DETERMINATION OF CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF RURAL
RESIDENTAL AREAS USING REMOTELY SENSED DATA
Duygu Simsek, Sinasi Kaya, Cengizhan Ipbuker* and Elif Sertel
Istanbul Technical University, Department of Geomatics Engineering
Maslak-Istanbul, TURKEY
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
The shanty, haphazard and unplanned settlements have become one of the most essential issues in
the Third-World and developing countries, resulting from the unfilled provision of a planned
development at rural areas. Determination of rural areas prior to rural planning is an important task in
order to provide a healthy social and economic structure and protect natural environment by
preventing shanty settlements. In this respect, preparing rural plans to protect the structures of the
natural and rural areas require accurate and up-to-date geographical data and extensive spatial analysis
that could be employed by the integration of remote sensing technology and geographic information
systems. In this research, Karabuk Province located on the western part of Blacksea region having
broad rural settlements was selected as study area to determine the characteristic features of the rural
settlements using satellite sensor images. Furthermore, an assessment was conducted to analyze the
correlation of these features with the spatial configuration of the rural settlements.
Key Words: Rural Planning, Rural Characteristics, remote sensing, GIS
INTRODUCTION
Remote sensing offers fast, accurate and up-to-date spatial data and this technology has been
widely used by different disciplines for various applications such as urban and rural planning, climate
modeling, land use/cover mapping etc. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide a computer
based environment to conduct advanced spatial analyses using geographical data obtained from
different sources. Inclusion of high resolution satellite images and other related data into GIS
environment has been broadly used in different stages of rural and urban planning. This procedure is
also called Geodesign that brings geographical analysis into design process of planning built and
natural environments (Kaya et al. 2012, Hung 2002, Madhavan et al. 2001, Pathan et al. 1993, Kaya
2007, Setiavan et al. 2006, Toll 1985, Ward et al. 2000, Kaya and Curran 2006, Sertel et al. 2008)..
In this study, residential buildings and the extending road axes were digitized on satellite images
covering the countryside of the Karabük City (Turkey) in order to detect settlement patterns and to
evaluate how they were influenced by the environmental conditions. In addition, it was aimed to
determine the direction of development in rural areas by using the existing buildings and topographical
features, such as road axes. Topographic structures and the natural environment in rural areas are
shaping the spatial character of the settlements. Satellite images are accurate and reliable sources to
determine the characteristics and the development aspects of rural settlements. In addition boundaries
of the villages could be also identified from satellite images (Simsek 2013). There are two different
settlements patterns in Turkey namely rural and urban settlements Rural and urban settlements have
different attributions, lifestyles, localities and characteristics based on economical and social activities
(Gur et. al., 2003). Rural settlements are interest of this paper therefore more explanation will be
presented about them.
Rural settlement is a general description of the agricultural and livestock activities done together
or come to the fore over the other units. Their population is less and often varies from several hundred
to several thousand people. Rural areas are qualified considering density of rural functions showing
using of land, style of production and professional structure (Gur et. al., 2003). Rural areas have
less urban functions therefore they could be characterized as places not belonging to urban areas (Gur
2001). Rural settlement system of the country may be divided mainly into two categories;
• Permanent settlements in rural settlements or villages
• Sub-village settlements
STUDY AREA
In this research, some of the rural areas of the province Karabük were selected as the study area.
Karabük Province lies on 4005 -4015 north latitudes' and 3215-3220 north east longitudes on
the western part of the Black Sea Region, one of the seven geographical regions of Turkey,. The
neighbors of Karabük are Zonguldak on the north-west, Bartin on the north, Kastamonu on the northeast Çankırı on the south-east and Bolu on the south-west. Surface area of Karabük is 4,145 km² and
the average elevation is 350 meters. The Western Black Sea region of Turkey including the province
of Karabük has been facing with landslide. Some settlements has therefore exposed to huge losses.
Karabuk
T U R K EY
Figure-1. Study Area; Turkey and the Karabuk province
Karabük lies over a mountainous terrain without any great plains and valleys. The slope aspects
of the region are in very diverse structure, but mainly southeast and northwest directions are dominant
for the aspects. 74% of the land area of the province of Karabük is covered by forests in the mountains
and the province has a wide variety of natural beauties. 78% of the population lives in urban areas
while 22% in rural areas. The town with higher rural population is Yenice of more than 26% of all
population, while Ovacik has the lowest percentage. If urban population is evaluated for Karabuk, the
town center is ranked as first with 61% and Safranbolu asthe second with 28%. The third rank for rural
population belongs to Eskipazar with 4%, then Ovacik and Eflani with 1% comes.
