Sexton et al. (2013a, b) mentioned that in order to understand the causes and
consequences of urbanization, coarsely multi-temporal datasets are still insufficient. To detect the spatially and temporally complex change of LULC of North
Carolina Piedmont from 1984 to 2007, Sexton et al. (2013a, b) derived LULC
information from a dense time-serial Landsat dataset using supervised classification
approach. The results clearly illustrated the change dynamics, and well depicted the
trajectories of each LULC type spanning a long-term period. Such long-term
detailed change information has great potential for planners, policy makers, social
scientists and ecologists to better understand the complicated urbanization process
and human-natural systems (Sexton et al. 2013a, b). Therefore, in this chapter, a
case study of long-term change dynamics analysis has been performed on the
Region of Waterloo, a prosperous growing region in Ontario, Canada in order to
detect the trajectory of LULC long-term change. It subsequently shows the effectiveness and superiority of change dynamics analysis method.
4.3 Research Design
4.3.1 Study Area and Data
The Region of Waterloo is located in the southern Ontario. It comprises of cities of
Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge along with four rural townships (North Dumfries,
Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich). The region of Waterloo is one of the rapidest
growing regions in Canada after its formation in 1973 (RGMS 2006a, b; Region of
Waterloo 2010). The location of Region of Waterloo is shown in Fig. 4.2. The
region is 1,369 km
2 in size and the Region’s population was 507,079 as of the 2011
census (Region of Waterloo 2010). Population of urban area of Waterloo Region
has increased by 5.7 % from 2006 to 2011. With such tremendous population
growth, urban area of Waterloo Region is now ranked as the fourth largest in
Ontario and tenth largest in Canada (Statistics Canada 2011). To detect the
LULC change caused by urban growth the study area is determined as the union
of the municipal area of the cities and the official-defined urban built-up area, which
is depicted in Figs. 4.2. and 4.3.
As an overview, within this study area, urban built-up area is one of the most
typical land cover types. They are included of low-density urban use area
(e.g. single/multiple family houses, local roads, etc.) and high-density urban use
area (e.g. commercial and industrial areas, high-density residential areas, etc.).
Another typical land cover type is vegetation such as agriculture area and grassland
(e.g. pastures, golf courses, parks, etc.). Forest land, considered as very important
land cover type, occupies relatively small area in general. This study area also
covers some water bodies, such as part of Grand River and Laurel Creek Reservoir.
Moreover, there are small areas of exposed lands, including natural barren land and
building sites.
4 Long-Term Change Dynamics Using Landsat Archive for the Region of Waterloo. . .
71
consequences of urbanization, coarsely multi-temporal datasets are still insufficient. To detect the spatially and temporally complex change of LULC of North
Carolina Piedmont from 1984 to 2007, Sexton et al. (2013a, b) derived LULC
information from a dense time-serial Landsat dataset using supervised classification
approach. The results clearly illustrated the change dynamics, and well depicted the
trajectories of each LULC type spanning a long-term period. Such long-term
detailed change information has great potential for planners, policy makers, social
scientists and ecologists to better understand the complicated urbanization process
and human-natural systems (Sexton et al. 2013a, b). Therefore, in this chapter, a
case study of long-term change dynamics analysis has been performed on the
Region of Waterloo, a prosperous growing region in Ontario, Canada in order to
detect the trajectory of LULC long-term change. It subsequently shows the effectiveness and superiority of change dynamics analysis method.
4.3 Research Design
4.3.1 Study Area and Data
The Region of Waterloo is located in the southern Ontario. It comprises of cities of
Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge along with four rural townships (North Dumfries,
Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich). The region of Waterloo is one of the rapidest
growing regions in Canada after its formation in 1973 (RGMS 2006a, b; Region of
Waterloo 2010). The location of Region of Waterloo is shown in Fig. 4.2. The
region is 1,369 km
2 in size and the Region’s population was 507,079 as of the 2011
census (Region of Waterloo 2010). Population of urban area of Waterloo Region
has increased by 5.7 % from 2006 to 2011. With such tremendous population
growth, urban area of Waterloo Region is now ranked as the fourth largest in
Ontario and tenth largest in Canada (Statistics Canada 2011). To detect the
LULC change caused by urban growth the study area is determined as the union
of the municipal area of the cities and the official-defined urban built-up area, which
is depicted in Figs. 4.2. and 4.3.
As an overview, within this study area, urban built-up area is one of the most
typical land cover types. They are included of low-density urban use area
(e.g. single/multiple family houses, local roads, etc.) and high-density urban use
area (e.g. commercial and industrial areas, high-density residential areas, etc.).
Another typical land cover type is vegetation such as agriculture area and grassland
(e.g. pastures, golf courses, parks, etc.). Forest land, considered as very important
land cover type, occupies relatively small area in general. This study area also
covers some water bodies, such as part of Grand River and Laurel Creek Reservoir.
Moreover, there are small areas of exposed lands, including natural barren land and
building sites.
4 Long-Term Change Dynamics Using Landsat Archive for the Region of Waterloo. . .
71