Research

16 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rethinking the Contribution of Land Element to Urban Economic Growth: Evidence from 30 Provinces in China

by Guoliang Xu, Xiaonan Yin, Guangdong Wu and Ning Gao

Land 2022, 11(6), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060801 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1462

In China, disputes regarding the benefits and drawbacks of land finance have been heated, but the role of land in urban economic growth has received insufficient attention, particularly on a macro scale. This research used the Cobb–Douglas production function model to investigate the [...] Read more.

In China, disputes regarding the benefits and drawbacks of land finance have been heated, but the role of land in urban economic growth has received insufficient attention, particularly on a macro scale. This research used the Cobb–Douglas production function model to investigate the role of land in urban economic growth. Then, we conducted an empirical test using panel data from 30 provinces from 2000 to 2019, with the goal of revealing the role of land in urban growth and spatio-temporal inequalities in China. Furthermore, to find the spatial steady-state level of land contributions, σ convergence, absolute β convergence, and condition β convergence tests were applied. The results show that: (1) China’s urban economic development was influenced by the combined element of land, capital, and labor; (2) the contribution of land to China’s urban economy experienced a turning point during the “12th Five-Year Plan”; (3) the spatio-temporal convergence of the contribution of land showed convergence in the east but nonconvergence in the central and western regions; and (4) β convergence demonstrated convergence in eastern, central, and western China. Given the complex and turbulent international political and economic context, the Chinese government should think about how to foster continuous energy by supporting land-supply policies that are adapted to local needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

21 pages, 7476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Land Monetization-Driven Land Use Orientations: An Insight from Land Lease Prices in Addis Ababa

by Amanuel Weldegebriel, Engdawork Assefa, Meron Tekalign and Anton Van Rompaey

Land 2022, 11(6), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060796 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4098

Abstract

Urban land leasing is a land monetization strategy that was introduced in 1991 by the contemporary regime. Since then, urban center slum demolitions and their replacement by high-end commercial buildings and urban peripheral low-cost residential condominium expansions have been common occurrences in Addis [...] Read more.

Urban land leasing is a land monetization strategy that was introduced in 1991 by the contemporary regime. Since then, urban center slum demolitions and their replacement by high-end commercial buildings and urban peripheral low-cost residential condominium expansions have been common occurrences in Addis Ababa. Land rentiers quote extreme land prices at the city center and relatively low prices towards the periphery. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that urban land supply and land prices are determinant factors for urban land use orientations, which have pushed low-end groups towards the periphery. Therefore, based on a lens of land rent theory, 1524 land lease prices and 1038 randomly selected land parcels using Google Earth were used to evaluate locational trends in land prices and land use orientations, respectively. This study revealed that there are significant variabilities between government benchmark land prices and actual quoted land prices. Because of the high rent gaps at the city center, significant land price quotations were recorded, and this overlaps with the urban center slum demolitions and slum resident resettlements at low-cost residential condominiums in the urban periphery. In the first 5 km from the urban economic center, land prices show a declining trend towards the periphery. The central business district is dominated by slums partially under demolition and high-end commercial buildings, while the periphery is dominated by high-rise low-cost residential condominiums. Therefore, the distance from the city center was found to be an explanatory factor of urban land prices. The contributions of other urban utilities to land prices, such as access to transportation routes, could be a future research area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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19 pages, 36677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Retail Network Spatial Matching and Urban Planning Policy Implications: The Case of Beijing, China

by Saisai Wu, Lang Qin, Chen Shen, Xiangyang Zhou and Jianzhai Wu

Land 2022, 11(5), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050694 - 06 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1974

Abstract

Food is the core of urban daily life and socio-economic activities but is rarely the focus of urban planning. The spatial layout of food retail outlets is important for optimizing the urban food system, improving land resource allocation, and encouraging healthy food consumption. [...] Read more.

Food is the core of urban daily life and socio-economic activities but is rarely the focus of urban planning. The spatial layout of food retail outlets is important for optimizing the urban food system, improving land resource allocation, and encouraging healthy food consumption. Based on food retail POI data, this study employed kernel density estimation, road network centrality, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and locational entropy to analyze the spatial characteristics of supermarkets, produce markets, and small stores in an urban center in Beijing, and explored street coupling and supply-demand matching. The results indicated that within the study area: (1) supermarkets had an obvious “core-periphery” distribution, produce markets had a polycentric distribution, and small stores had a relatively uniform distribution; (2) road network centrality indices revealed a differentiated multi-core-edge distribution; (3) streets with high locational entropy values for supermarkets and produce markets were mostly concentrated in the central area, whereas the matching distribution of small stores was relatively balanced. From the perspective of urban planning, policy implications are proposed based on spatial and social equity, urban-rural differences, population structure and distribution status, and a resilient supply chain. The study findings have practical significance for guiding the development of urban food systems in a healthy, just, and sustainable direction, as well as rational urban land planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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19 pages, 3691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Refined Rural Settlements Simulation Considering the Competition Relationship among the Internal Land Use Types: A Case Study of Pinggu District

by Yaya Tian, Guanghui Jiang, Dingyang Zhou, Tao Zhou and Wenqiu Ma

Land 2022, 11(5), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050661 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1561

Abstract

Simulating the future evolution of the internal land use structure of rural settlements (RSILUS) is vital for rural land management. However, previous simulation studies have mostly regarded rural settlements as a whole, thereby ignoring their internal structural variations. In this paper, as an [...] Read more.

