GIS and Remote Sensing in Hydrology, Water Resources and Environment (Proceedings of ICGRHWE held at the Three Gorges Dam, China, September 2003). IAHS Publ. 289, 2004, 141-150

1 School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

2 Map Press House of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510075, China

Abstract This paper describes a GIS-based spatial analysis method that makes combined use of qualitative and quantitative analysis to characterize land use patterns and predict the trend of future land use changes for the area of Haizhu District of Guangzhou City, China. Spatial techniques are presented to manage land use data and derive information on land use changes. Through the case study for the selected area, it is demonstrated that the method and techniques introduced can be effectively utilized for the analysis of urban land use changes. Based upon this analysis, the paper also provides discussions and recommendations on urban land use planning, urban planning and land management. Two land use maps of the Haizhu District of Guangzhou in 1997 and 1999, together with the remotely sensed images of 2001 are utilized in the current research. It is convenient to spatially reference various statistic data and to combine spatial data with spatial analysis model so as to analyse land use changes in a geographic context, which is especially suitable for the needs of the urban construction, urban management and urban planning departments.

Key words GIS; Guangzhou City; land use; spatial analysis; overlay analysis