Monitoring the landscape changes using synoptic analysis and satellite images (Case study: Rasht township)

This study is designed، aiming to detect changes in the composition and configuration of landscape in Rasht township between 1989 and 2011. It has been conducted applying synoptic analysis. Hence، landscape maps have been generated from three TM satellite images at 1987، 1999 and 2011 applying hybrid classification method. Some composition and configuration-based metrics including NP، PD، LSI، LPI، SHDI، CONTAG، ED and PLAND were then calculated at two class and landscape levels and their changes is detected. The results indicated that، in general، the landscape has been more fragmented، more complex and irregular in shape، more disconnected in continuity of patches and more diversified in the term of land use/ land cover types. It was in spite of the differences between trend and gradient of changes in Rasht county landscape at two period of time (1987- 1999 and 1999- 2011). Moreover، the results revealed that sprawl of the manmade areas have caused increase in fragmentation، irregularity and complexity of agriculture patches and decrease in total area of agriculture class. Hence، an intense degradation of ecosystems might be resulted if the current trend continues in future in the study area.