Spatial form compact development path of coal mining cities – take Tangshan as an example

Abstract

Under the background of global climate change and economic development, coal mining cities are forced to transform. However, due to the inherent geological characteristics, the transformation process is often accompanied by inefficient use of urban space. In order to realize the sustainable compact development of space, this research put forward a grid analysis method integrating geological condition, land cover, three-dimensional form of constructions, urban function and urban activity as five fundamental factors for assessing compactness of ecological, production and living spaces of coal mining cities. Tangshan, a typical coal mining city in China, was selected as a case study area. The result showed that Tangshan had experienced a complete ecological space construction but in the urban fringe, the hollowing of high-density living space and low-density production space occurred. In addition, conflicts between mines and some urban land still existed. Therefore, the research area was further divided into four regions with different development strategies: unstable region, green region, new city core and urban fringe. The new urban core was positioned as the compact development area to develop a variety of urban functions, while suggestions for reducing urban density and conservative development were adopted for unstable areas and urban fringe. The analysis and sub-regional development methods fit the characteristics of coal mining cities and can provide policy reference for their sustainable and compact development.