Spatiotemporal Patterns of Urban Expansion in Major Cities of Jilin Province

Abstract

This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion in major cities of Jilin Province using Landsat satellite imagery acquired in 2002, 2012, and 2022. To accurately extract urban land cover, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) were employed, achieving an overall accuracy of 83% for urban boundary delineation. A 5 km grid-based analysis was further applied to quantify and map the spatial patterns of urban growth. Results indicate that the total urban land area in Jilin Province expanded from 1,100 km² in 2002 to 2,430 km² in 2022, with major cities (e.g., Changchun) experiencing the most substantial growth. Spatially, high urban coverage was concentrated in central urban agglomerations and gradually expanded outward, with the period 2012–2022 witnessing the most intense growth in core city regions. Topographic conditions, industrial development, regional policies, and transportation infrastructure were identified as the key drivers of these urban expansion patterns. This research provides critical insights into the dynamics of urbanization and land use change in Jilin Province, supporting evidence-based urban planning and land resource management.