The use of temporal multispectral data to assess change in rural ecosystems

Ecological land classification systems that are supported by digital satellite and terrain data are being used by an increasing number of natural resource managers and urban developers. This increased use of digital data may be attributed to the increased spectral and spatial resolution of remotely sensed imagery, accuracy of digital terrain models, more robust geographic information systems (GIS), and the availability of sophisticated algorithms to analyze these data. Historical satellite data sensed over the Madison County, Alabama, metropolitan area were used to assess the impact of urban expansion on rural ecosystems over the past twenty years. Ecological land classification thematic maps were generated using Landsat satellite multispectral data acquired in June 1977 and August 1997. The results show that the expansion of urban communities has resulted in a significant decline in agricultural and forest areas and an increase in industrial, commercial, and recreational areas.