Classification and Analysis of Land Use Changes in Urban Environments Using Multi-temporal Landsat Images: A Case Study of Bushehr

The complicated relationship between land use (LU) and environmental factors influences human livelihood; hence, it is essential to monitor LU changes and to prepare pertinent maps due to their relevance to such vital fields as urban planning, climate change, and environmental monitoring. In this study, a supervised classification was applied to three Landsat images collected over time (1990, 2000, and 2018) in order to derive the data on land use changes in Bushehr region. The supervised classification results were further improved by employing image enhancement and classification accuracy of the Landsat images was enhanced by visual interpretation to enhance. Finally, eight LU categories were identified and mapped. It was found that land reclamation projects over the last three decades had had drastic effects on LU changes throughout the study area. Land use changes during the study period show increasing trends as evidenced by the 29.19 hectares of agricultural land with a rise of 30.19% and the 15.78 hectares of urban and rural residential land with a rise of 16.39%. In contrast, declines are observed in barren land covering 4.15 hectares with a change of -4.31%, salty land covering 11.66 hectares with a negative change of -12.11, and sandy land covering 5.21 hectares with a change of -5.41. Hence, agricultural land area as well as urban and rural residential areas show significant increases whereas barren, salty, and sandy land areas show decreases. These changes in LU reflect regional policies and the dynamics of human impacts (agricultural and construction activities) on land use changes in the study region. Identifying the causes underlying these changes, the present article tries to formulate policy recommendations toward improved land use management.