Peilei Fan

Polycentric Urban Development: The Case of Hangzhou

Despite the advantages of polycentric structure and its rich literature drawn from cities in industialized countries, little attention has been paid to the study of polycentric urban development in developing countries based on land-use information. With Hangzhou used as a case study, the authors investigate polycentric urban development through an analysis of directions of urban expansion, urban–rural gradients, and growth types. The multidisciplinary methodology employed, based on theories and methods in remote sensing, geographic information systems, and landscape ecology, has been proved to be useful in the morphological study of polycentric urban development. It was found that Hangzhou has expanded in different directions at various speeds, shifting to a polycentric urban pattern through radial expansion. Along the main transportation corridors, the values of the mean patch sizes of urban patches displayed multiple peaks, and the landscape-shape index maintained a horizontal trend in urban fringes, reflecting the formation of polycentricity. Further, as edge growth and spontaneous growth accounted for 40%–50% and 30–40% of urban growth, respectively, and infill growth was responsible for only a small proportion of urban growth, it is suggested that dispersed urban patches have been increasingly agglomerated into big ones, especially along road corridors. Hangzhous polycentric urban development was shaped both by the planning efforts of the government and by market forces. The municipal government guided the polycentric development through drafting and revising master plans, annexing nearby districts, and establishing development zones. Nevertheless, market forces played an increasingly important role in Hangzhous polycentric development through the implementation of an urban land market, the inflow of migrant workers, and the relocation of industries.

Spatial determinants of urban land conversion in large Chinese cities: a case of Hangzhou

In this research we assessed the urban land conversion, and identified the factors responsible for the conversion, from 1995 to 2009 in Hangzhou, a large city located in the lower Yangtze River Delta of China. We mapped urban land from satellite images by using a hybrid approach of spectral mixture analysis, unsupervised classification, and expert rules. We employed binary logistic regression to model the probability of urban land conversion as a function of spatial independent variables. In recent years Hangzhou started its transformation from a compact, monocentric city to a polycentric city. We found that accessibility to the central business district, industrial centers, roads, Qiantang River, the amount of built-up area in the neighborhood, locations of markets, and spatial policies were the major determinants of Hangzhous urban land conversion. Moreover, the availability of land in the neighborhood has become increasingly important in recent years. We identified several major institutional forces underlying Hangzhous urban development: administrative annexation and development zones, the increasingly important role of the market, and the unique role of local government. The results from our research indicate the need for policies and plans that can better manage and reduce urban sprawl in Hangzhou.

Assessing spatial pattern of urban thermal environment in Shanghai, China

The aggravating urban thermal environment has considerable adverse effects on urban physical environment, energy consumption, and public health. Due to the complexity of factors contributing to the urban thermal environment, traditional statistical methods are insufficient for acquiring data and analyzing the impacts of human activities on the thermal environment, especially for identifying dominant factors. Based on thermal remote sensing imageries and Geographic Information System analysis, we assessed spatial pattern of urban thermal environment in Shanghai in 2008, and analyzed the factors contributing to the generation of urban heat island (UHI) using principal component analysis (PCA). We found that Shanghai had obvious UHI with uneven spatial pattern in 2008. Further, we identified three most important components leading to the variances of Shanghai’s UHI: the gradient from man-made to natural land cover, landscape configuration, and anthropogenic heat release. A linear model has thus been successfully constructed, implying that PCA is helpful in identifying major contributors to UHI. The findings are of significance for policy implication to urban thermal environment mitigation.

Economic development, urban expansion, and sustainable development in Shanghai

Studies of urbanization effects in Chinese cities from the aspect of the coupled development of economy and environment are rare due to data limitations. This paper studied Shanghai’s fast urban expansion and examined the dynamic relationship between economic growth and environment consequences at the district level. We extracted data on urban built-up area and land surface temperature from remote sensing images. We analyzed the patterns of urban expansion and land use change and explained the dynamic relationship between economic development and environment conditions. We attributed the uneven economic development and environmental change in districts of Shanghai to four main institutional factors: (1) the role of the government, (2) the multi-level urban planning system, (3) land market reform, and (4) the economic restructuring.

Innovation in China

Innovation has been increasingly recognized as a critical force in national economic growth not only in developed countries, but also in emerging countries such as China and India. This paper provides a critical review of the literature related to Chinas innovation capability. First, I evaluate the current status of Chinas innovation capability as measured not only by the level of human capital and output of academic research but also by patents, products, and services that directly benefit economic growth. I then review the development pathway of Chinas national innovation system since the economic reforms, including policies, the role of the government, and the engagement of different actors in the national innovation system. Following that, I examine theories and empirical evidence that help to explain the evolution of Chinas innovation capability. Finally, using Chinas experience, I analyze the relationship between innovation capability and economic development and highlight how the uneven spatial distribution of innovation capability may affect Chinas regional economic development.

