Multi-scale methodology to map grey and green structures in urban areas using Pléiades images and existing geographic data

Jean Nabucet,Simon Rougier,Anne Puissant,Julien Deniau,Omar Benarchid,Laurence Hubert-Moy,Eléonore Wolff,Léo Vétillard,Emilie Hanson

doi:10.52638/rfpt.2015.237

Abstract

Identification and monitoring of urban fabric and preservation of existing ecosystems have become major issues to maintain or increase biodiversity in areas under urban influence in most of European cities. While many studies have shown the interest of using optical remotely sensed data for that purpose, a consolidated and reproducible methodological framework was still missing. In this context, a multi-scale methodology has been proposed in the framework of the project VALI-URB to map built-up and vegetated land features in urban and suburban areas based on Pleiades images and existing ancillary data (vector databases or the Open Street Map database). The objective of this paper is to highlight the interest of using land cover/use maps derived from Pleiades images and vector databases to semi-automatically characterize grey and green infrastructures at a scale of 1:10,000. First results are presented on two medium-sized cities with different urban forms: Strasbourg and Rennes (France).

Highlights

Improving our knowledge on the urban patterns with their grey and green structures and their dynamics at multiple spatial scales plays an important role for a wide range of applications, such as urban planning and management (Herold et al, 2005), disaster management (Okada et al, 2000), or energy consumption modelling in urban environments (Heiple et al, 2008)
In the context of the VALI-URB Project, a multi-scale methodology based on Pléiades images and existing ancillary data has been proposed to map built-up and vegetation land features in urban and suburban areas
The maps of the Morphological Urban Area (MUA) created with the protocol (Figure 2, Step1) are very close to the MUAs provided by the planning agencies in both cities (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

Improving our knowledge on the urban patterns with their grey and green structures and their dynamics at multiple spatial scales (from the urban block to the morphological urban zone) plays an important role for a wide range of applications, such as urban planning and management (Herold et al, 2005), disaster management (Okada et al, 2000), or energy consumption modelling in urban environments (Heiple et al, 2008). Many studies have mapped and analysed European cities and their evolution using optical remote sensed data but a consolidated and reproducible methodological framework is still missing. In the context of the VALI-URB Project, a multi-scale methodology based on Pléiades images and existing ancillary data (vector databases or the Open Street Map - OSM database) has been proposed to map built-up and vegetation land features in urban and suburban areas. The mapping of grey and green elements at local scale performed with an object-based image analysis using Pléiades satellite images with a generic methodology on two test sites (Strasbourg, Rennes) is provided. The second section presents the study site and data, and the third one details the flowchart of the general methodology.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion