Spatial modeling of land-use change in a rapidly urbanizing landscape in central Iran: integration of remote sensing, CA-Markov, and landscape metrics.

In the present paper, land use/land cover (LULC) change was predicted in the Greater Isfahan area (GIA), central Iran. The GIA has been growing rapidly in recent years, and attempts to simulate its spatial expansion would be essential to make appropriate decisions in LULC management plans and achieve sustainable development. Several modeling tools were employed to outline sustainable scenarios for future dynamics of LULCs in the region.