Simulating the future evolution of the internal land use structure of rural settlements (RSILUS) is vital for rural land management. However, previous simulation studies have mostly regarded rural settlements as a whole, thereby ignoring their internal structural variations. In this paper, as an example, we select Pinggu District, which has experienced the impact of rapid urbanization and has an unstable rural land use structure (LUS); then, we examine the driving factors of the changes in the RSILUS, construct a cellular automata (CA)–Markov simulation model specifying the RSILUS, and simulate its changes in 2025. The results indicate the following. (1) The influencing factors of various land use changes in rural settlements in Pinggu District differ significantly. Basic land, such as living functional land, is greatly influenced by natural resources, whereas production functional land is subject to socioeconomic factors. (2) The simulation results demonstrate that from 2015 to 2025, the production and living functional land areas of rural settlements will decrease as a whole. Accordingly, the distribution of rural public service land (RPSL) will tend to remain stable, and the trends of land use abandonment and functional degradation will continue as rural areas continue to recede. Our study enriches the research on rural land use systems by refining the simulation of rural settlements to focus on their internal structure. The differentiation and complexity of the changes in rural LUS types further suggests that rural planning and renewal should adapt to the changing conditions of the RSILUS, and the LUS should be adjusted to improve the constructed environment in human settlements and equalize urban and rural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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20 pages, 5498 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding the Driving Factors for Urban Human Settlement Vitality at Street Level: A Case Study of Dalian, China

by He Liu and Xueming Li

Land 2022, 11(5), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050646 - 27 Apr 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2706

Abstract

Vitality can effectively test the quality of regional space, put forward the concept of urban human settlement vitality, and explore the development status of urban human settlement vitality space, which is of great significance in promoting the high-quality development of urban human settlements. [...] Read more.

Vitality can effectively test the quality of regional space, put forward the concept of urban human settlement vitality, and explore the development status of urban human settlement vitality space, which is of great significance in promoting the high-quality development of urban human settlements. By constructing an evaluation index system of urban human settlement vitality and comprehensively using projection pursuit models, spatial correlation analysis, and spatial measurement models, the spatial pattern and influencing factors of the vitality of urban human settlements in the four districts of Dalian were studied. The results are as follows: (1) The spatial differentiation characteristics of the vitality of urban human settlements in Dalian are remarkable. Overall, it gradually decreased from the city center to the administrative boundary. (2) The spatial dependence of the vitality of urban human settlements among regions is relatively strong, with a more obvious “Matthew effect”. Among them, urban human settlement vitality hot spots were mainly distributed in the southeast of Dalian, showing a concentrated distribution trend, while the cold spots were distributed in the northern fringe area of Dalian, with spatial homogeneity characteristics. (3) Topography, ecological environment, social economy, commercial development, spatial structure, spatial form, regional scale, etc. have different impacts on the vitality of urban human settlements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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19 pages, 1972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Is Construction Land Transition Related to Rural Transformation? Evidence from a Plain County in China Based on the Grey Correlation Model

by Bowen Shan, Jian Liu, Yaqiu Liu, Huanhuan Wang and Ailing Wang

Land 2022, 11(5), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050641 - 26 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1528

Abstract

Under the background of urban-rural integration, the frequent flow of urban and rural elements has promoted the close connection between rural transformation (RT) and construction land transition (CLT). How is CLT related to RT? By taking the plain area Linqing County in China [...] Read more.

Under the background of urban-rural integration, the frequent flow of urban and rural elements has promoted the close connection between rural transformation (RT) and construction land transition (CLT). How is CLT related to RT? By taking the plain area Linqing County in China as the study area, basing the study on the RT and CLT coupling framework of relevance theory, building an RT and CLT evaluation index system, using the multi-factor evaluation method for the evaluation of RT and CLT from 2010 to 2018, and using the grey correlation model to measure the RT and CLT coupling relationship, the results showed that the level of RT was from 0.04 to 97.42, and the level of CLT was from 14.89 to 82.47, showing the trends of gradual increase and fluctuating increase, respectively. Taking 2013 and 2016 as the time point, RT could be divided into the initial stage, growth stage I, and growth stage II, corresponding to the initial stage, high growth stage, and stable development stage of CLT. The coupling degree between the two was in the range of 0.6–0.8 and was in the stage of a medium to high coupling degree. The correlation degree between the subsystem of RT and CLT was over 0.65. In the subsystem of CLT, the correlation degrees between quantitative structure transition and RT and efficiency transition and RT were both lower than 0.65, which were relatively low. Controlling the scale of construction land and taking efficiency transition are the effective methods to guide the deep exploration of potential and are the inevitable way to strengthen the relationship between CLT and RT and promote urban-rural integration development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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22 pages, 5595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Equity Evaluation on Accessibility of Primary Healthcare Facilities by Using V2SFCA Method: Taking Fukuoka City, Japan, as a Case Study

by Mengge Du and Shichen Zhao

Land 2022, 11(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050640 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2336

Abstract

The primary healthcare facilities are among the most basic needs of the residents, huge in quantity and widespread. Their distributions are directly related to people’s health, which affects the sustainable development of cities. The accessibility calculation of primary level healthcare facilities and the [...] Read more.

The primary healthcare facilities are among the most basic needs of the residents, huge in quantity and widespread. Their distributions are directly related to people’s health, which affects the sustainable development of cities. The accessibility calculation of primary level healthcare facilities and the equity evaluation of accessibility from the perspective of medical service category and urban population is very important for the decision-making of layout and configuration but has been ignored for a long time. This study took the primary healthcare facilities of Fukuoka city in Japan as research objects; it first used the variable two-step floating catchment area (V2SFCA) method to calculate the healthcare catchment areas (HCAs) of medical service providers and the population catchment area (PCAs) of medical demand locations, and then obtained the accessibility to primary healthcare facilities. Finally, the spatial disparities of accessibility were evaluated from three aspects: overall space distribution by using Global and Local Moran’s I, service quality, and the population to be served. The results showed that HCAs were from 500 m to 6400 m, PCAs ranged from 500 m to 3000 m, the use of variable catchments can improve the accuracy of accessibility assessment results; the accessibility of primary healthcare facilities was clustered and had significant spatial differences, which were high in urban center and low in suburban area; the obvious differences in the accessibility distribution characteristics of clinics in differential diagnosis and treatment departments led to different degrees of unsaturation in the types of medical services obtained by residents; although the elderly’s demand for basic medical care was many times higher than that of other age groups, the accessibility in high-demand areas was generally low, and the situation in severely high-demand areas was more serious. This work puts forward a multi-dimensional realistic evaluation system for equality accessibility of primary healthcare facilities, providing the data support for the medical resources and facilities’ allocation and the intensive land use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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14 pages, 4494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Social Pension and Family Support Affect Farmers’ Land Transfer? Evidence from China

by Zuojuan Li, Guofeng Li, Ke Zhang and Jingxin Zhu

Land 2022, 11(4), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11040497 - 30 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2069

Abstract

The issues of farmers’ old-age security and land use have long been the focus of Chinese scholars’ and governmental attention. Land transfer plays a vital role in promoting agricultural scale operations, adjusting agricultural structures, and improving land utilization, while the old-age security function [...] Read more.

