A software tool for calculating the urban compactness from remote sensing classification image

摘要

In this paper, two methods for calculating urban compactness are introduced: one of them is a pixel based method designed by the author before and the other one is the improving upon the compact ratio. These two methods were successfully programmed using C++ language and developed into a useful software tool which could calculate the urban compactness directly from remote sensing classification image, showing great convenience for the researchers of studying urban compactness. At last, the software tool was used for the change analysis of urban compactness in the cities of Dongguan and Foshan. The results showed that the increase of urban compactness in Dongguan city mainly occurred in the outside part. For the city of Foshan, compactness changes mainly occurred in the first to the third cirque area.