Geospatial tools to identify and map spatiotemporal trends in landscape transformations

GIS methodologies in combination with Remote Sensing (RS) data and techniques are fundamental to analyse and characterize Land Cover/Land Use (LULC) and their changes. The case study here described, has been conducted in the area of Avellino (Southern Italy). A multi-temporal set of images has been processed to characterize the dynamics of changes during a fifty year period (1954÷2004). This dataset included aerial photos (1954) and Landsat scenes (MSS 1975, TM 1985 and 1993, ETM+ 2004). Then, through a GIS approach, change detection and spatiotemporal analysis has been integrated to characterize LULC dynamics, focusing on urban growth/sprawl phenomenon and loss of rural/natural land. Finally, a WebGIS application has been on purpose developed to publish the LULC maps produced and to share the Geospatial data used. This study has allowed to understand how the landscape changes dynamics have been influenced by several causes, which include the effects of natural environment, demography, economy, transportation network, preference (by people) for proximity, neighbourhoods, and central/local policies.