Analysis of the characteristic and the driving force of island-town spatial expansion: A case study in Pingtan County

This paper took Pingtan County, an island-town located in the eastern seashore of Fujian Province, as the study area. By the comprehensive use of RS and GIS techniques, this paper summarized the morphological characteristics of main-urban area spatial expansion in Pingtan County since the Hercynian construction was proposed. The expansion characteristics were systematically analyzed by introduced three indicators: urban sprawl strength, urban center and compact index. Combined with regional socio-economic development, this paper also investigated the driving mechanism of urban land growth from the following aspects, geographical environment, population-driven, economic development, macroeconomic policy and urban planning guidance, etc. The results showed that it was quite distinct of Pingtan County urban spatial expansion, and the built-up area, increased from 5.23 km² in 2002 to 7.69 km² in 2007, had risen by about half in five years; the growth area was mainly concentrated in eastern and southern parts; the county center had been offset by 220m along the southeast direction; the urban space expansion was a combined result of natural, economic and social factors.