Analysis of the Influence of Greenbelts on Urban Growth in Korea Using the Remote Sensing Technique

The influence of the Korean greenbelt system on urban growth was verified through analysis of the land cover change using satellite images. We selected four case study areas out of a total of 14 greenbelt areas according to the scale of the city and the purpose of the greenbelt area. The case cities were a metropolis, a medium-sized or small city, a coastal industrial city and a coastal tourist city. We also selected comparative cities whose external conditions were similar to the case cities. The shape of each urban growth was compared by way of the analysis of land cover changes. Areas inside and outside the greenbelts were analyzed separately. The technique of remote sensing was effective for the macroscopic analysis and it seemed that each greenbelt was accomplishing its role as desired. As a result of the analysis of the relationship between urbanization and topographical factors, urbanization appeared to be affected by elevation rather than by slope and aspect did not appear to be significantly related to urbanization.