Análisis espacial de los cambios de usos del suelo. Aplicación con Sistemas de Información Geográfica

Abstract

The study of spatial dynamics incorporates time and generates an approach of great importance in scientific research, whose purpose is to determine the evolution of patterns of spatial distribution of land uses. The present work develops the conceptual and methodological aspects of spatial evolution analysis. Focused on the perspective of Rationalist Geography, we proceed to establish the scope of the concept and its link to the Geographic Information Systems as a tool oriented to the methodological application of cartographic superposition. In this sense, the methodology of detection of changes in land uses is presented, whose cartographic and statistical results allow to assess their magnitude, focused on determining the areas of profit and loss, net and total change, and exchanges between categories of uses of the land floor. The study area corresponds to three parties of the Metropolitan Region of Buenos Aires, where the urban growth of the urban agglomeration takes place, covering the period 2000-2010. The results obtained from the methodological application indicate the progress of urbanization on productive surfaces and the natural environment, mainly affecting agricultural and forestry activities. At the same time the process of agriculturization is appreciated that advances on spaces traditionally destined to the cattle and conservation activity. These results contribute to the realization of the diagnosis of the spatial dynamics of the occupation of the soil of the study area.