Unraveling the Spatiotemporal Development Regularities of Metro-Led Underground Space in China Based on Multisource Data

Metro-led underground space (MUS) use has gained unprecedented popularity in China over the past decade. Empirical studies indicated that the development of MUS, which primarily aligns with transit-oriented development, is likely to boost urban vitality, enhance spatial efficiency, and optimize spatial configuration. However, the development regularities remain unclear for MUS in high-density built environment of Chinese cities, resulting in a lack of theoretical foundation for MUS planning. To bridge the research gap, we adopted a set of spatial statistics techniques and formulated a quantitative indicator system to decipher the underpinning patterns of MUS use based on multisource big data. We probed into the driving forces of MUS in China at multiscale from a spatiotemporal perspective. Finally, the driving patterns of MUS in different spatiotemporal conditions were identified and compared in a systematic manner. The study provides insights into the increasingly growing MUS use, and supports the optimization of planning theory for MUS in China.