Urbanization and environmental change during the economic transition on the Mongolian Plateau: Hohhot and Ulaanbaatar

Driven by drastic socioeconomic changes in China and Mongolia, urbanization has become one of the most significant driving forces in the transformation of the Mongolian Plateau in the past 30 years. Using Hohhot and Ulaanbaatar as case studies, we developed a holistic approach to examine the socioeconomic and natural driving forces for urbanization and to investigate the impact on the urban environment. We used a multidisciplinary approach and relied on a variety of data sources to assess the changes of the landscape and environment of the two cities. We detected a rapid urbanization in Hohhot and Ulaanbaatar, both in terms of urban population growth and urban land expansion, from 1990 to 2010, with a much faster speed in 2000-2010. The local geo-physical conditions have constrained the spatial direction of expansion. Ulaanbaatar lagged behind Hohhot for about a decade when measured by indicators of urban population and urban land. Both cities have a degraded urban environment and a growing air pollution epidemic. While Hohhot had worse air pollution than Ulaanbaatar in the early 2000s, the gap between the two cities became smaller after 2010. The research presented here highlights the following as key determinants for urbanization and environmental change: (1) the co-evolution of urbanization, economic development, and environmental change; (2) the urbanization of transitional economies driven by the change of the economic structure, i.e., the development by both manufacturing and tertiary sectors and the change in the primary sector; and (3) the recent institutional changes and increased integration with the global economy.

Nature-based solutions for urban landscapes under post-industrialization and globalization: Barcelona versus Shanghai

ABSTRACT Using Barcelona and Shanghai as case studies, we examined the nature‐based solutions (NBS) in urban settings—specifically within cities experiencing post‐industrialization and globalization. Our specific research questions are: (1) What are the spatiotemporal changes in urban built‐up land and green space in Barcelona and Shanghai? (2) What are the relationships between economic development, exemplified by post‐industrialization, globalization, and urban green space? Urban land use and green space change were evaluated using data derived from a variety of sources, including satellite images, landscape matrix indicators, and a land conversion matrix. The relationships between economic development, globalization, and environmental quality were analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling based on secondary statistical data. Both Barcelona and Shanghai have undergone rapid urbanization, with urban expansion in Barcelona beginning in the 1960s–1970s and in Shanghai in the last decade. While Barcelonas urban green space and green space per capita began declining between the 1950s and 1990s, they increased slightly over the past two decades. Shanghai, however, has consistently and significantly improved urban green space and green space per capita over the past six decades, especially since the economic reform in 1978. Economic development has a direct and significant influence on urban green space for both cities and post‐industrialization had served as the main driving force for urban landscape change in Barcelona and Shanghai. Based on secondary statistical and qualitative data from on‐site observations and interviews with local experts, we highlighted the institutions role in NBS planning. Furthermore, aspiration to become a global or globalizing city motivated both cities to use NBS planning as a place‐making tool to attract global investment, which is reflected in various governing policies and regulations. The cities’ effort to achieve a higher status in the global city hierarchy may have contributed to the increase in total green space and urban green per capita. In addition, various institutional shifts, such as land property rights in a market economy vs. a transitional economy, may also have contributed to the differences in efficiency when expanding urban green space in Barcelona and Shanghai. HighlightsUrban green space for Barcelona first declined then slightly increased.Shanghai had a significant improvement in urban green space.Post‐industrialization and planning have affected urban green space.Globalization and institutions contribute to differences in green space dynamics.

Vulnerability of a coupled natural and human system in a changing environment: dynamics of Lanzhou's urban landscape

We used a multidisciplinary approach to assess the vulnerability of a coupled natural and human (CNH) system in Lanzhou, China. Lanzhou’s urban settlement and expansion depended highly on the waterway of the Yellow River and its surrounding geographic setting. Lanzhou’s dramatic fluctuation of population was linked with its position as a bordering city between different geographic regions and the controls of ethnic/cultural groups. During the modern phase (1949 to the present), Lanzhou experienced rapid urban expansion, especially after 1979, propelled by industrialization policies by the national government. However, Lanzhou’s environment degraded seriously with severe air, water, and soil pollution as well as low green coverage and affected urban climate, especially after the 1970s. We argue that geophysical factors, economic regimes, and institutional factors are all crucial in explaining the dynamics of the CNH system in Lanzhou.

Catching-up through staged development and innovation: The case of Chinese telecom companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework of staged development that examines strategies of domestic companies, government policies, and impacts of foreign multinational companies (MNCs) at different periods of catch‐up of latecomers.Design/methodology/approach – A multi‐case approach is employed to examine four domestic telecom‐equipment companies that have significant impact on Chinas telecom‐equipment industry. They are: Huawei Technology Corporation (Huawei), Shenzhen Zhongxin Technology Corporation (ZTE), Datang Telecom Technology Corporation, Ltd (Datang), and Great Dragon Information Technology (GDT).Findings – This paper identifies four distinct stages of the catching‐up process, featuring different institutional environment, government involvement, and the ensuing actions of foreign MNCs and domestic companies. During the initial stage, Chinas government decision of directly leapfrogging to the most advanced switch equipment had a profound impact, because it led t...

China's Regional Inequality in Innovation Capability, 1995–2006

This paper assesses both interregional and intraregional innovation inequality in China from 1995 to 2006. It is revealed that the east–central–west inequality has increased over time, whereas the inter-provincial inequality showed a V-pattern until 2003; Both inequality measures oscillated from 2004 to 2006. Using a decomposition framework recently developed by one of the authors, we determined that the major factors driving innovation inequality are population, economic development level, R&D, location and openness. The aggravated innovation inequality reflects the growth of Chinas innovation centers in the eastern region and their admission into the global innovation networks. The fact that R&D is a major factor driving the inequality suggests that, considered in the present study, the efficiency of R&D investment improved in certian regions during the period (1995–2006). Finally, geographic location and openness affect innovation inequality primarily through the coupled evolution of innovation capability and economic development, resulting in first-mover advantages to provinces of the eastern region.