Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Urban Land Cover Structures in Prefecture-level Cities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region based on Remote Sensing Imagery

The urban land cover structures play an important role in providing urban ecological service and altering the quality of human settlements environment.In this study，2000~2015 Landsat TM series satellite data along with fine resolution remote sensing images were used to capture information of each 5-year land cover structures in 12 prefecture-level cities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Subsequently，there land cover information was used to monitor and analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion，and differences of land cover structures and expansion types.The results showed that：in 2000~2015，the overall changes of land cover structures in 12 prefecture level cities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were rapid.Specifically，the urban area expanded by 278.93 km².By comparison，the proportion of urban area expansion in 2010~2015 was 1.61 times and 1.91 times than that of the first two periods (in 2000~2005 and in 2005~2010).Since 2010，the most dramatic changes has been observed.Particularly，obvious urban impervious surface expansion was found.Also urban vegetation showed obviously increased with varying degrees.At the past decade，urban expansion has undergone three stages.Specifically，the main process experienced from urban interior filling to urban interior filling and then to urban extension，of which Baotou and Hulunbeier belonging to the internal filling city.Population growth and socio-economic development are responsible for these differences.