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Open AccessArticle
Satellite-Observed Mismatch in Urban Growth and Population Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Regional Planning in Guangdong Province
by
Fushan Zhang
Fushan Zhang 1,2
,
Chi Duan
Chi Duan 1,2 and
Qingling Zhang
Qingling Zhang
Prof. Dr. Qingling Zhang studied at the Department of Geography Education of Hunan Normal University [...]
Prof. Dr. Qingling Zhang studied at the Department of Geography Education of Hunan Normal University from 1993 to 1997 and obtained a Bachelor's degree; from 1999 to 2002, he studied at the Department of Environmental Sciences of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and obtained a Master's degree; from 2002 to 2004, he studied at the Department of Geography of Central Michigan University in the United States and received a Master's degree; from 2004 to 2009, he studied at the Department of Geography (now the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies) of Boston University in the United States and obtained a Doctorate. From 1997 to 1999, he worked as a Teacher at Changsha Civil Affairs School (now Changsha Civil Affairs Vocational and Technical College), Ministry of Civil Affairs; from 2008 to 2011, he worked as an Assistant Researcher at the School of Forestry and Environmental Science at Yale University; from 2011 to 2014, he worked as a Research Scientist at the School of Forestry and Environmental Science at Yale University; from 2014 to 2018, he worked as a Researcher and Deputy Director of the Center at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; from 2018 to the present, he has been a Professor and Academic Leader of High-Resolution Remote Sensing Application Research at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sun Yat-sen University.
1,2,*
1
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen 518107, China
2
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Intelligent Microsatellite Constellation, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen 518107, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(13), 2217; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132217 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 7 May 2025
/
Revised: 23 June 2025
/
Accepted: 24 June 2025
/
Published: 27 June 2025
Abstract
Understanding spatiotemporal mismatches between urban expansion and population dynamics is essential for guiding sustainable development in rapidly urbanizing regions. Using multi-source nighttime light (NTL) images and global settlement layers, this study investigates the settlement growth pattern and potential spatiotemporal mismatch with population distribution in Guangdong, China, from 1995 to 2019 at a 5-year interval. Specifically, population spatialization in urban and rural areas is separately mapped by adopting a population-based thresholding method, achieving strong agreement with the census record. Our analysis reveals distinct expansion patterns and mismatch conditions across Guangdong’s Core, Belt, and District subzones. The Core and District subzones primarily experienced infilling and edge-expansion urban growth, while the Belt subzone exhibited more dispersed spatial patterns. Notably, only 5 of 21 prefectures exhibited faster population growth than urban expansion, likely due to sustained migration driven by economic opportunities and advanced urbanization. Quantitatively, both urban expansion and population growth followed a Core, Belt, District order. Spatially, population-dominated areas were primarily clustered within 10 km of urban centers, while the District subzone extensively displayed overfilled settlements, indicating low-efficient land use. Temporally, urban growth relative to population in the Core subzone turned from slower pre-2000 to faster post-2000, followed by gradual deceleration, while the Belt subzone maintained balanced growth throughout the study period. The District subzone sustained faster urban growth from 2000 to 2019. Findings of the study provide an important reference for scientific urban planning and sustainable regional development, not only in Guangzhou but other rapidly urbanizing regions globally.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Zhang, F.; Duan, C.; Zhang, Q.
Satellite-Observed Mismatch in Urban Growth and Population Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Regional Planning in Guangdong Province. Remote Sens. 2025, 17, 2217.
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132217
AMA Style
Zhang F, Duan C, Zhang Q.
Satellite-Observed Mismatch in Urban Growth and Population Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Regional Planning in Guangdong Province. Remote Sensing. 2025; 17(13):2217.
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132217
Chicago/Turabian Style
Zhang, Fushan, Chi Duan, and Qingling Zhang.
2025. "Satellite-Observed Mismatch in Urban Growth and Population Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Regional Planning in Guangdong Province" Remote Sensing 17, no. 13: 2217.
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132217
APA Style
Zhang, F., Duan, C., & Zhang, Q.
(2025). Satellite-Observed Mismatch in Urban Growth and Population Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Regional Planning in Guangdong Province. Remote Sensing, 17(13), 2217.
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132217
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