Abstract
In this study, past and current land-use and land-cover (LULC) change trajectories between 1947 and 2018 were analysed in terms of sustainability using a unique set of nine detailed, high-precision LULC thematic maps for the municipality of Portimão (Algarve region), Portugal. Several Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis techniques were used to process LULC data and assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of LULC change processes. The dynamics of LULC change were explored by analysing LULC change trajectories. In addition, spatial pattern metrics were introduced to further investigate and quantify the spatial patterns of such LULC change trajectories. The findings show that Portimão has been experiencing complex LULC changes. Nearly 52% of the study area has undergone an LULC change at least once during the 71-year period. The analysis of spatial pattern metrics on LULC change trajectories confirmed the emergence of more complex, dispersed, and fragmented shapes when patches of land were converted from non-built categories into artificial surface categories from 1947 to 2018. The combined analysis of long-term LULC sequences by means of LULC change trajectories and spatial pattern metrics provided useful, actionable, and robust empirical information that can support sustainable spatial planning and smart growth, which is much needed since the results of this study have shown that the pattern of LULC change trajectories in Portimão municipality has been heading towards unsustainability.
Highlights
This concern may be due to the fact that land-use and land-cover (LULC) change and subsequent urban growth are recognised as taking place at an accelerated pace and spatial dimension [5,6], imposed by both population pressure and tourism demand, in metropolitan and coastal areas, causing adverse effects on the environment, ecosystems and their services
During the overall time span, forest and seminatural areas were mainly composed of Figure 3 illustrates the nine LULC maps created for the study area, classified at the shrubland and forestland (Table A2, Appendix A)
Results for Largest Patch Index (LPI) clearly corroborate the process of urban landscape fragmentation of the study area as indicated by the Splitting index (SPLIT) metric
Summary
Urban growth by means of LULC change has been put in the spotlight by the Portuguese government and planning agencies as evidenced by the several strategic and policy documents (namely, the Portuguese Legal Framework for Spatial Management Tools). This concern may be due to the fact that LULC change and subsequent urban growth are recognised as taking place at an accelerated pace and spatial dimension [5,6], imposed by both population pressure and tourism demand, in metropolitan and coastal areas, causing adverse effects on the environment, ecosystems and their services
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