Spatiotemporal characteristics and dynamic mechanism of rural settlements based on typical transects: A case study of Zhangjiakou City, China

This paper reveals spatiotemporal features and dynamic mechanisms of rural settlements in different geomorphological areas, which is of great theoretical and practical value to the optimization of rural settlements and the implementation of national rural revitalization strategy. This study improves a conceptual framework for rural settlements evolution and their associated mechanisms from the perspective of internal and external dimensions. With various geomorphological types, Zhangjiakou City is selected as an empirical study area. The results show that during 1980-2018, remarkable regional differences existed in different geomorphological areas. In the mountain transect, the evolution trend of arable land and rural settlement is dominant, with a slow evolution extent, more regular spatial morphology, and declined utilization intensity of rural settlements. In the basin transect, the evolution trend of forestland, arable land, and urban land and rural settlement is dominant, with active evolution extent, more regular spatial morphology, and a slightly declined utilization intensity of rural settlements. In the plateau transect, the evolution trends of arable land, grassland, and rural settlement are dominant, with a slower evolution extent, more irregular spatial morphology, and a gradually declining utilization intensity. The differential responses result from different influencing factors, such as the natural environment, socioeconomic conditions, institutional policy, etc. Thus, the research contributes to optimizing rural settlement layouts and provides a reference for developing similar areas.