of intensification and decentralization, development of suburban centers and a reasonable mixing of the functional activities to develop a sustainable urban regional structure.

Study on the Characteristics and Driving Forces of Changes of the Urban Land-Use Structure in Wuhan in 1990s

On the basis of the information entropy and equilibrium degree of urban land-use spatial structure, the paper analyzes the characteristics and rules of urban land-use spatial structure changes in Wuhan in 1990s, in which the types of land-use are shrinking and urban land-use changes are disequilibria. With PCA and GRA employed, the driving forces have also been analyzed. The driving force of city welfare and social structure, the towing force of city industrial structure transition, and the pressing force of city construction and reconstruction are main momentum factors. Moreover, the latter forces are more significant.

Study on urban spatial structure and morphology of Guangzhou-Foshan metropolitan coordinating region compared with Randstad,Netherlands

In recent years,regional integration of Chinese cities has gradually developed.Meanwhile,metropolitan areas and urban agglomerations have taken shape.On the one hand,the development of the metropolitan area has brought about urban spatial expansion,as well as population and economic growth.On the other hand,it has led to problems such as the urban sprawl and suburbanization,increasing pressure on environmental resources,and the decline of urban central areas.Under this background,the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Plan Outline proposes to accelerate the integration of Guangzhou-Foshan(Guang Fo)Metropolitan Coordinating Region(MCR),and to construct a networked space pattern driven by urban poles and shafts.Based on the academic research of Metropolitan Coordinating Region(MCR),as well as the theory of urban spatial structure and morphology,this study focus on urban spatial patterns and elements in different scales,from two individual cites(Guangzhou and Foshan),Guang Fo MCR,to Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao(GHM)Greater Bay Area.With GIS and the mapping method,the spatial elements such as green space,water system,built-up area,road network,rail transit network and main pivot points of the Guang Fo MCR are classified,laid out individually and again overlaid in order to figure out the relationship of these elements.At the same time,through the comparative case study of the Randstad MCR in the Netherlands,the enlightenment of solving the development problem of MCR is hopefully to be obtained.As delta cities,the Guang Fo MCR is cut by the multi-channel water network,while the urban built-up area is concentrated in the middle of the MCR and spread out along the traffic corridor to the suburban district.The traffic structure of the Guang Fo MCR is characterized by the outward radiation of the central area of Guangzhou and Foshan.Simultaneously,the traffic connection between Guangzhou and Foshan is relatively weak.Compared with the polycentric spatial structure,which is called Decentralized Compact pattern of Randstad MCR,the Guang Fo MCR presents a city form with little hierarchy but homogeneity,and its urban space is disorderly spread.The bluegreen system of water and vegetation is fragmented because of the urban invasion in Guang Fo MCR,while the green heart in central Randstad is well preserved.As a result,it is well advised to explore a more resilient and ecological urban development in Guang Fo MCR.

STUDY ON THE OPTIMUM PATTERN OF DAQIN G URBAN SPATIAL STRUCTURE

Daqing is a mining city that was set up on wetland by exploiting and processing petroleum.This paper points out that net-group urban system is the optimization mode for Daqin g urban spatial structure through an alyzing and appraising the present situation,c haracteristics,advantages and dis advantages of Daqing spatial structure.And the best way of optimizing Daqing urban spatial structure is to adopt sustainable development strategy,establish th e coordinated grade structure of urban system,con struct developed towns net system,p refect the function structure of the towns at all levels,make full use of resources an d strengthen environmental protection.Spatial structure of Daqing must be according-ly adjusted in order to adapt to the tr ansformation of future economy types and functions.Based on the foundation of keep-ing net group,the development shoul d be from disperse to moderate centra lization in order to give prominence to the multi-function of the central city.Constr ucting ruralizing city should be the future goal of Daqing City.

