Spatial Morphology Evolution of Rural Settlements in the Lower Yellow River Plain: The Case of Menggang Town in Changyuan City, China

This study investigated the spatial pattern evolution of rural settlement system in town Menggang, China, based on patches extracted from remote sensing data for four time points between 1990 and 2018. Five typical villages were selected to their textures point surface. The reasons settlements examined as well. results indicated that number Menggang decreased, area a single patch expanded, scale continued expand. Settlements distributed randomly, but an agglomeration trend began appear. plain terrain had little restriction site selection. Cofferdams embankments limiting factors expansion, which led compact development settlements. Economic development, population growth, family miniaturization positive expansion In villages, cluster with banded tendency higher utilization efficiency. Several high-density building centers formed settlements, residential buildings was mainly northeast–southwest. effect orientation buildings, single-building areas, or public spaces Traditional culture traffic routes affected main folk houses. has theoretical reference value structure optimization sustainable lower Yellow River plain.