Abstract:

Since the beginning of the 21st century, built-up area had been increased driven by the rapid social and economic development, which had brought a series of socio-economic and environmental issues. In order to realize the goal of national sustainable development, China needs to scientifically formulate plans for developing and protecting land. Some scholars carried out the research on a draft plan for major function-oriented zones, which supportted the implementation of China's national plan for major function-oriented zones since 2010. In order to analyze the characteristics of built-up area in each major function-oriented zone before and after the plan's implement, as well as assess the plan's guiding role in regional development and possible problems in the plan's implementation promptly, it is necessary to adopt effective measures to monitor and evaluate land development activities in each of the major function-oriented zones. Therefore, using a China's Land Use Database (CLUD) during 2000-2010 interpreted from high-resolution remotely sensed images by our team, this study updated the CLUD between 2010 and 2013, and then developed the dataset of built-up area expansions for above two period. We analyzed and compared spatio-temporal characteristics and differences on built-up area expansion for national major function-oriented among China's four developing regions (east, central, west and northeast) in the periods for 2000-2010 and 2010-2013. The results showed the following: (1) On the whole, the percentage of built-up area in each of the major function-oriented zones was significant different, revealing the gradient feature of national land development based on the distribution of the main functions in 2013. (2) Compared to 2000-2010, in the period 2010-2013 annual growth rate in built-up area in optimal development zones decreased significantly, while annual growth rate in built-up area in key development zones, agricultural production zones and key ecological function zones increased significantly, with annual average expanding area of built-up area in key development zones and agricultural production zones exceeding that of optimal development zones, and the annual average expanding area and dynamic degree of built-up area remained lowest in key ecological function zones. (3) At the regional scale, the average annual increase in built-up area in optimal development zones in the Yangtze River Delta region was significantly higher than optimal development zones in other regions; the average area increase and rate of increase of built-up area in key development zones was faster in the western region than in other regions; average annual area growth of built-up area in agricultural production zones in the northeast, central and western regions was twice as high as the previous decade on average, while the annual rate of increase in the western region was three times as high as in the previous decade; the annual rate of change and increase in the dynamic degree of built-up area were most notable in key ecological function zones in the central region. (4) In general, the spatial pattern and characteristics of built-up area expansions in the period 2010-2013 reflected the gradient feature of the plan for major function-oriented zones. But the rate of increase locally in built-up aura in optimal development zones, agricultural production zones and key ecological function zones is fast, so the effective measures must be adopted in the implement of national and regional policies. By developing an analytical method to examine regional differences and spatial heterogeneity of built-up area expansions before and after the implement of the plan for major function-oriented zones, this study delineated the adjusting degree on between built-up area expansions from major function-oriented zones and the plan for major function-oriented zones. The conclusions indicated these methods and results were meaningful for future regulation strategies in optimizing national land development in China.

Key words: Major Function-oriented Zones, satellite remote sensing, land use change, built-up expansion, China