Immigrant Urban Housing and Socio-spatial Structure and Its Formation Mechanism:A Case Study of Shenzhen

Urban housing and socio-spatial attribute indicators are selected to identify housing and socio-spatial structure and its formation mechanism of Shenzhen.The following are the main conclusions.①Principal factors influencing the social area of Shenzhen include housing facilities,highly educated immigrants,migrant population,family structure,housing area and economic income level.②The socio-spatial structure which composed by six types of social areas shows obvious differentiation based on population mobility,housing,educational level and economic income level,forming a typical dual pattern of "urban society_-migrant worker society".③The formation of socio-spatial structure in Shenzhen results from natural conditions,economic development and institutional factors like the establishment of special economic zone,land system reform and urban planning.

Analysis on the Expenditure Structures of Domestic Tourism of Urban Residents Nowadays in China

Tourism has been one of the largest industries in China. At present the townsmen＇s travel expenditure has been a bit more than countrymen＇s. It has become one of the most popular topics in the tourism research literature. So based on the data of past years, this paper tries to analyze the expenditure structures of domestic tourism of urban residents in China.

Quantitative Analysis of the Investment in Chinese Urban Infrastructure

The proper amount, the suitable structure and the tentative sources of urban infrastructure investment are the main focuses of urban policy makers. Firstly the amount of urban infrastructure investment is combinatory forecasted based on historical statistic databases of China. Then the interrelationship of urban infrastructure investment with GNP and the whole society investment in fixed assets are analyzed to work out quantitative coherent relationship. Finally the paper analyses the present and the future development trends of investment structure and capital resource respectively.

Look from the empty nester problem of urban and rural dual structure of society

More and more empty nest has become a social problem that couldn＇t ignore. The problem of empty nester is the essence of urban and rural dual structure social changing. The emergence of empty-nesters is a serious problem in China＇s social development process, with the aging of the population increasing, urban-rural divide more and more obvious. The condition of the human society has gradually formed the rural and the division of labor and the dual structure of the city. This paper expounds the connotation, significance and characteristics of empty nest elderly, analyzes on the problems existing in current urban and rural society and the problem of empty nest elderly in the new situation puts forward the suggestions and countermeasures.

Socioeconomic impact of urban redevelopment in inner city of Ningbo

Since market-oriented economy reform, China has experienced significant changes in urban landscapes and the internal structure of cities. Housing marketization provides an opportunity for households to choose their residences. However, not all households benefit equally from residential relocation. Residential relocation in urban China has relatively strong association with the household’s position within the spectrum from state redistribution to market reward than with life cycles and consequent adjustment of housing demand, which are the primary reasons for residential mobility in a mature market. In this research we focused on social aspects, mainly relating to the impact of urban redevelopment in inner city of Ningbo and the resultant potential housing problem. This research is based on a questionnaire survey that was conducted in three neighborhoods redeveloped at different time periods in the past fifteen years. The findings suggest that new strategy of redevelopment of the integrated envi-ronment of the old city while still improving the living condition for its residents can be heard due to the efforts of many people at various positions. Yet, many things need to be done to change people’s ideas: information and education through newspapers, academic discussions through academic journals, conferences, and reports to decision makers.

The corridor effect of metropolitan spatialextension and optimization of landscape structure—the case of Beijing

Because of the existence of gradient field of the urban center and the corridor effect. underthe drive of going merely after economic benefit, the city intrinsically has the trend of massive growth, and this will seriously destroy the urban reasonable landscape structure and the ecological equilibrium.By applying the theory of corridor effect. this paper studies the interactive process between artificialcorridors and natural corridors. At the same time, by studying the Beijing's spatial extension pattern in central urban area during different periods. this paper analyses the corridors extension volume.extension velocity and variant tendency of urban landscape on & directions. Moreover. this paperbrings forward the idea of incorporating the systen of natural corridors into the Beijing'smetropolitan planning, namely to form a star-shaped scattering-group pattern in which artificialcorridors and natural corridors are alternately distributed in order to effectively prevent built-up areafrom massive growth .

