How land use functions evolve in the process of rapid urbanization: Evidence from Jiangsu Province, China

The continuous urbanization of the world is exacerbating the severe situation of insufficient supply of land resources. Therefore, realizing the synergy between urbanization and land use functions is the key to regional sustainable development. Our purpose is to discuss the synergistic state of land use functions and the transition characteristics of dominant functions under specific urbanization conditions. The theoretical framework of urbanization and land use functions is constructed from the four dimensions of “systems-elements- process-relationship”, entropy method, mechanical equilibrium model and curve estimation model are specifically considered. The results indicated that: (1) The comprehensive urbanization clearly shows characteristics of “Southern Jiangsu > Central Jiangsu > Northern Jiangsu” from 1997 to 2018, and the dominant type of urbanization has gradually shifted from population urbanization to economic urbanization. (2) The deviation index of land use functions is between 0.0055 and 0.2101, which is significantly higher in Southern Jiangsu than in Northern Jiangsu, and the dominant function of land use is gradually transformed into production function. (3) There is an obvious positive correlation between urbanization and land use functions from multiple dimensions, and when the production function becomes dominant, the urbanization development level of Southern Jiangsu reaches 0.5038, correspondingly, Northern Jiangsu is 0.2791. This research can provide a quantitative reference and policy decision basis for rationally regulating land use functions at different stages of urbanization. [Display omitted] •Cities in Jiangsu Province show characteristics of "economic urbanization > population urbanization > social urbanization".•The dominant function of Southern Jiangsu and Northern Jiangsu has gradually changed into production function.•There is an obvious positive correlation between urbanization and land use functions from multiple dimensions.•The evaluation method of land use functions based on "type- quantity- function" has been realized.