Quantitative Delimitation of Metropolitan Areas Based on a Synthetic Method: Case Study in the Lanzhou Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Contemporary urbanization, urban regionalization and modernization, and the globalized economy have resulted in the formation of various urban complexes that have attracted the attention of urban geographers, sociologists, and economists worldwide. Quantitative delimitation of metropolitan areas has laid a foundation for further study of such areas. This study was conducted to develop a method of quantifying metropolitan area delimitation based on a synthetic method in conjunction with the geographical information system (GIS) technology. In addition, these methods were applied to the Lanzhou metropolitan area according to the analysis of spatial attenuating tendency, economic gravity (EG), network, civil interests, and potential effect. To accomplish this, the ARC/INFO software was employed to establish an accurate and authentic database. This database was then used to investigate the relationships and interactions between urban and regional areas or interurban areas, which were reported as indices of the spatial factor, temporal factor, flow, and EG. The use of quantifying metropolis delimitation based on the synthetic method developed here and GIS technology was generally successful.