According to the 1:100000 scale Environment Master Plan of Karabük, the expected urban
population would be 280000, the rural population 100000 and 380000 in total for the projection year
2025(Karabuk Il Ozel Idaresi Stratejik Plani 2010-2014, Bati Karadeniz Bolgesi Bolge Raporu 20102013). Other towns (Yenice, Ovacik, Eflani, Eskipazar,and Safranbolu) according to the topographic
structure exhibit a tendency to settlement and development. It interacts with the development of the
town center, but a format of interaction with each other is not found.
In the Karabük Province planning area, there are grasslands and large state-owned forest areas
which require major public properties of public organizations and institutions. Air pollution caused by
heavy industry in the district becomes an important environmental issue. For many years, disposal of
waste water sources around the edges of forested areas and the road is leading to soil, water and air
pollution( Karabuk Ilinin Afet Tehlikesi ve Riskinin Belirlenmesi 2012).
DATA
In this study, SPOT-5 satellite data were used with the spatial resolution of 2.5m
(http://www.cscrs.itu.edu.tr/kataloglar/SPOT_5/SPOT5_katalog_tr.pdf). Google Earth images and
patches of cadastral data were also used for placements. SPOT 5 satellite imagery covering the whole
of the districts including Yenice, Karabük town center and, Safranbolu was obtained on 14th of
September 2011. Ground Control Points were collected from the town land use maps (scale 1/1000)
for the ortho-rectification process. In Yenice town, cadastral layouts of the villages Gökbel, Ibrıcak,
Hisarköy, Örenköy, Kaleköy, and the surrounding area were used and case studies were carried out to
determinepotential settlement areas. Satellite image of rural areas compared with the decisions
obtained frum the Karabük Province 1:100.000 Environment Plan (ZBK 1/100 000 Olcekli Cevre
Duzeni Plani 2012, Karabuk Ili Cevre Durum Raporu 2011).
METHODOLOGY
Radiometric correction of the images was done automatically by the Direct Receiving Station
system prior to obtain these data. For the correction of geometric distortions caused by topographic
relief, an accurate DEM (Digital Elevation Model) is required. At the first stage of the study, using
LPS (Leica Phtogrammetry Suite) module of the ERDAS software the altitude variations were
corrected in the DEM of Karabük province. Geometric distortions are corrected with a mathematical
transformation procedure using the coordinates of pixels in the image and the coordinates of
corresponding points on the maps or ground. Land use maps of the region were used as the reference
for GCP coordinates. Cubic interpolation method was used as the resampling method. As a result the
total RMSE(Root Mean Square Error) of transformation was found as 3.6770 m. Nine additional
check points were selected except the ground control points to analyze overall accuracy of the
geometric correction. An external accuracy assessment was made as shown in Table-1. The average
RMSE was found as 3.823m.
Table-1: Accuracy assessment for geometric correction
Check
Points
1(GCP1)
2(GCP11)
3(GCP16)
4(GCP17)
5(GCP18)
6(GCP19)
7(GCP20)
8(GCP21)
9(GCP22)
Rectified img.coordinates
X(m)
Y(m)
483488.076 4591354.602
442446.031 4564718.011
480255.948 4589312.033
440824.001 4561989.890
440457.573 4562201.640
443561.911 4561164.817
443954.014 4561420.015
466305.945 4559670.001
473298.055 4567523.998
Source img.coordinates
X(m)
Y(m)
483489.69 4591358.634
442441.636 4564721.519
480254.963 4589310.927
440825.773 4561993.127
440459.863 4562207.796
443564.539 4561164.334
443952.495 4561420.065
466306.565 4559674.444
473300.677 4567520.940
Fx(m) Fy(m) RMS(m)
-1.614 -4.032
4.343
4.395 -3.508
5.623
0.985 1.106
1.481
-1.772 -3.237
3.690
-2.290 -6.156
6.568
-2.628 0.483
2.672
1.519 -0.050
1.519
-0.620 -4.443
4.486
-2.622 3.058
4.028
3.823
Average
DIGITIZING
Using ArcMap software buildings that lined the road axis, boundaries of settlements were
digitized from the satellite images of the selected villages. During the digitalization, a digital map
showing the boundaries of the district and village locations was created using satellite images.
Analysis of up-to-date satellite imagery allows us to compare the new buildings digitized from images
with current cadastral maps to point out changes over time. Related coordinate transformations
between different software and projections were conducted to fulfill these comparisons. Afterwards,
digitized spatial data of related rural areas, road connections and placements in residential areas were
created. Furthermore, it was also determined how the physical environmental factors affect spatial
shape rural settlements.
RESULTS
In this study, only the results and the assessments for the Yenice town of Karabük province are
summarized and presented below. Yenice town is a mountainous region having quite steeper slopes.
