Quantitative assessment of land use dynamic variation using remote sensing data and landscape pattern in the Yangtze River Delta, China

The urban agglomeration of the Yangtze River Delta is one of the fastest expansions of urban regions in China. In this study, the variation of urban construction land and landscape patterns were studied based on the remote sensing image classification data of 2005,2010, and 2015. The results show that: 1) In the region, the change rate of urban construction land in 2010-2015 is significantly higher than that of 2005-2010.; 2) The rapid expansion of urban landscape leads to the reduction of farmland, while the total area of ecological space such as that of forest and waters is almost unchanged.; 3) The farmland fragmentation is enhanced and the corresponding shape is more complicated, but the shape of urban landscape is more continuous and regular during the urban expansion process.; and 4) The interference of human activities to ecological space is increasing. Therefore, the conclusion of this study provides the basic data for the spatial planning and ecological environment protection of urban agglomeration in Yangtze River Delta. Not only that, but it also promotes the sustainable development of ecological resources in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, as well as makes social and economic contributions. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.