A shift toward extensive utilization: The long-term relations between building volume and utilization intensity in China’s 267 natural cities

Abstract

Urbanization is accelerating globally, with China’s urbanization rate increasing by 40 percentage points over the past four decades. However, the dynamic spatial coupling between building volume and utilization intensity during different urbanization stages remains unclear. This study proposes a novel method using multi-source long-term remote sensing data to characterize this coupling from both a fine-grained and city-level perspective from 1994 to 2021. By integrating high-resolution nighttime light data with building footprint data and building height data across China, we established the Lighted Building Index (LBI) to measure human activity relative to building volume. This allows us to further categorize cities into five distinct typologies and illustrating their dynamic interplay between development and coupling degrees. Spatially, findings reveal significant disparities in the coupling, particularly in urban centers where LBI values are lower than surroundings. Spatial differentiation along the urban–rural gradient further highlights complexities in urban utilization. Temporally, a notable transition from urban intensification to urban de-intensification over the past three decades is found, indicating a shift toward less efficient urban development. As economic growth occurs, the coupling between infrastructure investment and utilization intensity weakens, underscoring the urgent need for policy interventions. This study serves as a vital tool to promote sustainable urbanization.