The issues of farmers’ old-age security and land use have long been the focus of Chinese scholars’ and governmental attention. Land transfer plays a vital role in promoting agricultural scale operations, adjusting agricultural structures, and improving land utilization, while the old-age security function of land is one of the important factors affecting land transfer. Based on the data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study uses the probit and structural equation models to explore social pension and family support mechanisms and pathways with regard to farmers’ land transfer. The results show that: (1) Social pension has a significant negative effect on farmers’ rent-out land, but a significant positive effect on rent-in land. Compared to farmers who do not participate in the New Rural Pension System (NRPS), the probability of rent-out land for farmers who participated in NRPS decreased by 2.44%, and rent-in land increased by 2.26%. (2) Family support has a significant positive effect on farmers’ rent-out land, but a negative effect on rent-in land. (3) Agricultural labor time plays a mediating role in the effect of social pension and family support on both farmers’ rent-out land and rent-in land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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11 pages, 1010 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are Villagers Willing to Enter the Rural Collective Construction Land Market under the Arrangement of Transaction Rules?—Evidence from Ezhou, China

by Meie Deng, Anlu Zhang, Congxi Cheng and Canwei Hu

Land 2022, 11(4), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11040466 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1775

Abstract

In China, rural construction land refers to the construction land of townships (town) and villages. The construction land of townships (town) and villages refers to the land used by township (town) and village collective economic organizations and rural individuals to invest or raise [...] Read more.

In China, rural construction land refers to the construction land of townships (town) and villages. The construction land of townships (town) and villages refers to the land used by township (town) and village collective economic organizations and rural individuals to invest or raise funds for various non-agricultural construction. Rural collective construction land is divided into three categories: homestead, land for public welfare public facilities, and land for business. Complete market transaction rules can make the market of rural collective construction land run more openly, fairly, and justly, thus protecting the rights of villagers and collective economic organizations and, at the same time, reducing the transaction cost of the village collective. In this paper, we choose the formal rules of the urban and rural land linking quota trading market in Ezhou, Hubei Province, China, to analyze the three dimensions of the market transaction rules and villagers’ willingness. We also provide suggestions for the development of the RCCL market and the improvement of trading rules. The research results of the logistic model show the following: (1) Under the arrangement of the transaction rules of the RCCL, there are high transaction costs, especially labor costs and time costs, so the villagers’ willingness to enter the market is not very strong. (2) Asset specificity affects villagers’ willingness. The larger the area of RCCL involved in the transaction, the higher the transaction cost, the lower the villagers’ willingness to support the RCCL transfer. (3) The greater the uncertainty of the RCCL transaction environment—mainly due to the problems of the openness, equity, and justice of the transaction rules, which lies in the transaction information not being transparent and the income distribution and the pricing being unreasonable, resulting in villagers’ rights being denied—the more the villagers are unwilling to support the RCCL entering the market. Therefore, we suggest that more open, fair, and just trading rules of the RCCL market should be formulated to protect the security of villagers’ property rights. Moreover, the land value should be displayed reasonably, which can also standardize the good trading order and trading environment, thus making the market development more effective and stable. Our work provides some insights for improving the efficiency of the land market, which will contribute to the development of the worldwide RCCL market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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16 pages, 2112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Built Environment and Physical Activity among Adults in Hong Kong: Role of Public Leisure Facilities and Street Centrality

by Ting Zhang, Bo Huang, Hung Wong, Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong and Roger Yat-Nork Chung

Land 2022, 11(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020243 - 06 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2923

Abstract

Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, and has been shown to be related to the built environment. To fill the literature gap from a non-Western setting, we examined: (1) the associations between the built environment [...] Read more.

Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, and has been shown to be related to the built environment. To fill the literature gap from a non-Western setting, we examined: (1) the associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA) behaviors, (2) how the association of street centrality with PA is mediated by public leisure facilities, and (3) whether the association of the built environment with PA differs among people with different perceived PA barriers in Hong Kong. Cross-sectional survey data on 1977 adults were used. Exposure to the built environment was assessed in terms of the density of four types of public leisure facilities (gyms, parks, recreational facilities, and sports facilities) and street centrality. Street centrality was a composite index calculated by gathering four related indicators (reach, betweenness, straightness, and intersection density). Covariates, including socio-demographic variables, perceived neighborhood environment, and perceived PA barriers, were considered. Gym density was significantly associated with vigorous physical activity, but the association became non-significant after controlling for covariates. Sports facility density was associated with a greater probability of moderate physical activity (MPA) and was greater in those who had perceived PA barriers. Additionally, sports facilities partially mediated the association of street centrality with MPA, and fully mediated the association of street centrality with prolonged sitting. Higher park density was associated with lower odds of prolonged sitting. It is important for governments to provide more sports facilities and parks to promote active PA, and to reduce sitting time in adults by creating an active built environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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20 pages, 1670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Patterns and Driving Factors of Rural Population Loss under Urban–Rural Integration Development: A Micro-Scale Study on the Village Level in a Hilly Region

by Yaqiu Liu, Xiaoqian Zhang, Meng Xu, Xinghao Zhang, Bowen Shan and Ailing Wang

Land 2022, 11(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010099 - 08 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Under the background of urban–rural integration, balanced development between urban and rural areas has been increasingly advocated. Rural population loss (RPL) is not only due to the laws of social and economic development but also the comprehensive action of natural, social, and economic [...] Read more.

