The study analyzed data from Wuhan Urban Agglomeration to understand its development patterns from 2009 to 2015. By using night light, urban area, and economic data, the researchers found that the region expanded from northwest to southeast, following the river and roads. They identified a core-periphery spatial structure with economic disparities, showing stronger growth in the west and weaker in the east. While Wuhan city and areas along the Yangtze River had strong economic growth, Wuhan city itself outpaced other areas significantly in development.