Agricultural areas are located between forest areas and the residential village. The rural settlements are
scattered and sparse and most of the buildings are located along the road axes cluster. Dense forests at
higher elevations are not seen convenient for habitation. The properties of rural settlements in Yenice
town are analyzed below in terms of villages one-by-one;
Yamaçköy village; three-centered countryside aligned along the axis of the road. It is a flat area
outside the forests and high in the mountains. Around the village, there are flat agricultural lands
integrated with forests. Individual buildings form a line along the road axes. Due to the flatness of the
region, buildings showed more frequent sequence (Figure 2).
Kaleköy Village; located quite far from the center of the Yenice town and has only one subvillage unit. Buildings are lined along the road alignment. Flat area at the top of the mountains is
surrounded by forest (Figure 3).
Figure-2. Yamaçköy village and road alignment
Figure-3. Kaleköy village and road alignment
Ibricak Village; consists of three residential neighborhoods distributed over a wide area.
Settlements are established close to the main road on different slopes of the mountains. There is more
intense development of settlements along the road sides, but it appears to be very rare on mountainous
district (Figure 4).
Keyfallar Village; consists of three sub-villages. Those neighborhoods are away from each other.
Buildings rarely arrange along the road. Settlements have been established on the plains outside the
forest areas and agricultural areas are available around them (Figure 5).
Yirmibeşoğlu Village; has been established in an area with quite dense forests and the
construction of the buildings shows a string along the road still quite rare (Figure 6).
Gökbel Village; Gökbel village settlement was established with four sub-village construction on
the slopes of the low mountain areas showing rare placement along the road alignment.
Figure-4. Ibricak village and road alignment
Figure-5. Keyfallar sub-villages and road alignment
Figure-6. Yirmibeşoğlu sub-villages and road alignment
Hisarköy village: consists of three sub-villages and sites are spread over a large area in the
boundary of the village. Building clusters are seen along the road. The rural residential areas and road
axis digitized on satellite images have been evaluated together with the environmental factors. Some
classifications have been made using those evaluations. Four main classes are defined for four
different properties:
 Multi-unit intensive and public residential areas
 Multi-unit sparse and scattered residential areas
 Single-unit intensive and public residential areas
 Single unit sparse and scattered residential areas
Figure-7. Gökbel sub-villages and road alignment
Figure-8. Hisarkoy village neighborhoods and road alignment
Below, the properties of these classes are explained and some sample villages are presented for
each class:
Multi-unit intensive and public residential areas; are mostly seen in mid-slope topography.
Transportation between units is easy and buildings are collected in close clusters. Sub-village units are
small and medium. Below are two sample villages in Karabük Central district (Figure 9).
Multi-unit sparse and scattered residential areas: are more mountainous and forested areas with
dense altitudes. Transportation is difficult due to the mountainous terrain conditions between units.
Buildings are lined in some places along the way, in general, more often in very rare sequence. The
village spread in a wide area, but along the way buildings are ranked very rare. Forest or agricultural
areas may enter largely into the field (Figure 10).
Single-unit intensive and public residential areas; were observed extensively over lower slopes
like flat agricultural areas. Buildings are usually built close to each other. Villages in Karabük and
Safranbolu district can be shown as examples as seen in Figure 11 below.
Single unit sparse and scattered residential areas; don’t demonstrate a growth because the forest
areas cover a large part of the village. They are quite far away from the town center for example
Kaleköy village of Yenice or their sub-villages are far away from each other (Figure 12).
Kadıköy
Akören
Figure-9. Examples to the multi-unit intensive and public residential areas
Ibricak
Hisar
Keyfallar
Figure-10. Examples to the multi-unit sparse and scattered residential areas
Düzçam
Güneşli
Figure-11. Examples to the single-unit intensive and public residential areas
Kaleköy
Yirmibeşoğlu
Figure-12. Examples to the single unit sparse and scattered residential areas
CONCLUSION
Remote sensing images are important data source for spatial analysis of villages and determining
the direction of development for the region. The residential properties for rural areas are the
topographic structure, distance from the town center, climate, infrastructure, the wideness of
agriculture and forest areas. Most of these properties could be created from remotely sensed data using
mono or stereo images. Moreover, satellite images could provide up-to-date spatial information based
on their collection times. In Turkey, most of the available land use plans of rural areas are not up-todate, therefore remote sensing has high potential to create current situation of rural areas to be used for
planning activities for these regions. All data and information of rural areas can be obtained and
gathered in a geographic information system to conduct extensive spatial analyses to find out the
relationship between environmental factors and rural settlements and provide a decision-making
environment for policy makers. This system could provide accurate and up-to-date information for
planning issues of rural settlements that could be used by related public institutions and organizations.
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