Under the background of urban–rural integration, balanced development between urban and rural areas has been increasingly advocated. Rural population loss (RPL) is not only due to the laws of social and economic development but also the comprehensive action of natural, social, and economic factors. Taking 774 administrative villages in Laiyang County, which is in a hilly region, as our research area, we comprehensively used spatial analysis and geographic detectors to explore the spatial characteristics and driving factors of RPL, which was significantly correlated with rural planning. The research demonstrated that: (1) The rural population in Laiyang County generally had a low level of RPL (1.9%), but each village varied greatly. The village with the greatest RPL had a rate of 56%. The RPL between urban and rural areas, towns and streets, and villages and villages were unbalanced, and rural population flow mainly occurred between urban and rural areas. (2) RPL in Laiyang County was generally low in the central urban area and high in the northern and southern areas. Population loss presents agglomeration globally and high–low agglomeration locally. (3) The distance from village to county, elevation, cultivated land quantity, collective economic income, village area, and ecological service value were the key factors influencing RPL in Laiyang County. When comparing the dominant factors, the interaction between collective income and elevation was the strongest. Exploring the spatial characteristics and influencing factors of RPL provided us with ideas for the classified promotion of rural revitalization, preparation of rural development planning, and promotion of the integrated development of urban and rural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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15 pages, 4372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Population Flows Promote Urban–Rural Integration? Addressing Migrants’ Farmland Arrangement and Social Integration in China’s Urban Agglomeration Regions

by Yanan Li, Chan Xiong and Yan Song

Land 2022, 11(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010086 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2187

Abstract

China’s urban–rural relationships have been changed dramatically by the intensifying population flows, especially in urban agglomeration regions. This study contributes to the interpretation of urban–rural integration mechanisms in urban agglomeration by constructing a conceptual framework of migration-related resource flows. Taking the Wuhan urban [...] Read more.

China’s urban–rural relationships have been changed dramatically by the intensifying population flows, especially in urban agglomeration regions. This study contributes to the interpretation of urban–rural integration mechanisms in urban agglomeration by constructing a conceptual framework of migration-related resource flows. Taking the Wuhan urban agglomeration as an example, migrants’ farmland arrangement, migration pattern, and social integration have been investigated to uncover the spatial and temporal characteristics of the urban–rural interaction, based on the data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey in 2012–2017. The findings indicate that the farmland circulation in the Wuhan urban agglomeration was generally low, but slightly higher than that of the national average. The central city, Wuhan, had a high degree of family migration and social integration, indicating stronger resource flows in developed areas. However, its farmland circulation level was lower than that of non-central cities. The unsynchronized interaction of resources in urban and rural areas should be taken seriously, especially in areas with a relatively developed urban economy. The advantages of the central city in absorbing and settling migrants confirmed the positive impact of the urban agglomeration on promoting urban–rural integration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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25 pages, 1869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mechanisms of the Transportation Land Transfer Impact on Economic Growth: Evidence from China

by Mingzhi Zhang, Zhaocheng Li, Xinpei Wang, Jiajia Li, Hongyu Liu and Ying Zhang

Land 2022, 11(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010030 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2881

Abstract

Accessibility to transportation is a crucial factor for economic growth. Transportation land, defined as the land used to support transportation infrastructure, such as city and inter-city rail, ports, and air travel, is a critical element for constructing transportation facilities and has attracted increasing [...] Read more.

Accessibility to transportation is a crucial factor for economic growth. Transportation land, defined as the land used to support transportation infrastructure, such as city and inter-city rail, ports, and air travel, is a critical element for constructing transportation facilities and has attracted increasing attention from researchers and policy makers. Transportation land transfer (TLT) is defined as the act by which the state transfers transportation land-use rights to a land user (collective or individual) within a certain period of time as the land owner (all land in China is owned by the state). The land user pays a land-use right transfer fee to the state. This article first reveals the multidimensional effect between TLT and economic growth based on data from China’s 30 provinces for 2007–2019. The study found the following. (1) A continuous increase in the availability of transportation land is vital to ensure sustainable economic growth, and the construction of transportation land between adjacent areas has positive spatial spillover effects. (2) These positive effects work through three mechanisms, i.e., increased employment, industrial interactions, and improvements in economic operational efficiency, with a time lag. (3) The positive effects of TLT on economic growth have significant heterogeneous moderating effects on the differences in the economic development stage, the level of industrial structure, and urbanization rate. The study expands the front-end to back-end analysis of land use, provides a reference for countries and regions at different stages of development to promote economic growth using transportation land construction, and presents beneficial insights for governments to efficiently avoid the mismatch of transportation land resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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25 pages, 10334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Degree of Abandoned Cropland and Socioeconomic Impact Factors in China: Multi-Level Analysis Model Based on the Farmer and District/County Levels

by Chong Jiang and Wei Song

Land 2022, 11(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010008 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3035

Abstract

At present, abandoned cropland has become a common phenomenon spreading to countries around the world. China has seen widespread abandoned cropland in recent years. However, there are extremely few empirical studies of cropland abandonment and influencing factors nationwide. In this study, survey data [...] Read more.

