Evolution Process of Urban Spatial Pattern in Hubei Province Based on DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data

This paper intends to investigate the urban spatial patterns of Hubei Province and its evolution from three different perspectives: urban nodes, urban connections and urban clusters. The research adopts nighttime light imagery of cities in Hubei Province, the viewpoint of ′point-axis-area′ in the ′point-axis system′ theory, and employs light index model, gravity model and social network analysis. The findings are as follows: 1) In terms of urban nodes, the urbanization process of Hubei has been carried out mainly on the basis of external expansion rather than internal increasing. The polarization trend of urban connection network is strengthening. 2) As for urban connections, the estimation of urban connections using light index model is capable of containing various actual flow, and the connections are getting increasingly closer. 3) In regard to urban groups, seven urban groups of varying sizes have formed. On that basis, three stable and relatively independent urban groups as the centers, namely Wuchang, Yichang and Xiangyang emerge as well. But the structures of ′Wuhan Metropolitan Area′, ′Yichang-Jingzhou-Jingmen City Group′ and ′Xiangyang-Shiyen-Suizhou City Group′, which are defined by local development strategy in Hubei Province, are different from the above three urban groups.

A Study on Spatial Distribution of Commercial Housing Prices in Xiangtan City

ArcGIS technology is used to study the spatial pattern of housing prices in Xiangtan City,and it is found that the spatial pattern of housing prices shows primary and secondary two-center rings. In Hedong Jianshe Road and near Hexi Jijianying,there are primary and secondary polar nuclei,respectively; the secondary housing price area is located near the east-west and south-north trunk road in the urban area; there are significant regional differences in housing price changes( fastest reduction of prices in the Hedong main center-southwest direction; slow reduction of prices in the main center-northwest,southeast direction; slowest reduction of prices in the main center-northeast direction). In Hexi sub-center,except slow reduction of prices in the Xiangjiang River direction,the prices decline rapidly in other directions. The housing prices exhibit an obvious overall decreasing trend from primary and secondary centers to the suburbs,but there are also exceptions. On this basis,this paper analyzes the driving factors for spatial pattern of housing prices in Xiangtan City,and finds that the spatial pattern of housing prices is mainly influenced by commercial centers,residential environmental conditions,traffic conditions,and urban land layout differences.