This study, employing remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, was carried out using the categorical change detection technique to analyze land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in Wales, United Kingdom, from the year 1992 to 2019 with a view to understanding the trend of urbanization in the area. Using data from the Global Land Cover 1992 to 2019 image service accessible via ArcGIS Pro 3.0 Living Atlas, with a spatial resolution of 300 meters, the study revealed that grassland, being the predominant land cover in the area, decreased in coverage from 73.98% in 1992 to 72.16% in 2019, cropland decreased from 17.91% to 17.48%, all categories of forest increased from 5.30% to 5.93%, water bodies decreased from 1% to 0.7%, while bare areas remained constant at 0.2% in both years. Results also revealed a significant expansion of urban areas, growing from 1.81% to 3.48% of the land area. The mean percentage change across all counties is approximately 97.29%, indicating substantial urban expansion, while the median percentage change is 68.88%. Counties in South Wales experienced substantial urbanization influenced by coastal proximity, while Western and Northern regions showed significant percentage changes in urban areas but had smaller land area expansions. This research provides insights into the evolving landscape of Wales vital for understanding trends in land use, environmental changes, and urban expansion over this period and contributes valuable insights for sustainable urban planning, environmental preservation, and possible ecological impacts within the study area.
| Published in | American Journal of Remote Sensing (Volume 13, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13 |
| Page(s) | 32-47 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Geographic Information System, Global Land Cover, ArcGIS, Urban Expansion, Ecological Impacts, Counties
| [1] | Paul, S. S Investigating urbanization impacts on land cover and land use change: A case study from Bangladesh. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 2013, 2: 85-95. |
| [2] | Rudel, T. K., Schneider, L., Durrant, H The global spread of tropical deforestation, 1980-2000. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 2009, 51(2): 24-38. |
| [3] | Goldewijk, K. K., Beusen, A. H. W., Janssen, P Long-term dynamics of global population and built-up area in the historical geography of the world (HYDE 3.1). Holocene, 2011, 21(4): 553-563. |
| [4] | Lambin, E. F., Turner, B. L., Geist, H. J., Agbola, S. B., Angelsen, A., Bruce, J. W., Coomes, O. T., Dirzo, R., Fischer, G., Folke, C., et al. The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths. Global Environmental Change, 2001, 11(4): 261-269. |
| [5] | United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2018. |
| [6] | Glaeser, E. L Triumph of the city: How our greatest invention makes us richer, smarter, greener, healthier, and happier. Penguin Press, 2011. |
| [7] | Agoha, C. C., Awuzie, A., Onwubuariri, C. N., Mgbeojedo, T. I., Njoku, J. O., Akiang, F. B., Epuerie, E. T Review of Spatial Analysis as a Geographic Information Management Tool. American Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2024, 9(1): 8-20. |
| [8] | Gu, W Assessing the impacts of urbanization on groundwater resources: A case study in the Yangtze River Delta. Journal of Hydrology, 2023, 607: 127536. |
| [9] | Jones, K., Koo, J., Turner, K Urban land use change and its impact on groundwater resources: Evidence from the U.S. Midwest. Environmental Management, 2016, 57(4): 673-684. |
| [10] | Foley, J. A., DeFries, R., Asner, G. P., et al. Global consequences of land use. Science, 2011, 309(5734): 570-574. |
| [11] | Zhang, Y., Liu, X., Xu, J Impact of land cover change on the urban heat island effect: A case study in the Beijing metropolitan area. Urban Climate, 2018, 24: 897-911. |
| [12] | Paiboonvorachat, P Effects of land use changes on hydrological processes: A case study in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In W. S. W. Ngai, P. W. Chan, & D. Chen (Eds.), Sustainable urban and regional infrastructure development: Technologies, applications and management, 2008 (pp. 108-117). Taylor & Francis. |
| [13] | Turner, B. L., Lambin, E. F., Reenberg, A The emergence of land change science for global environmental change and sustainability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007, 104(52): 20666-20671. |
| [14] | Houghton, R. A Revised estimates of the annual net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land use and land management 1850-2000. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 2003, 55(2): 378-390. |
| [15] | Pielke, R. A., Prins, G., Rubiera, J The role of land use in weather and climate. In: Schlesinger, W. H. (Ed.), Biogeochemistry of Global Change: Radiative Forcing of Climate Change, 2002 (pp. 85-104). Academic Press. |
| [16] | Asokan, A Urbanization and its effects on land use: An analytical review of South Asian cities. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 2019, 145(2): 04019014. |
| [17] |
Google. Map of Wales and environs, Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wales,+UK/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x486434b66c1c0fed:0x1ebb71bc8aa5e8a2?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111 (November 18, 2024) |
| [18] | Yousafzai, S Impact of urban expansion on surface temperature and land cover changes in major cities of Pakistan. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2022, 194(1): 45. |
| [19] | Zurqani, T. M Analysis of land cover change using multi-temporal satellite imagery: Case study of the Nile Delta region. Remote Sensing Letters, 2019, 10(11): 1033-1042. |
| [20] | Panagiotis, T The effects of urbanization on ecological interactions. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 2022, 52, ISSN 2214-5745, |
| [21] | Chenchao Z., Min X., Hua L., Bojun L., Zheng W., Tijian W., Bingliang Z., Mengmeng L., Shu L Impacts of urbanization on air quality and the related health risks in a city with complex terrain. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2023, 23(1): |
| [22] | Sumanta, D., Malini, R. C., Bhagyasree, C., Pinanki, D., Sandeep, B., Debashis, P., Mahadev, B., Suman, D Unraveling the urban climate crisis: Exploring the nexus of urbanization, climate change, and their impacts on the environment and human well-being – A global perspective. AIMS Public Health, 2024, 11(3): 963-1001. |