At present, abandoned cropland has become a common phenomenon spreading to countries around the world. China has seen widespread abandoned cropland in recent years. However, there are extremely few empirical studies of cropland abandonment and influencing factors nationwide. In this study, survey data from 8071 farmer households in 14 Chinese provinces were used to analyze the degree of cropland abandonment in China and its spatial distribution. A multi-level model was constructed to quantitatively explore the socioeconomic factors affecting the degree of cropland abandonment, at both the farmer and district/county levels. The results show that: (1) the proportion of farmers and the spatial distribution of abandoned cropland are consistent. (2) Chongqing City, Guangdong Province, and Shanxi Province are high-value areas of abandoned cropland, while Shandong, Liaoning, Henan and Jiangsu provinces are low-value areas. (3) Among the differences in cropland abandonment, 68.5% and 31.5% can be explained at the farmer and district/county level, respectively. (4) At the farmer level, all labor and cropland transfer indicators, including land labor quantity per unit area, male agricultural labor ratio, farmers mainly of middle-aged labor, cropland transfer area and cropland subcontract amount, have significant negative effects on the degree of abandoned cropland. There is a significant negative correlation between the value of agricultural operating fixed assets in the agricultural input indicators and the degree of abandoned cropland, but participation in professional, cooperative, economic, agricultural organizations has no significant impact on the degree of abandoned cropland. The per capita disposable income, which represents the quality of life indicator, has a significant positive impact on the degree of abandoned cropland. (5) At the district/county level, the proportion of the total co-working labor force and the transfer rate of cropland are negatively related to the degree of cropland abandonment, and the proportion of the co-working labor force outside the district/county is positively related to the degree of cropland abandonment. In addition, we briefly analyzed the mechanism and process of cropland abandonment from the perspective of farmers’ decision-making. Finally, the policy suggestions to alleviate the abandonment of cropland were put forward from the district/county and farmer level, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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15 pages, 1365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterogeneity Analysis of Urban Rail Transit on Housing with Different Price Levels: A Case Study of Chengdu, China

by Pengyu Ren, Zhaoji Li, Weiguang Cai, Lina Ran and Lei Gan

Land 2021, 10(12), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10121330 - 03 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2326

Abstract

The impact of urban rail transit on housing prices has attracted the extensive attention of scholars, but few studies have explored the heterogeneous impact of rail transit on housing prices with different price levels. To solve this problem, we adopted the hedonic price [...] Read more.

The impact of urban rail transit on housing prices has attracted the extensive attention of scholars, but few studies have explored the heterogeneous impact of rail transit on housing prices with different price levels. To solve this problem, we adopted the hedonic price model based on ordinary least squares regression as a supplementary method of quantile regression to study the heterogeneous impact of the Chengdu Metro system on low-, middle-, and high-priced housing. The result shows that the housing price rises first, then falls with the distance from the housing to the nearest subway station. Besides, the influence of transportation accessibility on low-, middle-, and high-priced housing decreases progressively. This research can provide a reference for the government’s transportation planning and decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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22 pages, 4144 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Space Use of Large Railway Hub Station Areas in Beijing toward Integrated Station-City Development

by Ying Liang, Wei Song and Xiaofeng Dong

Land 2021, 10(11), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111267 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3684

Abstract

With the large-scale construction of high-speed railways and the continuous increase in population flows, railway hubs are becoming the most dynamic places in cities. As a key node of intercity traffic and an important part of urban development, railway hub stations are the [...] Read more.

With the large-scale construction of high-speed railways and the continuous increase in population flows, railway hubs are becoming the most dynamic places in cities. As a key node of intercity traffic and an important part of urban development, railway hub stations are the main carriers for the implementation of the Integrated Station-City Development (ISCD) strategy. A comprehensive evaluation of the space use of railway hub station areas can provide a basic understanding of the intensive utilization and optimization of urban space. However, existing relevant studies lack a comprehensive assessment of the compound structures and functions within large railway hub station areas at the microscopic level. Therefore, this paper was guided by integrated station-city development, relying on Geographic Information Science (GIS)technology, and big data such as Points of Interest (POI) and real-time traffic, focusing on walking accessibility, facility convenience, function compound, and land development intensity used around railway hub station areas. The uses of the station areas in four large railway hubs in Beijing were analyzed. Based on this, we built an ISCD index, combined with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, and assessed the degree of ISCD in the four railway hubs. The study showed that among the four large railway hubs in Beijing, the Beijing North railway station offers the best walking accessibility. The Beijing railway station features the largest facility convenience, function compound, and land development intensity. In general, the levels of ISCD of the Beijing and Beijing North Railway Stations were significantly higher than those of the Beijing West and Beijing South Railway Stations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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15 pages, 1317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Vitality Evaluation and Spatial Correlation Research: A Case Study from Shanghai, China

by Jiangang Shi, Wei Miao, Hongyun Si and Ting Liu

Land 2021, 10(11), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111195 - 05 Nov 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3757

Abstract

Urban vitality is the primary driver of urban development. However, assessing urban vitality has always been a challenge. This paper builds on the research framework of sustainable development evaluation and selects evaluation indicators from the three systems of urban operation: economy, society, and [...] Read more.

Urban vitality is the primary driver of urban development. However, assessing urban vitality has always been a challenge. This paper builds on the research framework of sustainable development evaluation and selects evaluation indicators from the three systems of urban operation: economy, society, and environment. The deviation maximization (DM) method is used to evaluate urban vitality. Shanghai is then used as a case study for evaluation, and the comprehensive index of urban vitality is calculated for the city from 2010 to 2019. The evaluation results indicate that the urban vitality of Shanghai experienced a significant upward trend over ten years (2010–2019), which shows that the urban competitiveness of Shanghai is constantly strengthening. Next, the study focuses on the administrative region of Shanghai, to calculate the regional vitality level of Shanghai from 2010 to 2019 and to explore its spatial distribution characteristics. Then, a spatial autocorrelation analysis is used to explore the mechanism that affects the spatial distribution of urban vitality. The results demonstrate that the urban vitality in Shanghai shows a significant positive correlation in space. Moreover, there is a “High–High” gathering area, which includes Huangpu, Xuhui, Hongkou, and Changning in central area of Shanghai. This research provides a theoretical reference to support effective decision-making with respect to high-quality urban development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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20 pages, 5581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Effects of Contextual Factors on Residential Land Prices Using an Extended Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model

by Zhengyuan Chai, Yi Yang, Yangyang Zhao, Yonghu Fu and Ling Hao

Land 2021, 10(11), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111148 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2362

Abstract

A spatial and temporal heterogeneity analysis of residential land prices, in general, is crucial for maintaining high-quality economic development. Previous studies have attempted to explain the geographical evolution rule by studying spatial-temporal heterogeneity, but they have neglected the contextual information, such as school [...] Read more.

