Mapping spatial patterns and urban morphology changes due to special economic zones in the United Arab Emirates Using landsat archival data

There are presently about 40 special economic zones (SEZs) across the seven federating emirates of the United Arab Emirates. These SEZs include businesses technology hubs, science cities, recreational parks, and media parks. The concept of SEZ in the UAE does not differ remarkably with other parts of the globe. SEZs in the UAE enjoy incentives such as tax exemptions, unrestricted capital flights etc⋯ This paper argues that SEZs should be viewed as unique phenomena being important hubs of globalisation and global business linkages between countries and corporations. This study aims to document how the SEZs change or affect the transformation of urban morphology and land use practices in the UAE. For instance, the research results aim to show the new spatial patterns and land use that emerge around the SEZs compared to before their establishment. The research is based on sequential analysis of temporal geospatial digital maps generated from archival Landsat TM for the period 2000-2015. In previous research studies satellite data have been used to document impacts on the urban morphology and land use practices worldwide. The study area is located around Al Quoz and Al Barsha localities situated in the western side of the city of Dubai with a vibrant SEZs. Two Landsat scenes from April 2000 and February 2015 were used in the study. Simple image pre-processing involved cropping the study area and radiometric corrections. A land cover classification and segmentation approaches were applied for both scenes. The images are classified into different classes such as buildings and houses, industries and ware houses, roads, sand, vegetation, and water. Preliminary results show that in the year 2000, the pattern of buildings and houses were scattered within the study area. But by 2015, the settlements has compacted and is focused on the either sides of the study area. In the middle portion of Al Quoz industrial zone, the pattern of buildings and houses are still scattered because of the influence of industries and unsuitable living condition in the surroundings. The pattern of the industries and warehouses in the city has been changed drastically. In the year 2000, industries were concentrated mainly in the Al Quoz area in a scattered form and there was no commercial center in the Al Barsha area. By 2015, the industries got compacted and are concentrated mainly in the Al Quoz zone. There is a good correlation between industries, buildings and houses in the study area. When the industries are increasing, buildings and houses are also increasing and are spreading on both sides of the Al Quoz industrial zone such as Al Barsha and northern side of the Al Quoz. The findings of this research would help local authorities and corporation in planning for the future of these global businesses and local sustainability in the context of environmental planning and sustainability.