Fractal analysis of land use in Zhujiang River Delta

Based on dynamic data of land use in 1990, 2000, 2006, using GIS and fractal modeling, a rapid developed region of the Zhujiang River Delta was selected as study case, the quantitative changes of land use were analyzed, the fractal dimension and stability index of different land use types were calculated, and the region differences of fractal characters were discussed. Using grey relational analysis, the fractal mechanism was studied. Results showed that from 1990 to 2006, construction land was expanded intensively, area of cultivated land and forest was decreased evidently. The land use structure of the Zhujiang River Delta changed complex structures into simple structures, the stability increased constantly. The spatial structure of water bodies was most complex, unused land was most simple. The spatial structures of paddy-fields, town land and unused land became more complex, other land use types more simple. The fractal characters of different regions existed remarkable differences, the fractal changes had sensible differences. The fractal structures were mainly influenced by the geometric properties of spatial pattern of land use, the effect of population was weakening, the primary industry had considerable influence among three industries.