Using satellite remote sensing to survey transport-related urban sustainability: Part II. Results of a Canadian urban assessment

The growing importance of urbanization in Canada highlights the need for nationally consistent information on major cities to support effective policy development. A spatially-explicit database, the Canadian Urban Land-Use Survey (CUrLUS), is described. It is a comprehensive source of integrated contemporary land-cover/land-use, demographic and socio-economic information as well as historic land use characterizations from earlier federal initiatives. Satellite remote sensing plays a key role in the form of provision of Landsat-based thematic classifications. The utilization of CUrLUS is illustrated in the quantification of transportation-related energy sustainability indicators, namely, density, urban compactness and land-use mix. The latter shows the greatest promise, being significantly correlated to both work-related median travel distance and percent private vehicle use. Urban transportation is complex and it is argued that indicators based solely on statistical and spatial analysis methodologies are limited in abilities to directly address specific components of this issue, for example, energy consumption. It is recommended that more sophisticated, model-enhanced indicators be developed. We also demonstrate that the land-use/urban-form information of CUrLUS will be a cornerstone in this endeavour.     

An analysis of changes in the urban landscape composition and configuration in the Sancaktepe District of Istanbul Metropolitan City,Turkey using landscape metrics and satellite data

Changes in landscape composition and configuration patterns of Sancaktepe Municipal District in the Asian side of Istanbul Metropolitan City of Turkey were analysed using landscape metrics. Class-level and landscape-level metrics were calculated from the land cover/land use data using Patch Analyst, an extension in the Arc View GIS. The land cover/land use data were derived from classified satellite images of Landsat Thematic Mapper of 2002 and 2009 for Sancaktepe District. There was evidence of increase in agglomeration process of built-up patches as indicated by the increases in mean patch size, decrease in total edge and number of patches between 2002 and 2009. The urban expansion pattern experienced overall was not fragmented but concentrated due to infilling around existing patches. Changes in Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index and Area-Weighted Patch Fractal Dimension Index indicated that the physical shapes within built-up, forest and bareland areas were relatively complex and irregular. A conclusion is made in this study that spatial metrics are useful tools to describe the urban landscape composition and configuration in its various aspects and certain decisions whether to approve a specific development in urban planning could, for example, be based on some measures of urban growth form or pattern in terms of uniformity and irregularity, attributable to the dynamic processes of agglomeration and fragmentation of land cover/land use patches caused by urban expansion.     

Investigating the land use characteristics of urban integration based on remote sensing data: experience from Guangzhou and Foshan

Abstract

Urban integration is an increasingly popular phenomenon. It is important to characterize the dynamic processes of urban integration from the perspective of geography. However, previous studies mainly focussed on the overall characteristics of a single entity and failed to consider inter-city influences. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate this phenomenon. Firstly, spatial clustering technique and landscape metric were used to analyze the temporal change of spatial layout. Secondly, we built multiple ring buffers of city boundary to reveal the directional differences in urban expansion. Lastly, we compared the observed land use data with the results simulated by cellular automata model. These experiments have shown that the urban expansion characteristics during the urban integration process are rather different from those of a single city, and the above methodology can effectively characterize the urban integration phenomenon. The successful example of Guangzhou–Foshan integration could also provide practical experience for other similar attempts.     

Exploring land use policy scenarios with the use of a cellular automata-based model: urban sprawl containment and sustainable development in Thessaloniki

This study addresses the issue of urban sprawl through the application of a cellular automata (CA)-based model in the area of Thessaloniki, Greece. The model integrates a multiple regression model at the regional level with a CA model at the local level. New urban land is allocated in a disaggregated field of land units (cells) taking into account a wide range of data. Particular emphasis is placed on the way zoning regulations and land availability data are inserted into the model, so that alternative land use policy scenarios could be examined. Thessaloniki, a typical Mediterranean city, is used as a case study. The model is used to compare two scenarios of urban growth up to year 2030; the first one assuming a continuation of existing trends, whereas the second one assuming the enactment of various land use zoning regulations in order to contain urban sprawl.     

基于DEM的地形高度与土地利用空间格局的关系——以韶关市大塘镇为例

地形高度是影响土地利用空间格局分布的影响因素之一,本文以韶关市大塘镇为研究区,基于研究区的DEM和土地利用现状图,利用GIS提取研究区的地形高程及土地利用信息,并将各地形高度与土地利用图进行叠加分析,研究地形高度与土地利用空间格局的关系。研究结果表明:1随着高程增加,各土地利用类型的面积及占土地总面积的比例都呈下降趋势;2土地利用类型占该该类土地利用的比重均在第一级高程或第二级高程达到最大值,随高程增加,分布比重逐渐下降;3低高程区域土地利用较为破碎,高高程区域土地利用较为集中,以林地为主。