A Study of the Methods for the Division of the Boundary between Urban and Rural Areas Based on Multiple Conditions: A Case Study of Xi’an

Abstract:

Based on summarizing the research on the division of urban and rural areas, this paper defines the attributes of “cities” and “villages”, and establishes a set of methods for the division of urban and rural areas based on multi-layer conditions and related indicator system. By using the method based on multi-layer condition, in combination with cumulative percentage and other mathematical methods, adopting the spatial comparison method by using Google Earth satellite images, the optimal threshold is decided through multi-condition screening and then the definitional standards are confirmed. This paper divides the urban and rural areas by selecting Xi’an city as the research area. The divided results compare to the results concluded by the National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China. It is found that the urbanization rate is reduced by 3.24%. Through overlapping comparison of satellite remote sensing images, it is proven that the feasibility and sophistication of the methods for the division of urban and rural areas through screening multiple conditions.

Table  Comparing the statistical methods and the research results.

Discrepancy indicators	Division results (cities and towns) by the Plan	Division rresults by the National Bureau of Statistics (cities and towns)
Number of census blocks	1257	1370
Total area of cities and towns	957.34km2	1579.21km2
Population	5429354	5698970
Urbanization Rate	65.36%	68.6%

<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>