Fuzzy set theory based model for simulating land use change

The land use change is a progressive and non-deterministic process both spatially and temporally. In dealing with this relatively complicated spatial phenomenon, the Fuzzy Set theory could be employed to represent and handle the spatial uncertainty in the two-dimension continuous space. This study thus combines this theory with the shape interpolation technique to simulate the change of land use across space over time. Specifically, the Fuzzy Set theory is used for producing a set of intermediate fuzzy layers of geographic features based on two existing ultimate layers. Here the fuzzy membership functions are constructed by a statistic method related to the theory of probability. With a given space-time resolution, the utilization of shape interpolation is aimed at determining the particular location of a geographic entity. Using Nantong City of Jiangsu Province as a case study, the transition progress from non-urban area to urban area between 2001 and 2006 is empirically implemented. The research results are obtained in accordance the realistic situation of urban growth in Nantong City.