Landscape changes of Prague outskirts from 1990 to 2012

Abstract

This paper follows up the landscape changes of Prague outskirts from 1990 to 2012 using the CORINE land cover data. It quantifies these changes by observing the acreage decrease and increase of individual types of land cover. The results confirm the frequently emerging trend in Europe, namely the increase of the urban area at the expense of arable land. Another significant change is the increase of pastures in the areas farther from the city. These changes are further analysed to find regularities relating to the relief, to the distance from the city and to the transport and settlement infrastructure. On the bases of the analyses there are defined the types of changes. The most significant change is a decrease of arable land at the expense of discontinuous urban fabric and pastures. The results show that there were changes made to the land cover on an area of 17,429 ha which is equivalent to 7.3% of the evaluated area.