Abstract
This study aims to develop a potential evaluation method for urban spatial expansion using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS). A multi-criteria evaluation method with several criteria and their weighting values was introduced to evaluate the score and quantification of the potential surface around the existing cities. The six criteria with one geographic factor, slope, and five accessibility factors, time distance from center of the city, national road, interchange of expressway, a big city, and station, were defined for the potential. RS techniques were applied for classification of the actual urban expansion maps between two periods, and GIS functions were used for score of accessibility criteria with a distance decay function from geographic, road and several point maps, which was developed in this study. The new methodology was applied to a test area, Suwon, between 1986 and 1996. In order to optimize the six weighting values, this study made new findings to search the optimal combination of the weighting values from new methodology, weighted scenario method for intensity order (WSM), combined with intensity order and AHP method, including a trial and error method for sensitivity analysis to make the intensity order. The optimal combination of the weighting values by the new method generated the optimal potential surface, considering spatial trend of urban expansion in the test area.
