Spatial Markov Chains Implemented in GIS

This paper presents a novel approach that simulates the expansion of urban sprawl based on the Spatial Markov Chains and a random diffusion rule at the pixel level. Goodness fit metrics are selected to compare the accuracy of the satellite images against the model's simulation results. Our approach is evaluated using Landsat 8 satellite's raster images from the Toluca Metropolitan Area. Experimental results indicate that our approach is robust for spatial analysis, providing a more suitable alternative model to the traditional urban sprawl approach.