IMPACTS OF BOSPORUS BRIDGES oN THE ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN SETTLEMENT AREAS

Abstract

Istanbul, one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world, experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization in the second-half of the 20th century. The City grew at an average annual growth rate of 4.5 per cent between 1950 and 2000. Growth of settlements and the transportation system have damaged the natural environment. Istanbul is located on both sides of the Bosporus Strait that divides Europe from Asia. Recently an alternative to the planned third bridge for the Istanbul metropolitan area has been selected. The transportation infrastructure which has been constructed has drastically changed the land use profile and caused negative impacts on the environment. The proposed third bridge route threatens agricultural areas, forests, waterbodies and water collection areas that form the open-space systems of Istanbul.The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of existing Bosporus bridges on the spatial development and the natural resources of the metropolitan area of Istanbul. With the new transportation axis focused on the bridge route, the potential impacts on vital open spaces such as the northern forest regions, the existing agricultural lands and the waterbodies and catchments are evaluated. These changes are explored using a geographical information system and five sets of Landsat satellite images from 1975, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. This should provide a better understanding of the main reasons for the effects and will support city administrators planning similar projects.

Analysing Spatial and Statistical Dependencies of Deforestation Affected by Residential Growth: Gorganrood Basin, Northeast Iran

“…Likewise, the minimum rate of population growth was computed for the third period in both urban (annually ≈2·11%) and rural (annually ≈0·2%) areas with a lower value of residential area expansion, and consequently, the rate of forest loss decreased. Generally, this part of our results confirms the finding of prior studies (Xu et al, ; Jat et al, ; DeFries et al, ; Geymen, ; Pir‐Bavaghar, ; Reddy et al, ) that the population growth as one significant driver in converting forests into other human needs, like expansion of settlements and farmlands in developing countries. In the next section, we model the influence of residential growth rate on the deforestation rate in the area through some powerful spatial regression methods.…”

“…The rural and urban expansions declined to 4·2% and 1·32%, respectively, during the third period. Although the rate of residential growth has decreased in last period, the calculated area of settlements in 2010 is four times of settlements in 1972; these, our results, are consistent with the findings of other studies in sprawling residential and industrial areas in the New England (Jeon et al, 2014), the El-Obeid Town, Western Sudan (Eltom (Geymen, 2013). Similarly, based on our land-cover maps (Figure 3), farmlands were doubled from 1972 (210,700 ha) to 1987 (410,400 ha), as about 23·26% (49,000 ha) of them expanded in the forest lands.…”

“…BiLISA cluster and significant maps of spatial autocorrelation between deforestation and residential growth in 1972-1987 (a, b); 1987-2000 (c, d); and 2000-2010 (e, f) decreased. Generally, this part of our results confirms the finding of prior studies (Xu et al, 2000;Jat et al, 2008;DeFries et al, 2010;Geymen, 2013;Pir-Bavaghar, 2015;Reddy et al, 2016) that the population growth as one significant driver in converting forests into other human needs, like expansion of settlements and farmlands in developing countries. In the next section, we model the influence of residential growth rate on the deforestation rate in the area through some powerful spatial regression methods.…”

“…For instance, Davudirad et al () showed extending of residential areas induced by exploding of population has occurred during 35 years in the Shazand Watershed, Iran, while vegetation areas were removed extensively and replaced by settlements, industrial zones and farmlands. Geymen () demonstrated that the most deteriorations of forests and basins nearby Istanbul city were resulted of rapid settlements and population growth from 1975 to 2005 in this metropolitan.…”

Monitoring of Environmental Impacts and Land-Use Changes in Water Basin Using Geographical Information Systems: Elmalı Basin Case Study

“…Geymen'in (2013) yılında yapmış olduğu çalışmasında çok büyük bir kısmı su toplama havzalarında kalan 3. Boğaz Köprüsü'nün bağlantı yollarının İstanbul'un önemli içme suyu rezervleri olan Ömerli, Elmalı, Darlık, Alibeyköy, Büyükçekmece, Sazlıdere ve Terkos havzalarından geçtiğini ve bu durumun su havzalarını yoğun yapılaşma baskısı altında bırakacağını tespit etmiştir (Geymen, 2013). Dudullu Organize Sanayi Bölgesi ise Elmalı havzasının güney kısmında tesis edilmiştir.…”