Remote sensing and GIS for land cover change characterization and

rural/urban gradient detectionC. R. Fichera1, G. Modica1, M. Pollino1,2

1Mediterranea University of Reggio CalabriaDepartment of Agroforestry and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTAfA)

2ENEA - National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development “Analysis & Observation of the Earth” Lab (UTMEA-TER)

Carmelo Riccardo FICHERA, Giuseppe MODICAMediterranea University of Reggio CalabriaDepartment of Agroforestry and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTAfA) Località Feo di Vito - 89122 Reggio Calabria (Italy).cr.fichera@unirc.it, giuseppe.modica@unirc.it

Maurizio POLLINOENEA - National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development “Analysis & Observation of the Earth” Lab (UTMEA-TER)Casaccia Research Centre - Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome (Italy). maurizio.pollino@enea.it

Year Frame data Flight data Source1954 Sheet n 185

Digital – 600dpiHeight: 6000 mScale: 1:35000

Istituto Geografico Militare (I.G.M.)http://www.igmi.org

1974 Sheet n 185 Analogical 23x23 cm

Height: 2580 mScale: 1:16000

1990 Sheet n 185 Digital – 600dpi

Height: 6400 mScale: 1:35000

1994 B/W Aerial Orthophoto Spatial resolution1 m (GIS Server)

National Cartographic Portal

www.pcn.minambiente.it2006 Color Aerial Orthophoto

1975

1993

2004

Satellite data Date Spatial resolution Source

Landsat MSS(WRS-1, Path 203, Row 032)

1975-07-15 57 m

Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF)

http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu

Landsat TM(WRS-2, Path 189, Row 032)

1993-08-23 30 m

Landsat ETM+(WRS-2, Path 189, Row 032)

2004-06-10 28.5-14.5 m

Landscape Metrics analysis• Landscape metrics have been used to quantify spatial patterning of LC patches and

classes. They can be defined as quantitative and aggregate measurements showing spatialheterogeneity at a specific scale and resolution.

• To detect the gradient of landscape patterns, the analyses have been conducted along twotransects (W-E and SW-NE directions, outlined in red), centered on the main settlementof Avellino. Each transect is formed by one row and subdivided into eleven 2x2 km blocks.

• The urbanization has considerably modified the LC of the area, with significant land conversions.

• During the 50 years analyzed, the urbanized areas have almost quintupled, mostly at the expense of the agricultural ones.

Study area: Conca di Avellino (Italy)• The study area is characterized by many small towns and villages scattered across the

Province and surrounded by mountains.

• Avellino (40 5’55”N 14 47’23”E): 348 m a.s.l., 42 km NE of Naples, Total population56.700.

Multi-temporal image dataset• Aerial photos (1954, 1974 and 1990) and digital orthophotos (1994 and 2006)• Landsat images (MSS 1975, TM 1993, ETM+ 2004)

Outline• The development of the urban areas is able to transform landscapes formed by rural into urban life styles and to make functional changes, from a morphological and

structural point of view. Historically, urban expansion (driven by the population increase) has typically take place on former agricultural use.• A multi-temporal image dataset has been analyzed to identify the changing pattern of Land Cover (LC) during a fifty-year period (1954 2004).• Using the analysis tools of ArcGIS, the results have been synthesized into maps of LC changes, in order to characterize the respective dynamics.• Temporal trend analysis and landscape metrics have been integrated, using ArcGIS and specific extensions: such approach has allowed to characterize landscape

patterns through significant indices and to understand the changes therein.

1954

2004

Results and final considerations

W-E Transect

SW-NE Transect

• Landscape metrics calculated:

- NP: Number of Patches

- PD: Patch Density index

- LPI: Largest Patch Index

- SHDI: Shannon’s Diversity Index

ToFrom Urban Grassland

& pasture Cropland Woodland LC typesSubtotals [1954]

Urban 900,97 - - - 900,97Grassland & pasture 75,12 354,37 781,98 411,30 1622,77

Cropland 3786,87 1091,66 19409,16 7420,54 31708,23

Woodland 162,11 686,50 2246,49 20136,09 23231,20

LC types subtotals [2004] 4925,07 2132,53 22437,63 27967,93 Total area:

57463,16

Land Cover changes (1954 2004)• Land Cover maps have been extracted from the classified Landsat images and from the

results of the visual interpretation of the aerial frames.• By ArcGIS tools Land Cover changes and dynamics have been mapped, allowing to

make directly available the tables containing the spatial information of each class (area,perimeter, etc.) and the information about amount, location and nature of change.

Transition matrix (Values in hectares):

- Along the diagonal: area of the unchanged LC types;

- Into the other cells: area of the LC types transformed in another class.

Right column sums up the LC areas at 1954; last row sums up the LC areas at 2004.

2006

1954

Esri EMEAUSER CONFERENCE 2010Rome, October 26–28 2010

Europe,Middle East And Africa

• LC pattern and its change are linked to both natural andsocial processes whose driving role has been clearlydemonstrated: after the disastrous Irpinia earthquake(1980), local specific zoning laws and urban plans havesignificantly addressed landscape changes.- Avellino is in a territorial continuity with other urban centers

(Atripalda, Mercogliano and Monteforte Irpino, over 10.000inhabitants): the interaction give rise to the urban sprawlphenomena which, during the last years, has interested the area.

- Another important push to the urban expansion has come fromthe indications of P.I.C.A. and P.U.C. plans, both placing the areasdevoted to the industrial use in the northern zone of Avellino.

- Thus, urban sprawl has principally expanded along two directions:the first is the SW-NE one, which coincides with the A16 Highwaycourse and with the axis that connects Monteforte Irpino andMecrogliano with Avellino; the second spans along the W-Edirection and includes the new industrial estate of Avellino.