Simulation Analysis on Spatial Pattern of Urban Population in Shenyang City,China in Late 20th Century

The spatial distribution of urban population can reflect significantly urban functions and development status. Shenyang, as a typical old industrial city in China, has experienced considerable changes in spatial distribution of population in the process of urban transformation, resulting in the change of urban spatial structure. Based on the sub-district data of Chinese national population censuses in 1982, 1990 and 2000, this study simulates the evolution pattern of spatial distribution of urban population in Shenyang City. Using statistical method and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA), we found that the population distribution, on the whole, has presented a balanced and decentralized trend since the 1980s, which characterizes with Chinese suburbanization. Furthermore, based on the investigation of the pattern of population distribution, it is concluded that the negative exponential model fitted the distribution best, and population concentration in the inner suburb kept increasing gradually, meanwhile, the spatial structure of population distribution has presented a polycentric feature since the 1980s. The parameters of the model show that population in the urban core concentrate significantly all the time. The increase of population in the inner suburb influences the population distribution pattern more and more importantly, but the concentration intensity of population cores in inner suburb is still low.

Suburbanization and Subcentering of Population in Beijing Metropolitan Area:A Nonparametric Analysis

This study focuses on the suburbanization and subcentering of population and examines the nature of spatial restructuring in terms of the population distribution in the Beijing metropolitan area.Instead of the classic density function approach,we employ the nonparametric analysis to characterize the spatial pattern of population densities in the Beijing metropolitan area and identify the suburban subcenters.Our findings suggest that the population has spread with rapid urban growth in the Beijing metropolitan area,and the compact urban form has been replaced by a more dispersed polycentric spatial distribution.However,compared with the decentralization of western cities,the spatial extent of the decentralization of population in the Beijing metropolitan area is quite limited.The rapid growth of population in the near suburbs has expedited the sprawl of the central city,with a larger central agglomeration of population dominating the metropolitan area.In this sense,the spatial pattern of the Beijing metropolitan area is still characterized by the continuous compactness.However,our findings do provide the evidence that the city has been turning to a polycentric structure.We find significant population subcenters have emerged in the suburbs of Beijing since the 1980s.But the polycentricity emerged in the Beijing metropolitan area is very different by nature from that observed in Western cities.The subcenters emerged are adherent to the development scheme planned for the city,so it can be referred to as the so called 'planned polycentricity'.

Study on Dynamic Mechanism of Urban Expansion: A Case Study of Shandong Province

This paper aims at studying the dynamic mechanism of urban expansion and its role. Based on the economic model of urban spatial structure and applying panel data in Shandong Province, the paper concludes. Economic growth and transition of economic structure have played the most powerful role in urban expansion. An increase in population helps the core to extend. Increasing agricultural productivity can provide a countervailing force. An increase in transportation costs will limit urban expan- sion. An increase in the marginal productivity of land in housing production will increase urban expansion. Fiscal and taxation policies also have encouraged the extensive shift of cultivated land into build-up area. This paper also suggests that if high rate increasing GDP is needed, the urban core will continue to expand. The government should take measures to improve the rapid growth of the city.

Evaluating Structural and Temporal Factors Affecting Supply of Ecosystem Benefits in a University Urban Environment in South Carolina, USA

Sustainable urban forest management is still an evolving concept, particularly as it pertains to a sustainable supply of ecosystem benefits and management planning. Urban forestry maintains a greater human dimension component than traditional timber-oriented rural forestry because urban trees grow in city centers and neighborhoods, supplying critical ecosystem benefits to the population centers. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship of urban forest stand structure and its temporal dynamics with the sustainable supply of ecosystem benefits in university environments. Individual tree data were collected from a completed inventory, while the i-Tree Eco model was used to generate ecosystem benefits data from the Clemson urban forest. The cumulative-benefits supply curve had an inverted J-shaped curve, but the average supply curve had a negative slope against the species richness. Likewise, individual tree variables total height, DBH, leaf area, and crown height strongly correlated with the total ecosystem services supply. Based on the temporal supply trends, the study area trees were broadly segmented into three groups: establishment, growth, and legacy, with 65%, 31%, and 4% frequency distribution, respectively. Urban forest managers need to identify forest management goals and preferred ecosystem benefits among the urban communities to guide the required forest structure and dynamics to ensure a sustainable and functioning urban forest.