Analysis of the Coordination of Built-Up Area Expansion and Population Growth in the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration

Abstract

Exploring the coordinated relationship between built-up area expansion and population growth in the urbanization process is important for the planning and sustainable development of cities. The article took Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration as the study area, which was divided into the Provincial Capital Economic Circle, Jiaodong Economic Circle, and Lunan Economic Circle according to the plan named the Implementation Plan for Implementing the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Establishing a New Mechanism for More Effective Regional Co-ordinated Development. The people–land coordination relationship in the region was analyzed from the perspective of spatio-temporal integration through indices such as fractal dimension, spatial autocorrelation, population sprawl, and city land expansion and population growth coordination index (CPI) The results showed that (1) the relationship between built-up area expansion and population growth in the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration was uncoordinated. The three economic circles mainly changed from rapid population growth to significant expansion of built-up areas. (2) The development patterns of the three economic circles were different. The Provincial Capital and Jiaodong showed a pattern with Jinan and Qingdao as the core, driving the periphery area. Lunan showed a multi-point scattered development; there was no central city, but Linyi City was developing faster. (3) Jiaodong had the biggest changes in terms of population and built-up area. This study provides a scientific reference for the urban planning and sustainable development of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration.