China has experienced a period of rapid economic growth during the past few decades especially in Shanghai. The rapid urbanization has caused great change for land use and cover change (LUCC), which is a prominent feature of global change. This paper focuses on land use history and the driving forces of LUCC in Shanghai from 1990 to 2010. We evaluated the LUCC of Shanghai based on three period Landsat images using the land use transition matrix model, the land use dynamic degree model, and the land use degree model. Then we analyzed the potential driving forces from different dimensions. The results show that the most obvious pattern of LUCC is the increase of built-up area and the decrease of arable land. The land use change dynamic from 2000 to 2010 is much greater than that from 1990 to 2010. The main driving forces of LUCC are human activity and social economic development.

Developing countries such as China are undergoing rapid urban expansion and land use change. Urban expansion regulation has been a significant research topic recently, especially in Eastern China, with a high urbanization level. Among others, roads are an important spatial determinant of urban expansion and have significant influences on human activities, the environment, and socioeconomic development. Understanding the urban road network expansion pattern and its corresponding social and environmental effects is a reasonable way to optimize comprehensive urban planning and keep the city sustainable. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban road growth and uses spatial statistic models to describe its spatial patterns in rapid developing cities through a case study of Nanjing, China. A kernel density estimation model is used to describe the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of the road network. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) is applied to generate the social and environmental variance influenced by the urban road network expansion. The results reveal that the distribution of the road network shows a morphological character of two horizontal and one vertical concentration lines. From 2012 to 2016, the density of the urban road network increased significantly and developed some obvious focus centers. The development of the urban road network had a strong correlation with socioeconomic and environmental factors, which however, influenced it at different degrees in different districts. This study enhances the understanding of the effects of socio-economic and environmental factors on urban road network expansion, a significant indicator of urban expansion, in different circumstances. The study will provide useful understanding and knowledge to planning departments and other decision makers to maintain sustainable development.

Land use and cover change (LUCC) is one of the most significant parts of global environmental changes, which reflects the interaction between human society and natural resources. In China, the urbanization process is experiencing a rapid sprawl since the reform and open program in 1978, and there has been a serious change in situation in the human–land relationship. In this paper, taking Jiangsu province located in the eastern coastal developed region as an example, the historic evolution process of the land use situation from 1990 to 2010 was explored. Landsat images from three periods were analyzed, using the land use transition matrix model, the land use dynamic degree model, and the land use degree model to evaluate the LUCC of Jiangsu during two research periods from 1990 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2010. Additionally, logistic regression models and some quantitative analysis were applied to identify the major potential driving factors behind the LUCC during the research period based on different dimensions. The results showed the following: (1) the most obvious change was the continuous increase of built-up area and the decrease of arable land, which reflected the deterioration of the ecological environment and the accelerate of the urbanization trend. (2) The land use change dynamic degree from 2000 to 2010 was much greater than that from 1990 to 2000. (3) Socio-economic elements and human activities were the major driving forces of LUCC in Jiangsu province. Amongst these forces, the driving factors of the population change, GDP, per capita household income, and per capita housing area have an obvious effect on the arable land loss and the built-up area expansion.

Recently, with the fast speed of urban expansion, research concerning the regulation of urban built-up area expansion is a significant topic, especially in Eastern China with its high urbanization level. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) nighttime light data has a high association with the urban-rural distribution, which provides a new method to study urban expansion effectively and with relatively high accuracy. Between 1998 and 2013, China experienced a rapid economic development period, making it crucial to learn the patterns and driving forces to better manage urban master planning and sustainable development. The urban built-up area for the research years are mapped, and the annual urban expansion speed, urbanization intensity index, and built-up area gravity center are analyzed in this paper. The results will show that the amount of the urban built-up area grows continuously from 1998 to 2008, with the development focus in southern Jiangsu, while from 2008 to 2013, the development center moves to northern Jiangsu. The main driving forces behind this urban built-up area expansion are population growth and economic development.

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) reflects a region’s history and culture, serving as a significant indicator of regional identity and cohesion. The Grand Canal Basin in China is rich in historical traditions, containing a rich array of ICH resources. Analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors of ICH within the Grand Canal Basin of China can provide a scientific basis for developing cultural industries and promoting sustainable regional economic growth. This study employed GIS-based spatial analysis methods, including kernel density estimation, the mean nearest neighbor index, and standard deviation ellipse, to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of 504 national-level ICH items (including extensions) in the Grand Canal Basin of China. The results demonstrate the significant spatial clustering of ICH, with concentrations in high-density regions, particularly at the northern and southern ends of the canal. There is significant regional disparity in the distribution of ICH, with an uneven quantity and structure, predominantly featuring traditional skills and traditional drama categories. The average centroid shift of ICH exhibits a north-to-south oscillatory trajectory. However, overall, it demonstrates a southward-moving trend. This study also underscores the impacts of urbanization, population density, economic development, and transportation infrastructure on ICH distribution. Among these factors, urbanization exerts the strongest influence on the spatial distribution of ICH. The impact of the natural environment is relatively minor; however, it remains a significant element that cannot be overlooked during development. This research offers valuable data and insights for local governments and institutions to formulate evidence-based strategies for the protection and sustainable utilization of ICH resources, promoting sustainable cultural and economic development in the Grand Canal Basin.