Urban Change Map

Which vegetated areas of Cornwall have been lost and which areas show much greater vegetative cover since 1984?

Landsat satellite data is used to identify vegetated and non-vegetated areas in 1984 and in 2015.

Areas that have lost vegetative cover since 1984 mostly correspond to urban growth and development, most evident around major conurbations. Certain areas may be due to a major change in agricultural use such as a move from permanent pasture to sparsely vegetated or covered crops.

Areas with new vegetative cover since 1984 include old mining or extraction sites with new vegetative growth, and built-up areas that have developed much greater canopy cover.

The map reveals how the China clay area is a highly changeable landscape, showing widespread loss and gain in vegetated areas, over the years. The map is less reliable for areas close to high water that may be subject to tidal and sea-related change.

Resolution: 30x30m cells.