Vienna, Berlin, Warsaw - Comparison of spatial urban development patterns using remote sensing data and landscape metrics

The most obvious effect of urbanization is the spatial expansion and morphological change of cities. There are many individual factors influencing the physical urban growth, however it can be observed, that almost every capital city in Europe increases spatially over time. In this study we aim to find similarities and differences in spatial growth dynamics, dimensions and patterns of selected European capital cities. Therefore we focus on three cities, namely Berlin (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and Warsaw (Poland). By means of multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery (MSS, TM and ETM+ data) we classify the spatial urban footprint for four points in time namely 1975, 1990, 2000 and 2010, hence, over 35 years of urbanization can be monitored and quantified in a consistent way throughout the cities. Urban footprint classifications are derived using hierarchical, object-based image analysis. For the quantification of the particular urban patterns we apply various spatial metrics. The goal of the study is to compare spatial configurations of urban sprawl among the cities. Furthermore the study aims at answering the research question whether any significant differences in spatial development of the selected European cities exist. We assume that spatial configurations may be varying in dependence of the political system and the change in Europe in 1989. Conducted study shows various spatial pattern as well as diverse magnitude of urban sprawl depending on geographical location and system which influenced particular each individual city.