Urban Environment change detection through landscape indices derived from Landsat TM data

This paper describes some results of change detection in Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan , using the Landsat TM data, and methods to quantify the ground cover classes. The changes are analyzed using the measures of not only conventional spectral classes but also a set of landscape indices to describe spatial properties of ground cove types using fractal dimension of objects, entropy in the specific windows defining the neighbors of focusing locations. In order eliminate the seasonal radiometric effects on TM data, an automated class labeling method is also attempted. Urban areas are also delineated automatically by defining the boundaries of the urban area. These procedures for urban change detection were implemented by the unified image computing methods proposed by the author, they can be automated in coherent and systematic ways, and it is anticipated to automate the whole procedures. The results of this analysis suggest that Tokyo metropolitan area was extended to the suburban areas along the new transportation networks and the high density area of Tokyo were also very much extended during the period between 1985 and 1995.