Urban spatial growth and driving mechanisms under different urban morphologies: An empirical analysis of 287 Chinese cities

Abstract

Different urban morphologies significantly influence urban spatial growth, yet existing studies seldom directly address this issue. To fill this gap, we develop a novel methodology to analyze the processes and intrinsic mechanisms of urban spatial growth under varying urban morphologies. This study initially identifies urban morphologies through multisource data fusion, then examines urban spatial growth processes based on Morphological Center Indices, and finally analyzes the mechanisms driving urban spatial growth across different urban morphologies. The results indicate, firstly, that among the newly defined six urban morphologies in China, monocentric–dispersed is predominant, with the polycentric urban morphology not developing as anticipated. Secondly, the process of urban spatial growth varies across different urban morphologies, with higher polycentricity correlating with more infilling development, leading to more intensive land use and less influence from the infilling growth model. Conversely, lower polycentricity results in more edge-expansion and spontaneous growth, causing more dispersed land use. Thirdly, the growth patterns and influencing factors differ among various urban morphologies, but overall, urban growth is driven by a complex interplay of multiple factors, which significantly intensifies when these factors interact. This study enriches the theoretical understanding of urban morphology and spatial growth, offering practical insights for differentiated urban development planning in urban spatial growth.