A spatial and temporal heterogeneity analysis of residential land prices, in general, is crucial for maintaining high-quality economic development. Previous studies have attempted to explain the geographical evolution rule by studying spatial-temporal heterogeneity, but they have neglected the contextual information, such as school district, industrial zone, population density, and job density, associated with residential land prices. Therefore, in this study, we consider contextual factors and propose a revised local regression algorithm called the contextualized geographically and temporally weighted regression (CGTWR), to effectively address spatiotemporal heterogeneity, and to creatively extend the feasibility of importing the contextualization into the GTWR model. The quantitative impact of contextual information on residential land prices was identified in Shijiazhuang (SJZ) city from 1974 to 2021. Empirical analyses demonstrated that school district and industrial zone factors played important roles in residential land prices. Notably, the distance from a residential area to an industrial zone was significantly positively correlated with residential land prices. In addition, a positive relationship between school districts and residential land prices was also observed. Finally, the R² value of the CGTWR model was 92%, which was superior to those of ordinary least squares (OLS, 76%), geographically weighted regression (GWR, 85%), contextualized geographically weighted regression (CGWR, 86%), and GTWR (90%) models. These evaluation results indicate that the CGTWR algorithm, which incorporates contextual information and spatiotemporal variation, could provide policy makers with evidence for understanding the nature of varying relationships within a land price dataset in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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26 pages, 2133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Spatial Interaction Spillover Effects of New-Urbanization and Green Land Utilization Efficiency

by Shuai Wang, Cunyi Yang and Zhenghui Li

Land 2021, 10(10), 1105; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10101105 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3258

Abstract

In the context of vigorously promoting new-urbanization, effectively improving the green use efficiency of urban land is an inevitable requirement to achieve high-quality economic and social development. Based on the panel data from 2011 to 2018 of 297 prefecture-level and above cities in [...] Read more.

In the context of vigorously promoting new-urbanization, effectively improving the green use efficiency of urban land is an inevitable requirement to achieve high-quality economic and social development. Based on the panel data from 2011 to 2018 of 297 prefecture-level and above cities in China, this paper uses the entropy weight method and the super-efficient SBM-GML model to estimate the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of new-urbanization and urban green land utilization efficiency. Then, the spatial simultaneous-equation and the generalized spatial three-stage least square method (GS3SLS) are employed to empirically investigate the spatial interaction spillover effects between the new-urbanization and the green land utilization efficiency. The results indicate that: (1) The level of new-urbanization and the green land utilization efficiency in Chinese cities have common and complex temporal and spatial dynamic evolution characteristics. (2) There are mutual inhibition effects between new-urbanization and green land utilization efficiency, and the level of new-urbanization is in a comparatively leading role. (3) Both the level of new-urbanization and green land utilization efficiency have obvious spatial spillover effects. (4) The level of new-urbanization of surrounding regions promotes the green land utilization efficiency of local regions, and the improvement of the green land utilization efficiency of surrounding regions also promotes the level of new-urbanization of local regions. As environmental pressure increasingly becomes a constraint on urban development, these findings are helpful to clarify the regional relationship between urban construction and green development and promote the harmonious development of new-urbanization and green land utilization efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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17 pages, 5298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Dimensional Feature Recognition and Policy Implications of Rural Human–Land Relationships in China

by Guanglong Dong, Wenxin Zhang, Xinliang Xu and Kun Jia

Land 2021, 10(10), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10101086 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 1809

Abstract

Rural decline has become an indisputable fact and a global issue. As a developing country, China is simultaneously facing unprecedented rapid urbanization and severe rural decline. The coordinated development of its rural human–land relationship is therefore of great significance for ensuring the country’s [...] Read more.

Rural decline has become an indisputable fact and a global issue. As a developing country, China is simultaneously facing unprecedented rapid urbanization and severe rural decline. The coordinated development of its rural human–land relationship is therefore of great significance for ensuring the country’s food security and achieving both rural revitalization and sustainable development. Yet, the related research on this complex subject has mostly focused on a single element: rural settlements. Since studies of the rural human–land relationship tend to only discuss the coordinated change in rural populations vis-à-vis rural settlement area, their degree of spatial matching and intensive utilization level of rural settlements has been largely overlooked. To rectify this imbalance, using data on rural populations and rural settlement area in counties of Shandong Province in 2009 and 2018, this paper applied the methods of per capita rural settlement area, the Theil index, and Tapio’s decoupling model to quantitatively identify the rural human–land relationship along three dimensions: intensive utilization level, spatial matching degree, and change coordination degree. The results revealed that the per capita rural settlement area in Shandong Province was as high as 212.18 m²/person in 2018, which exceeded the standard to varying degrees in all cities, having an overall geographical pattern of being high in the north and low in the south. The Theil index for all cities was small, which indicates that the spatial matching between rural population and rural settlements is high. To sum up, there are small differences in the utilization of rural settlements among cities, and their extensive utilization of rural settlements is a common phenomenon. In addition, the relationship between the changes in the rural population size and rural settlement area corresponded to a discordant state, in the form of strong negative decoupling, expansive negative decoupling, and expansive coupling; however, among them, the strong negative decoupling type was the dominant type. It is worth noting that all of these three types will exacerbate the extensive utilization of rural settlements. Accordingly, this paper proposes policies and measures, such as the paid withdrawal of rural homesteads, an expanded scope of homestead transfer, cross-regional “increasing versus decreasing balance”, classified promotion of rural revitalization, and improved village planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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18 pages, 909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Impacts of Perceived Value and Government Regulation on Farmers’ Willingness to Adopt Wheat Straw Incorporation in China

by Zhaoxu Liu, Jinghua Sun, Weiya Zhu and Yanbo Qu

Land 2021, 10(10), 1051; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10101051 - 07 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2154

Abstract

In China, wheat straw incorporation (WSI) is the most popular way of utilizing wheat straw. WSI can manage agricultural residues to improve soil quality and avoid open burning in fields. However, farmers have been reluctant to implement WSI, which hinders sustainability. This study [...] Read more.

