International Journal of Remote Sensing · 2000 · 391 citations · 18 references
Social SciencesGeographyUrban PlanningSpatial AnalysisUrban DemographyUrban DevelopmentLand UseLand Use Change DetectionLand-use ChangeUrban ExpansionUrban GrowthUrban Remote SensingBuilt-up Area MappingLand Use Change AnalysisUrban Change MappingUrban Expansion AnalysisUrban Expansion ModellingUrban Expansion MonitoringUrban Growth AnalysisUrban Growth Modeling
Urbanization, like other human‑induced land‑cover changes, reflects specific economic, demographic, or environmental conditions. The study uses the Washington D.C. metropolitan area as a case study to link satellite‑derived urban growth estimates to regional economic and demographic drivers. Using Landsat imagery, the authors generated a three‑epoch time series (1973–1996) of urban expansion via NDVI differencing and land‑cover classification to reduce agricultural confusion.
Like other human-induced landcover changes, urbanization represents a response to specific economic, demographic, or environmental conditions. We use the Washington D.C. area as a case study to relate satellite-derived estimates of urban growth to these economic and demographic drivers. Using the Landsat data archive we have created a three epoch timeseries for urban growth for the period 1973-1996. This map is based on a NDVI-differencing approach for establishing urban change filtered with a landcover classification to minimize confusion with agriculture. Results show that the built-up area surrounding Washington DC has expanded at a rate of ∼22km2 per year during this period, with notably higher growth during the late-1980s. Comparisons with census data indicate that the physical growth of the urban plan, observable from space, can be reasonably correlated with regional and national economic patterns.
18
Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems
Peter M. Vitousek, Harold A. Mooney, Jane Lubchenco et al. · Science · 1997 · 8.9K citations
Man's Role in Changing the Face of the Earth