Relations analysis between canal and urban development of yangzhou supported by space technology

The origin and development of early cities are indiscerptible with water. Digging the canal had a tremendous stimulative effect to the political unification, economic development and cultural communication of the northern and southern regions. Supported by Remote Sensing (RS) and a Geographical Information System (GIS), this paper adopted the long time series of remote sensing data to research the change in land use surrounding the canal and then analyzed the relation between the Yangzhou city and the canal. The research suggests that the canal has had the most significant effect on the rise and development of Yangzhou at its early stage and plays the role of guidance in the development of the urban pattern of Yangzhou. The influence of the canal on the urban pattern and its land use also varied with the function change of the canal during different periods.