Urban land use change of Nanjing, China, using multitemporal satellite data

In this study, two Landsat (TM/ETM) images acquired (1987, 1998) and maps in 1920, 1966, are being used to investigate urban growth in Nanjing using multitemporal change detection techniques. Also, change detection techniques may be tested and evaluated through the study to help in finding the appropriate method to monitor urban growth using remote sensing technology. The satellite images are being processed, classified, analyzed and compared to locate and quantify the changes of urban land use in the period between images. Ancillary data such as censuses, economic statistical data, thematic maps will assist the other types of data to produce a complete picture of urban growth of the city. The results showed that Nanjing has lost a great deal of good agriculture land to urban uses in the past 78 years. Many high buildings and shopping center were set up, much more streets and people´s square were built. More and more agriculture land converted to non-agriculture one, therefore, urban area expands very fast. The information of urban growth is very useful to local government and urban planners.