Assessing the relationship between Transportation Infrastructure and Land Cover Changes in urban areas: the case of Catalonia

A. Maddahi, C. Méndez-Ortega, E. Alvarez Palau

Abstract

In a global context of raising urbanization rates, the study of land use and land cover changes (LULCC) has gained growing importance. Catalonia necessitated a comprehensive analysis of land use alterations for sustainable planning due to elevated urbanisation rates and infrastructural demands. This research investigated the relationship between LULCC and transportation infrastructure networks (TINs) in Catalonia from 2006 to 2018 at municipal level. Land use transformation, and transportation planning are deeply interconnected, requiring strategies that balance the urban needs with environmental conservation. In this setting, understanding the complex connections between land use changes and transport infrastructure proved essential for developing solutions that tackle urban growth and sustainability. Using a robust dataset that includes land uses from Corine Land Cover (CLC) and transport networks from OpenStreetMap (OSM), the research assessed how transportation infrastructure is correlated with urban expansion, employing advanced spatial analysis and a generalized least squares (GLS) regression model. The study highlights the need for smart land-use allocation to promote sustainable growth, revealing the impact of factors such as capital city status and proximity to transportation infrastructure, particularly seaports and airports. Results indicates that urban saturation in capital cities limits additional growth, whereas areas next to seaports and airports exhibit considerable expansion in artificial surfaces. These findings underscore the significance of cohesive land-use planning that harmonizes urban growth with sustainable development objectives.

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