Authors: C. R. Fichera, G. Modica, M. Pollino. Poster presented at Esri EMEA (Europe, Middle East And Africa) USER CONFERENCE 2010. Rome, October 26–28 2010 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.

1. Remote sensing and GIS for land
cover change characterization and
rural/urban gradient detection
C. R. Fichera1, G. Modica1, M. Pollino1,2
1Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria
Department 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 MODICA
Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria
Department 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 POLLINO
ENEA - 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 Source
1954 Sheet n 185
Digital – 600dpi
Height: 6000 m
Scale: 1:35000
Istituto Geografico
Militare (I.G.M.)
http://www.igmi.org
1974 Sheet n 185
Analogical 23x23 cm
Height: 2580 m
Scale: 1:16000
1990 Sheet n 185
Digital – 600dpi
Height: 6400 m
Scale: 1:35000
1994 B/W Aerial Orthophoto
Spatial resolution
1 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 spatial
heterogeneity at a specific scale and resolution.
• To detect the gradient of landscape patterns, the analyses have been conducted along two
transects (W-E and SW-NE directions, outlined in red), centered on the main settlement
of 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 population
56.700.
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
To
From
Urban
Grassland
& pasture
Cropland Woodland
LC types
Subtotals [1954]
Urban 900,97 - - - 900,97
Grassland &
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 EMEA
USER CONFERENCE 2010
Rome, October 26–28 2010
Europe,
Middle East And Africa
• LC pattern and its change are linked to both natural and
social processes whose driving role has been clearly
demonstrated: after the disastrous Irpinia earthquake
(1980), local specific zoning laws and urban plans have
significantly addressed landscape changes.
- Avellino is in a territorial continuity with other urban centers
(Atripalda, Mercogliano and Monteforte Irpino, over 10.000
inhabitants): the interaction give rise to the urban sprawl
phenomena which, during the last years, has interested the area.
- Another important push to the urban expansion has come from
the indications of P.I.C.A. and P.U.C. plans, both placing the areas
devoted 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 Highway
course and with the axis that connects Monteforte Irpino and
Mecrogliano with Avellino; the second spans along the W-E
direction and includes the new industrial estate of Avellino.