Defining the effects of urban expansion on land use/cover change: a case study in Kastamonu, Turkey

In addition to the growing world population, continuous migration from rural areas to city centers leads to rapid population growth in urban centers, bringing with it a change in land use/cover in those areas. This change usually manifests itself as an increase in artificial surfaces and a decrease in agricultural areas and forestlands. However, agricultural areas and forests in the vicinity of city centers contain sensitive ecosystems that require careful monitoring. It is crucial that the impact of population growth in the city centers on these areas is determined. This study aims to determine the changes in the land cover in Kastamonu city center between 1999 and 2014. As part of the study, changes in the population of the city center, as well as in the use of urban spaces within the past 15 years, were investigated to determine how population growth affected land use/cover. Changes in land use/cover were assessed under 12 classes with the use of remote sensing methods on stand-type maps created by the aerial photos. According to the results of the study, a 519.5-ha agricultural area and a 86-ha forest area became artificial surfaces in 1999 and 2014.