Spatial evolution of rural settlements in urban-rural fringe of metropolitan area : case study from Shanghai metropolitan area

Urban fringe as a transition zone connecting urban and rural areas, its special geographical and economic position makes itself be the hot-spot area of city special expansion. While, as result of the land use confliction and other social or economy problems, the urban fringe is also the most sensitive area between city and country. The rural settlements in this area are severely influenced by the impact of large city around them; therefore have totally different space evolution paths compared with other rural settlements. During the study process, the theoretical research was firstly made to conclude the general law of rural settlement special evolution in metropolitan urban fringe area. Then shanghai was taken as a case to do the empirical research in order to text and detailing the theoretical conclusion. The time-and-space scope of Shanghai urban fringe is defined, then the natural, economic and social factors that influence the spatial evolution of rural settlements in Shanghai urban fringe are analyzed comprehensively, which is regarded as the macro-background of rural settlement in Shanghai urban fringe. Secondly, through the interpretation of satellite image and the analysis of statistical data, combined with the GIS technology, the spatial evolution of rural settlement is concluded and summarized in Siting Town of Shanghai urban fringe. Finally, the research experience of the past is used for reference, meanwhile, research methods are applied such as the cause and effect analysis, the deductive reasoning, the data analysis, etc. all of which aim to establish the comprehensive structure of spatial evolution of rural settlements in Shanghai urban fringe from five aspects, including driving force, interacting path, supporting facility, promotion mechanism and regulatory mechanism. Under the combined action of multiple mechanisms, the spatial evolution of rural settlements in urban fringe presents some characteristics such as heterogenization, gathering, communitization, etc.