High-spatiotemporal-resolution mapping of global urban change from 1985 to 2015

Xiaoping Liu, Yinghuai Huang, Xiaocong Xu, Xuecao Li, Xia Li (), Philippe Ciais, Peirong Lin, Kai Gong, Alan D. Ziegler, Anping Chen, Peng Gong, Jun Chen, Guohua Hu, Yimin Chen, Shaojian Wang, Qiusheng Wu, Kangning Huang, Lyndon Estes and Zhenzhong Zeng ()
Additional contact information
Xiaoping Liu: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yinghuai Huang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Xiaocong Xu: Sun Yat-Sen University
Xuecao Li: Iowa State University
Xia Li: East China Normal University
Philippe Ciais: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, UMR 1572 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ
Peirong Lin: Princeton University
Kai Gong: Princeton University
Alan D. Ziegler: Mae Jo University, Mae Jo
Anping Chen: Colorado State University
Peng Gong: Tsinghua University
Jun Chen: National Geomatics Center of China
Guohua Hu: East China Normal University
Yimin Chen: Sun Yat-Sen University
Shaojian Wang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Qiusheng Wu: University of Tennessee
Kangning Huang: Yale University
Lyndon Estes: Clark University
Zhenzhong Zeng: Princeton University

Nature Sustainability, 2020, vol. 3, issue 7, 564-570

Abstract: Abstract High-resolution global maps of annual urban land coverage provide fundamental information of global environmental change and contribute to applications related to climate mitigation and urban planning for sustainable development. Here we map global annual urban dynamics from 1985 to 2015 at a 30 m resolution using numerous surface reflectance data from Landsat satellites. We find that global urban extent has expanded by 9,687 km2 per year. This rate is four times greater than previous reputable estimates from worldwide individual cities, suggesting an unprecedented rate of global urbanization. The rate of urban expansion is notably faster than that of population growth, indicating that the urban land area already exceeds what is needed to sustain population growth. Looking ahead, using these maps in conjunction with integrated assessment models can facilitate greater understanding of the complex environmental impacts of urbanization and help urban planners avoid natural hazards; for example, by limiting new development in flood risk zones.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0521-x

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