Analysis of urban expansion drivers: a case study of Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou

As global urbanization continues to accelerate, cities have become the centers of global population and economic activities. This study investigates the driving forces behind urban expansion in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou region, a significant urban agglomeration in southeastern Fujian Province, China. Utilizing GIS technology, the research visualizes factors influencing urban expansion to better understand the growth and evolution patterns of the area. Data from various sources, including socio-economic statistics, road networks, land use classifications, and DEM elevation data, were analyzed using the GeoDetector to assess influence of various elements. The results reveal that the density of the population and the density of the road network have the highest interaction interpretability for urban land expansion, with a value of 0.985. The interaction between population density and GDP follows closely, with a value of 0.972. The synergistic effects of these factors indicate that their combined impact on urban expansion is greater than their individual effects. The study concludes that urban expansion in the region is primarily driven by the combined effects of population density, economic development, and transportation infrastructure. These findings provide important perspectives for regional city planning and long-term ecological sustainability approaches, offering guidance for the future development of similar urban clusters.