Land Use/Land Cover Planning Nexus: a Space-Time Multi-Scalar Assessment of Urban Growth in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area

This study employs remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and spatial statistical modeling to structurally characterize urban growth and spatially understand its drivers in an effort to assess the outcome of the 1974 Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area (TMSA) comprehensive land use plan. Results demonstrate that the TMSA witnessed significant alterations in land use/land cover (LULC) spatial extent and structure over the assessment period and further illustrate that median household income, population density, sales, and construction cost are key drivers that influenced the structural character of LULC between 1990 and 2011. The assessment shows that the spatial and temporal patterns within development districts deviated from that prescribed in the comprehensive plan while spatial development within intensity corridors mirrors the goals and objectives set in the plan. Aberrations between plan objectives and outcomes can be attributed to upward mobility in financial status, growth in markets, and political climate.