Mapping of built-up area dynamics over the past 30 years in the principal cities of southern Chile based on landsat imagery

Abstract

In this paper, the dynamics of built-up areas over the past 30 years in principal cities (the actual population of more than 100,000 people) in southern Chile is analyzed according to Landsat satellite imagery data. The area of built-up territories increased by 244% in Puerto Montt, and the lowest by 14% in Punta Arenas, and in the same time period, the population in cities grew by 151% and by 28%, respectively. It was revealed, that given differences depend on the geographical, economic and administrative status of cities in the region of our study.