| [23] | Hanski, I The shrinking world: Ecological consequences of habitat loss. Oldendorf/Luhe: International Ecology Institute; 2005. |
| [24] | McGrane, S. J Impacts of urbanization on hydrological and water quality dynamics, and urban water management: a review. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 2016, 61(13): 2295–2311. |
| [25] | MacKenzie, K. M., Singh, K., Binns, A. D., Whiteley, H. R., Gharabaghi, B Effects of urbanization on stream flow, sediment, and phosphorous regime. Journal of Hydrology, 2022, 612, |
| [26] | Kevin, R. G., Şiir, K., Karen, C. S., Shuaib, L., Daniel, M., Keywan, R., Meredith, K., Peter, R., Muhammed, L Greenhouse gas emissions from global cities under SSP/RCP scenarios, 1990 to 2100. Global Environmental Change, 2022, 73, |
APA Style
Chinwendu, E. J., Charles, A. C., Nkiru, N. C., Nchedo, E. N., Obiageli, N. J., et al. (2025). Application of the Categorical Change Detection Technique in Investigating the Trends of Urbanization in Wales, Southwest Britain. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 13(1), 32-47. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13
ACS Style
Chinwendu, E. J.; Charles, A. C.; Nkiru, N. C.; Nchedo, E. N.; Obiageli, N. J., et al. Application of the Categorical Change Detection Technique in Investigating the Trends of Urbanization in Wales, Southwest Britain. Am. J. Remote Sens. 2025, 13(1), 32-47. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13,
author = {Egereonu Jerry Chinwendu and Agoha Chidiebere Charles and Nwokeabia Charity Nkiru and Eluwa Ndidiamaka Nchedo and Njoku Joy Obiageli and Offodile Olisaemeka Paschal and Chilakpu Onyinyechi Caroline and Ahaji Victor Kelechi},
title = {Application of the Categorical Change Detection Technique in Investigating the Trends of Urbanization in Wales, Southwest Britain
},
journal = {American Journal of Remote Sensing},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {32-47},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajrs.20251301.13},
abstract = {This study, employing remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, was carried out using the categorical change detection technique to analyze land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in Wales, United Kingdom, from the year 1992 to 2019 with a view to understanding the trend of urbanization in the area. Using data from the Global Land Cover 1992 to 2019 image service accessible via ArcGIS Pro 3.0 Living Atlas, with a spatial resolution of 300 meters, the study revealed that grassland, being the predominant land cover in the area, decreased in coverage from 73.98% in 1992 to 72.16% in 2019, cropland decreased from 17.91% to 17.48%, all categories of forest increased from 5.30% to 5.93%, water bodies decreased from 1% to 0.7%, while bare areas remained constant at 0.2% in both years. Results also revealed a significant expansion of urban areas, growing from 1.81% to 3.48% of the land area. The mean percentage change across all counties is approximately 97.29%, indicating substantial urban expansion, while the median percentage change is 68.88%. Counties in South Wales experienced substantial urbanization influenced by coastal proximity, while Western and Northern regions showed significant percentage changes in urban areas but had smaller land area expansions. This research provides insights into the evolving landscape of Wales vital for understanding trends in land use, environmental changes, and urban expansion over this period and contributes valuable insights for sustainable urban planning, environmental preservation, and possible ecological impacts within the study area.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Application of the Categorical Change Detection Technique in Investigating the Trends of Urbanization in Wales, Southwest Britain AU - Egereonu Jerry Chinwendu AU - Agoha Chidiebere Charles AU - Nwokeabia Charity Nkiru AU - Eluwa Ndidiamaka Nchedo AU - Njoku Joy Obiageli AU - Offodile Olisaemeka Paschal AU - Chilakpu Onyinyechi Caroline AU - Ahaji Victor Kelechi Y1 - 2025/05/29 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13 DO - 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13 T2 - American Journal of Remote Sensing JF - American Journal of Remote Sensing JO - American Journal of Remote Sensing SP - 32 EP - 47 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-580X UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251301.13 AB - This study, employing remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, was carried out using the categorical change detection technique to analyze land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in Wales, United Kingdom, from the year 1992 to 2019 with a view to understanding the trend of urbanization in the area. Using data from the Global Land Cover 1992 to 2019 image service accessible via ArcGIS Pro 3.0 Living Atlas, with a spatial resolution of 300 meters, the study revealed that grassland, being the predominant land cover in the area, decreased in coverage from 73.98% in 1992 to 72.16% in 2019, cropland decreased from 17.91% to 17.48%, all categories of forest increased from 5.30% to 5.93%, water bodies decreased from 1% to 0.7%, while bare areas remained constant at 0.2% in both years. Results also revealed a significant expansion of urban areas, growing from 1.81% to 3.48% of the land area. The mean percentage change across all counties is approximately 97.29%, indicating substantial urban expansion, while the median percentage change is 68.88%. Counties in South Wales experienced substantial urbanization influenced by coastal proximity, while Western and Northern regions showed significant percentage changes in urban areas but had smaller land area expansions. This research provides insights into the evolving landscape of Wales vital for understanding trends in land use, environmental changes, and urban expansion over this period and contributes valuable insights for sustainable urban planning, environmental preservation, and possible ecological impacts within the study area. VL - 13 IS - 1 ER -
Department of Natural and Built Environment, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
