Multitemporal change analysis of the relationship of water ponds and urban change - Taoyuan, Taiwan

Taoyuan County locates approximately 30 km from the capital city of Taipei. It comprises an area of 2,898 Ha of farm ponds on the northwestern portion of Taiwan. Recently, the urban development caused many ponds abandoned and irrigation along rivers destroyed, it seriously affect the local ecological environment. To study the change on Taoyuan, multi-temporal satellite images since 1986 until 2011 are utilized in the paper. The image classification and GIS tool are used to recognize the water ponds and building area. We trace the population with the change trend of farm ponds. And the change in the centrality of city was discussed. It showed that farm ponds have reduced 902 Ha, and the area of building increased 8,499 Ha. The centrality of building moves 1,425 m since 1986 till 2011.