Abstract:Taking TM images as the basic data source, combining with present conditon map of land use and land survey data, spacial expansion characteristics and mechanism of land use in main districts from 1992 have been analyzed in order to carry out control and scientific planning of the city, and promote the coordinated development of urban economy. Through conduction and analysis on TM remote sensing image processing in 1992 and 2013, combining with social and economic statistical data of Yantai city, it is concluded that the urban space of Yantai city has expanded to the west and the coastal area from 1992 to 2013; urban construction using land has increased, while arable land and water area have a decreasing trend. The driving factors of spatial expansion of urban land use include economic development, population growth, industrial structure, transportation development and national policies, and so on. Among these, economic development and population growth are the main factors.