Analysis of the spatial and temporal patterns in land use land cover in Belize city from 1991 to 2021

Abstract

Urban theorists and planning researchers ignore small cities with ports. Rectifying this neglect, we focus on Belize City. We assess the spatial and temporal patterns of land use and cover changes, utilizing remote sensing analysis and multiyear Landsat satellite images. Focusing on the contemporary period (1991-present), we analyze the impacts of the rapid development of the Port of Belize and its consequent effect on the expansion of the urban built environment of Belize City. In addition to analyzing land use land cover changes, we calculated key indices such as NDVI, NDBI, and LST in Belize City. Importantly, local-level clustering of differences in NDBI and NDVI values is analyzed using LISA analysis. Our results show that the urbanized area has increased in the past 30 years, with corresponding reductions in the area under forest and water. Our analyses reveal three distinctive periods of urban changes: 1991–2001, 2001–2011, and 2011–2021. From 1991 to 2001 most of the urban expansion occurred along the Belize River. Significant urban expansion from 2001 to 2011 is related to a private company managing and developing the port, accelerating construction around the port. Finally, from 2011 to 2021, the process of urban sprawl slowed, with only sporadic new construction in the suburbs, due to the master planning at the port. Nevertheless, masterplan implementation delays, numerous appeals, and weak enforcement of regulations have not curbed unplanned urbanization.