Urban Growth and Sprawl of Mersin City, Turkey: Change analysis based on Earth Observation and Socio-Economic Data

Kurzfassung

The aim of this study is the contextualization of urban growth and sprawl experienced in the coastal conurbation of Mersin in southern Turkey. For this purpose, an interdisciplinary approach is developed by using methods of remote sensing and social sciences. The sample areas identified by using a series of satellite images available for the period 1987-2009 have been examined by a multi-temporal change detection approach in combination with available statistics and on-site excursions in order to understand the pattern of development. It is evident from this study that an interdisciplinary perspective on the examination of urban growth and sprawl provides us with timely results that can be employed in urban and regional planning activities.