In China, wheat straw incorporation (WSI) is the most popular way of utilizing wheat straw. WSI can manage agricultural residues to improve soil quality and avoid open burning in fields. However, farmers have been reluctant to implement WSI, which hinders sustainability. This study collected first-hand data about 1027 wheat growers, and used a Logit model to explore the influence of perceived value, government regulation, and their interaction on farmer willingness to adopt WSI. The results also reveal the differences between farmers with different farm sizes, as well as differences in other characteristics impacting WSI willingness. The study found that implementing government regulations and increasing the positive perceived value by farmers can effectively improve farmer willingness to adopt WSI. For example, government subsidies and farmers’ perceptions about cost-related risks impact farmer willingness. There is an interaction effect between government regulation and perceived value with respect to farmer willingness. Policy outreach could effectively strengthen the positive impacts of farmers’ perception of social benefits on farmer willingness. Government subsidies could effectively weaken the negative impacts of farmers’ perception of cost-related and time-related risks on farmer willingness. Farmers with different sized farms are influenced differently by government regulation and perceived value. The willingness of large-scale farmers to adopt WSI is generally influenced by government regulation and perceived value; in contrast, the willingness of traditional farmers is mainly influenced by policy outreach and perceived economic benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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21 pages, 33132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction Relationship between Urbanization and Land Use Multifunctionality: Evidence from Han River Basin, China

by Yanli Gao, Hongbo Li and Yan Song

Land 2021, 10(9), 938; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10090938 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2743

Abstract

Coordinating the interaction between urbanization and land use multifunctionality (LUMF) is of great significance in regional sustainable development. This article explores the interaction relationship between urbanization and LUMF in the Han River Basin (HRB) of China from 2000 to 2018. We used the [...] Read more.

Coordinating the interaction between urbanization and land use multifunctionality (LUMF) is of great significance in regional sustainable development. This article explores the interaction relationship between urbanization and LUMF in the Han River Basin (HRB) of China from 2000 to 2018. We used the combination weighting method, coupling coordination degree model, and geographic detector method to examine the coupling relationship and internal mechanism between urbanization and LUMF. The results showed that (1) there exists a significant correlation between urbanization and LUMF, the coupling coordination degree of each county displayed an upward trend throughout the research period, and the whole region has a radiation effect of central cities; (2) from the perspective of the internal mechanism of urbanization demand and the LUMF supply, we found that social urbanization demand is the primary demand for LUMF, while the town living function is the main supply of LUMF for urbanization, which means social urbanization has more influence than economic and population urbanization on LUMF, and the town living function has greater decisive power than agricultural production function and ecological function on urbanization; and (3) the supply and demand-influencing factors between urbanization and LUMF in each sub-region are different, and the upstream is more susceptible to determinants than the midstream and downstream because of the worse natural resource endowment. In conclusion, the critical finding provides not only guidance to understand the relationship between urbanization and LUMF but also suggests that the government should adapt to local conditions when formulating regional development planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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20 pages, 4627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping the Challenges to the Sustainable Operation of Suburban Villages in a Metropolis: A Comparative Case Study from the Lens of Three Stakeholder-Led Approaches

by Xinyue Lu, Ge Wang, Chang Zhu and Xinyang Chi

Land 2021, 10(8), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10080864 - 17 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2359

Abstract

In the rapid urbanization and land development process, the integration of urban and rural areas has accelerated. Alongside this trend, the sustainable operation of suburban villages in metropolitan areas face many difficulties and challenges, especially in terms of the efficient use of land [...] Read more.

In the rapid urbanization and land development process, the integration of urban and rural areas has accelerated. Alongside this trend, the sustainable operation of suburban villages in metropolitan areas face many difficulties and challenges, especially in terms of the efficient use of land and the coordination of stakeholders’ interests. However, there remains a lack of systematic case studies in the literature targeted toward suburban villages in metropolises. This study selects three typical suburban villages in the metropolis of Jiangning District, Nanjing (i.e., a metropolis in China) to narrow this research gap. We collected primary data based on field investigations, structural interviews, and professional documents. With three typical villages employed as comparative case studies, we developed a theoretical framework to systematically analyze the operation process and the challenges faced by suburban villages in the metropolis. The results revealed the different application scenarios of three stakeholder-led models, including the state-owned enterprise-led model, the grassroots government-led model, and the private capital-led model, in the sustainable operation of metropolis-based suburban villages. The findings shed new light on selecting an appropriate path to boost the sustainable endogenous development of rural areas. This study extends existing research on the sustainable operation of suburban villages in the metropolis, providing practical guidance on aligning stakeholder-led models to better integrate urban and rural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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18 pages, 1144 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Evaluate the Green Utilization Efficiency of Cultivated Land in a Farming Household? A Case Study of Shandong Province, China

by Yi Qu, Xiao Lyu, Wenlong Peng and Zongfei Xin

Land 2021, 10(8), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10080789 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

The behavior of farming households is the most direct factor involved in the transition of cultivated land utilization from high-input/high-output to green and sustainable utilization mode. Improving farming households’ green utilization efficiency of cultivated land (GUECL) is of great significance in facilitating agricultural [...] Read more.

