# Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Expansion in Beijing, China
## 4 Discussion  
The speed and direction of urban expansion are influenced by various social and urban factors, including economic policies, environmental sustainability, social needs, technological progress, cultural values, and urban planning. The government's economic development strategy and urban planning policies have a direct impact on urban expansion [23]. For example, the government may encourage the development of specific regions by providing infrastructure construction funds, tax incentives, or other incentives. With increasing attention paid to climate change and environmental issues, the direction of urban expansion may lean towards environmentally friendly development, such as the development of green buildings, public transportation, and urban green spaces. Urban expansion needs to meet the housing, employment, education, and healthcare needs of residents. These changes in demand will affect the speed and direction of urban expansion to accommodate population growth and improved quality of life. The direction of urban expansion is also influenced by local cultural values. Some cities may place greater emphasis on historical preservation and cultural characteristics, and therefore pay attention to protecting traditional neighborhoods and historic buildings during the expansion process [24]. The ideas and goals of urban planners have a decisive impact on the direction of urban expansion. Planners may develop expansion plans based on the specific conditions and long-term goals of the city to achieve a balanced development of the economy, society, and environment. The migration of population from rural areas to urban areas is an important factor driving urban expansion. This type of migration is usually in search of better employment opportunities and living conditions. The construction and improvement of infrastructure such as transportation, energy, and communication can promote \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline  & \begin{tabular}{c} **Average Growth Rate** \\ **of Area** \\ \end{tabular} & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Average Population** \\ **Growth Rate** \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Elastic Coefficient** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline
1995–2000 & 0.169 & 0.090 & 1.875 \\
2000–2005 & 0.262 & 0.128 & 2.053 \\
2005–2010 & 0.071 & 0.276 & 0.257 \\
2010–2015 & 0.119 & 0.107 & 1.120 \\
2015–2020 & \(-\)0.001 & \(-\)0.008 & 0.084 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Population elasticity coefficient of Beijing from 1995 to 2020. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline  & \begin{tabular}{c} **Number of Permanent** \\ **Residents** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Socioeconomic Indicators** \\ **(Gross Domestic Product)** \\ \end{tabular} & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Traffic Condition Indicators** \\ **(Number of Public** \\ **Transport Operations)** \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Livability Index** \\ **(Green Area)** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline Construction & 0.985 ** & 0.972 ** & 0.737 & 0.968 ** \\ land area & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* indicates a significant correlation at the 0.01 level.  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Pearson correlation analysis between urban expansion and influencing factors. urban expansion, especially in areas where infrastructure can enhance regional accessibility and attractiveness. The expansion models used for urban development differ significantly, and there are also differences in the expansion characteristics and influencing factors of different cities. The urban construction land area in Beijing expanded by a factor of 0.53 from 1995 to 2020, and its expansion speed and intensity gradually slowed. The overall expansion trend is that the central urban area remains basically unchanged, while the peripheral areas are rapidly expanding, showing rapid growth first and then stabilization, and the urban layout is basically stable. This is related to the fact that Beijing, as the capital, has a great ability to attract talent and funds.