Simulating Urban Agglomeration Expansion in Henan Province, China: An Analysis of Driving Mechanisms Using the FLUS Model with Considerations for Urban Interactions and Ecological Constraints

Abstract

Urban expansion is influenced by complex and variable social, economic, natural, and policy-related factors. Given their nonlinear interactions, accurately modeling these urban expansion processes poses a challenge. While most studies treat the city as an independent entity, prioritizing internal urban factors, urban land expansion is influenced by intercity interactions and the ecological environment. This study proposes a new approach that couples the gravitational field model, ecological constraints, and the Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) model, comprehensively considering the impact of intercity interaction and the ecological environment. The experiment in Henan Province in China assessed the effects of factors such as basic spatial variables (Slope and distance to the city center), urban gravitational field, and ecological constraints on urban expansion through the optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD) model. The feasibility of the method was confirmed by this case study, which shows that it improves the simulation accuracy of the urban agglomeration scale, particularly for central cities. We identified the urban gravitational field and ecological constraints as two important factors affecting the expansion of urban agglomerations. Areas with stronger urban spatial fields are more likely to attract neighboring resources and promote urban expansion, whereas ecological factors constrain the expansion behavior of cities under the condition of ecological and environmental resource protection needs, and both of them work together to influence the expansion behavior of urban clusters. Therefore, we posit that intercity interactions and ecological constraints are important considerations for the future spatial planning of urban agglomerations and for coordinating the harmonious development of urbanization and ecological conservation.

How to Coordinate the Relationship between Urban Space Exploitation, Economic Development, and Ecological Environment: Evidence from Henan Province, China

“…This study measures the coupling coordination degree between SEcol and finds that, over time, the coordination degree between SEcol gradually weakens, transitioning from a primary coordination to a barely coordinated state. The reason is that 44.3% of the land space in Henan Province is mountainous and hilly, with strong ecological sensitivity, and the land suitable for cultivation and urban industrial construction is gradually decreasing [64]. More importantly, with the expansion of construction land, agricultural and ecological spaces are constantly being squeezed, leading to ecosystem imbalances [65,66].…”

Long-Term Ecological Environment Quality Evaluation and Its Driving Mechanism in Luoyang City

“…The significant influence between the two is consistent with existing research findings. Gao et al [47] pointed out in their simulation of urban expansion in Henan province that the increase in urban land use is mostly accompanied by a decrease in farmland due to the saturation of building area. Therefore, our study found that the cultivated land area sharply decreased from 2002 to 2020, while the artificial land area increased significantly, resulting in poor ecological environment quality in the northern building area of Luoyang city.…”

Analyzing and Simulating the Influence of a Water Conveyance Project on Land Use Conditions in the Tarim River Region

“…Land use and land cover (LULC) change is a primary issue in global environmental change and sustainable development [1][2][3][4][5]. Land use activities will inevitably have significant influences on the planet's land surface [6][7][8][9]. Numerous environmental and social issues are associated with rapid urbanization and population growth throughout the world [10][11][12][13].…”