Abstract:The monitoring of urban spatial pattern change can reflect the space development law and characteristics of urban construction. It can provide an important foundation for urban system development plan and intensive use of urban space development. Selecting Shandong province as the research area, regarding districts in 17 prefecturelevel cities as the research object and statistical analysis unit, urban boundary data and internal structure data for some periods of 17 cities have been extracted based on highresolution orthophotos from 2000 to 2017. By using urban expansion area, urban expansion speed, urban expansion intensity and compaction, the development and changes of urban spatial pattern in 17 prefecturelevel cities in Shandong province have been analyzed comprehensively, and the urban expansion and urban land use have been evaluated. It is showed that the evolution of urban spatial pattern in Shandong province develops in a balanced mode. Ji'nan and Qingdao are two development centers in Shandong province. There is a big gap between the cities. Most cities have a lower level of compactione and an extensive extension models. Urban area expansion is too fast and occupied excessive cultivated land. The research result can provide reasonable suggestions and technical support for urban spatial pattern optimization and conducives to the development of the cities.