The effect of urban flood control on evolution of the urban morphology: Case study of Changde, Hunan

Waters are the source of urban existence for waterfront cities, nevertheless also the limitation to urban growth, and so urban flood control comes crucial to the evolution of urban space. The waterfront city of Changde at the lower reach of Yuanshui in the Dongtinghu plain is taken as a case to examine the impact and role of the emergence and shift of urban flood control system on urban morphological evolution. It is also pointed out that urban flood control is the major factor limiting the urban morphology evolution of waterfront cities, and will gain more impacts on the size and direction of urban growth.