The Pattern and Gradient Analysis of Urban Green Space in Shenyang, China

Urban green spaces have social, planning, economic and ecological functions. To benefit functions of green spaces, it is important to make sufficient provision of quality and quantity green space within urban areas. Using RS, GIS and based on the Quickbird image of Shenyang in 2008, this paper analyzed the urban green space landscape pattern at patch composition, class level and landscape level. This study combined gradient analysis with landscape metrics, and aimed to quantify the spatial pattern of urban green space in Shenyang city. The gradient analysis combined the landscape metrics and its spatial characters along the transect of urban green space based on the effects of spatial extend. The results showed that the distribution of urban green space was not uniform and the structure was not reasonable. It was also suggested that a spatial extent of 5 km might be more appropriate for urban green space pattern analysis by landscape metrics changing among different window sizes. Results demonstrated that the significantly altered green space pattern could be quantified using landscape metrics in each local area. In comparison with quantifying metrics in entire landscapes, Gradient analysis undertaken in four directions would be a robust tool to study the spatial pattern of urban green space.