The behavior of farming households is the most direct factor involved in the transition of cultivated land utilization from high-input/high-output to green and sustainable utilization mode. Improving farming households’ green utilization efficiency of cultivated land (GUECL) is of great significance in facilitating agricultural green development in China. However, there are few studies on GUECL based on the micro-perspective of farming households that cover the comprehensive benefits to the economy, ecology, and society. This paper builds a theoretical analysis framework of farming households’ green utilization of cultivated land and uses the super-efficiency EBM model and a questionnaire to conduct an empirical analysis of 952 farming households in Shandong Province to evaluate the green utilization efficiency of cultivated land. The results show that the GUECL of the farming households is generally not high, with an average value of 0.67, and can be further improved. The higher the GUECL, the lower the input and undesired output per unit yield and per unit output value. Tobit regression results show that a farming household’s per capita income is significantly positively correlated with the GUECL, while agricultural insurance, agricultural subsidies, cultivated land scale, cultivated land fragmentation, and regional economic level are significantly negatively correlated with the GUECL. In addition, recommendations can be made on promoting and innovating agricultural green development technology, popularizing and publicizing farming households’ thoughts on the green utilization of cultivated land, and ensuring and improving rural green life so as to provide a reference for promoting green transition of cultivated land utilization with diversified coordination and multiple measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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16 pages, 7972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Institutions on Spatial Patterns of Manufacturing Industries and Policy Implications in Metropolitan Areas: A Case Study of Wuhan, China

by Min Zhou, Man Yuan, Yaping Huang and Kaixuan Lin

Land 2021, 10(7), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10070710 - 05 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2348

Abstract

Manufacturing space is a spatial system that combines the interaction between capital and institutions at the enterprise, industry, and spatial levels. It is also an important functional type that promotes the spatial evolution of big cities. Most studies focus on the effects of [...] Read more.

Manufacturing space is a spatial system that combines the interaction between capital and institutions at the enterprise, industry, and spatial levels. It is also an important functional type that promotes the spatial evolution of big cities. Most studies focus on the effects of a single institutional type on the manufacturing space of big cities and lack systematic and complete exploration of the institutional mechanism. Current empirical research on typical industrial cities in China is insufficient. This study uses a GIS spatial analysis technique and a Poisson regression model to analyze the mechanism by which institutions have influenced the spatial patterns of manufacturing industries in the Wuhan metropolitan area since the 1990s. The results show that land policy, development zone policy, urban planning, transportation strategy, and eco-environmental policy all have a significant impact on the restructuring process and distribution pattern of the manufacturing industries through incentives and constraints. This study expands our understanding of the influence mechanism of manufacturing spatial patterns and proposes spatial guiding strategies and policy implications for the spatial transformation of urban manufacturing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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18 pages, 1319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Smart City Construction Improve the Green Utilization Efficiency of Urban Land?

by Aiping Wang, Weifen Lin, Bei Liu, Hui Wang and Hong Xu

Land 2021, 10(6), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10060657 - 21 Jun 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 3688

Abstract

Frontier research primarily focuses on the effect of urban development models on land use efficiency, while ignoring the effect of new-type urban development on the green land use efficiency. Accordingly, this paper employs a super efficiency slacks-based measure (super-SBM) model with undesirable outputs [...] Read more.

Frontier research primarily focuses on the effect of urban development models on land use efficiency, while ignoring the effect of new-type urban development on the green land use efficiency. Accordingly, this paper employs a super efficiency slacks-based measure (super-SBM) model with undesirable outputs to measure the green land use efficiency based on panel data from 152 prefecture-level cities for the period 2004–2017. We construct a difference-in-differences (DID) model in this paper to test the impact of smart city construction on the green utilization efficiency of urban land and its transmission mechanism. The results showed that: (1) The smart city construction significantly improved the green utilization efficiency of urban land, increasing the general efficiency by 15%. (2) There is significant city-size heterogeneity in the effect of smart city construction on improving green utilization efficiency of urban land. The policy effect is more obvious in mega cities and above than in very-large-sized cities. (3) The city-feature heterogeneity results reveal that, in cities with a higher level of human capital, financial development, and information infrastructure, the effectiveness of smart city construction in improving the green utilization efficiency of urban land are more obvious, and in cities with a higher level of financial development, the effects of the urban policy were more optimal. (4) The smart city construction promotes the green utilization efficiency of urban land through by the information industry development and the regional innovation capabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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29 pages, 15233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding the Characteristics and Realization Path of Urban Land Use Transition in the Bohai Economic Rim: An Analytical Framework of “Dominant–Recessive” Morphology Coupling

by Yanbo Qu, Yue Shu, Haining Zong, Hongyun Si, Zhiheng Yang and Tiantian Liu

Land 2021, 10(5), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10050493 - 06 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2273

Abstract

Taking the Bohai Economic Rim as the research area and 44 prefecture-level cities as research objects, on the basis of deepening the connotation of urban land use morphology, we constructed a multi-dimensional indicator system for urban land use transition based on the dominant [...] Read more.

Taking the Bohai Economic Rim as the research area and 44 prefecture-level cities as research objects, on the basis of deepening the connotation of urban land use morphology, we constructed a multi-dimensional indicator system for urban land use transition based on the dominant and recessive morphologies of land use. The patterns of change and transition type are described by single-morphology and comprehensive morphology indices, respectively, while a decoupling elastic coefficient model was used to analyze the coupling relationship and evolution process between the dominant and recessive morphologies of urban land use. The results showed the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the single-morphology and comprehensive morphology indices of urban land use in the Bohai Economic Rim both improved, to a certain extent. Overall, the transition types of dominant and recessive morphologies of urban land use showed a development trend, in which the degree of recessive morphology transition was higher than the degree of dominant morphology transition, and the spatial difference of its distribution pattern was obvious. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the type of coupling relationship between the dominant and recessive morphologies of urban land use in the Bohai Economic Rim experienced an evolution, from a single-morphology recession decoupling to a single-morphology leading positive hook. The whole region was in the benign development stage of close coupling, where the degree of transition showed the spatial characteristics of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei > Liaodong Peninsula > Shandong Peninsula. (3) Differences in the economic levels and urbanization processes of different cities led to different paths, speeds, and degrees of urban land use transition, showing stable, volatile, and non-transition paths. The direct influence of different influencing factors, as well as their potential effects, drive the dominant and recessive morphologies of urban land use to grow, in terms of coupling and synergy, promoting the realization of urban land use transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Land Use and Sustainable Urban Development)

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