Mapping Urban Green Spaces Based On Remote Sensing Data: Case Studies In Bulgaria And Slovakia

Urban Green Spaces (UGS) contribute to the sustainable development of the urban ecosystem. Recently, UGS have been considered to be of substantial importance for the quality of life, since they have a significant impact on ecosystem functions, local microclimate, air quality, recreation and aesthetic perceptions. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) provide powerful tools for mapping and analysis of UGS at various spatial and temporal scales. With the availability of high resolution remote sensing images and multi-source geospatial data, there is a great need to transform Earth observation data into useful information necessary for urban planning and decision making. Therefore, the current research is focused on mapping of UGS, based on remote sensing data. The present study aims to investigate and map the spatial distribution of urban green spaces in Sofia, Bulgaria and Bratislava, Slovakia using remote sensing data by implementing various spatial analysis techniques. The spatial detail of the mapping exceeds previously available land cover datasets such as CORINE Land Cover and Urban Atlas. Based on their function or morphology, fifteen different classes of UGS were mapped and quantified.