Optimizing limit lines in urban-rural transitional areas: Unveiling the spatial dynamics of trade-offs and synergies among land use functions

The spatial non-stationarity of the trade-off/synergy among land use functions is manifested in the complexity of interrelationships and the heterogeneity of spatial distributions. However, existing research rarely applies these spatial non-stationarity features to fine-scale zoning controls, reducing the applicability of zoning results and limiting the refined development of territorial space. This is essential for high-quality development of territorial space in urban-rural transitional areas with rapid land use function transitions. Taking the region between the first and second bypass expressways of Hangzhou as an example, this research identified and measured the spatial non-stationarity characteristics of the trade-off/synergy among different function changes from a production-living-ecological function perspective during 2010–2020. A territorial space zoning control framework from the grid scale to the township scale, which considered the spatial non-stationarity of trade-offs/synergies and the dominant land use functions, was constructed to support synergistic territorial space development in urban-rural transitional areas. The results demonstrated that the trade-off/synergy among distinct function changes during 2010–2020 had significant spatial heterogeneity and gradient characteristics. The interaction between living function and other functions showed an increasing trade-off, while that between production and ecological functions varied from trade-off to synergy. These interrelationships produced six spatial non-stationarity forms, which exhibited obvious spatiotemporal differences in different trade-off/synergy bundles. 12 territorial spatial functional zones at the grid scale and 5 dominant functional zones at the township scale were subdivided for territorial spatial management. Our logical framework and outcomes provide a scientific guide to achieve the synergistic development of territorial space in urban-rural transitional areas and other similar regions.