Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Urban Expansion in Beijing: A Comprehensive Analysis of Landscape Metrics, Urban Morphology, and Growth Patterns

Urban expansion is a critical challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions, with significant implications for land use, ecological systems, and socio-economic structures. This study examines the spatial-temporal dynamics of urban expansion in Beijing from 2010 to 2020, focusing on landscape metrics, urban morphology, and growth patterns. By integrating remote sensing data, GIS-based spatial analysis, and landscape metrics, we quantify the spatial-temporal dynamics of urban expansion and evaluate its implications for urban development. The analysis of landscape metrics reveals increased fragmentation and edge density, indicating a more dispersed and complex urban form. The study also identifies a polycentric urban structure, characterized by the growth of main centers and the emergence of new subcenters, reflecting a strategic shift toward decentralization. Additionally, the analysis of urban growth patterns highlights edge expansion as the dominant mode, underscoring the challenge of balancing development with sustainability. This study reveals that Beijing's urban expansion is dominated by edge growth and increasing landscape fragmentation, posing challenges to sustainable development. A shift from incremental expansion to stock optimization is needed to avoid duplicated infrastructure and ecological degradation. The UNPL index identifies urban centers and reveals functional imbalances in subcenters, highlighting the need for functional optimization. With predictive potential for growth hotspots and service planning, it offers a valuable planning tool. Future research should integrate socio-economic drivers and policy-response models. This research enhances understanding of urbanization in fast-growing regions and provides insights for sustainable urban growth strategies.