Differentiation of Vacant Land-Use Change in the Densely Built-up Area : Vacant Land Change Detection in Barcelona, Spain 1974-1977

Abstract

Functional land-use classifications are often performed in urban areas for the purpose updating maps, updating data, monitoring land-use change, implementing land-use plans, so on. Vacant land, as one of functional land-use categories, was not specifically classified and recorded in these conventional land-use studies. However, most studies seem to simply identify the class of vacant land without paying attention to its changing aspects. Professor Chapin emphasized that "the purpose of classifying vacant land is to determine its suitability for various forms of urban development: for industrial, residential, recreational, and other classes of land uses". And he further discussed various ideas of vacant-land study, but without going into specific consideration of the dynamic aspects of vacant-land change. Studying change of development of vacant land requires sound knowledge so as to understand the process of vacant-land conversion into other land uses. It is also recognized that the dynamics of vacant land are even more important, not only in relation to academic research but also to make easier urban-development plans and to carry them out successfully.