Urban Expansion and Landscape Transformation in Năvodari, Romania: An Integrated Geospatial and Socio-Economic Perspective

Cristina-Elena Mihalache and Monica Dumitrașcu ()
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Cristina-Elena Mihalache: Faculty of Land Reclamation and Environment Engineering, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Monica Dumitrașcu: Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Dimitrie Racoviţă Str., no. 12, Sector 2, 023993 Bucharest, Romania

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: Urban growth often surpasses the actual needs of the population, leading to inefficient land use and long-term environmental challenges. This study provides an integrated perspective on urban landscape transformation by linking socio-demographic dynamics with ecological consequences, notably vegetation loss and increased impervious surfaces. The study area is Năvodari Administrative-Territorial Unit (ATU), a coastal tourist city located along the Black Sea in Romania. By integrating geospatial datasets such as Urban Atlas and Corine Land Cover with population- and construction-related statistics, the analysis reveals a disproportionate increase in urbanized land compared to population growth. Time-series analyses based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) from 1990 to 2022 highlight significant ecological degradation, including vegetation loss and increased built-up density. The findings suggest that real estate investment and tourism-driven development play a more substantial role than demographic dynamics in shaping land use change. Understanding urban expansion as a coupled social–ecological process is essential for promoting sustainable planning and enhancing environmental resilience. While this study is focused on the coastal city of Năvodari, its insights are relevant to a broader international context, particularly for rapidly developing tourist destinations facing similar urban and ecological pressures. The findings support efforts toward more inclusive, balanced, and environmentally responsible urban development, aligning with the core principles of Sustainable Development Goal 11, particularly Target 11.3, which emphasizes sustainable urbanization and efficient land use.

Keywords: landscape transformation; urban expansion; land use; land cover; remote sensing; Romania; Năvodari (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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