MAPPING AND ANALYZING URBAN DYNAMICS BASED ON REMOTE SENSING FOR SPATIAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

Rapid urbanization of the world's population and human modification of the environment in the past decades are important changes that have transformed the landscape worldwide and are expected to accelerate in the future. Such changes are observable using remote sensing data from different time horizons. The aim of this study is document urbanisation trends in selected regional cities in Slovakia and Bulgaria using VHR satellite data and aerial photographs. In order to assess the urban dynamics the following processes were defined: urban expansion, urban infill and other changes of urbanized landscape. Results show a global progression of the built-up areas of both in Trnava and Burgas study areas. The proposed approach leads to an improved understanding and representation of urban dynamics and helps to develop alternative conceptions of urban spatial structure and change.