Vegetation and Population Density in Urban and Suburban Areas in the U.S.A

Conclusions

•Population density distribution in the U.S. àdemographic classification (urban/suburban/rural)

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•Vegetation cover is the most consistent spectral characteristics in suburban areas

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•Spectral heterogeneity à wide range of vegetation fractions in demographically urban and suburban areas

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•Not possible to consistently characterize urban and suburban areas in the U.S. based on reflectance characteristics at Landsat resolutions

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	In the 6 cities of the study, the most consistent spectral characteristic of “demographically” suburban areas is related to the amount of vegetation cover:
		Large cities with high density urban cores show linear decrease in vegetation fraction with increase of log₁₀(population density)
		Generally maximum vegetation cover diminishes with increasing population density
	But spectral heterogeneity still results in a wide range of vegetation fractions in demographically urban and suburban areas
	Co-analysis of population density, vegetation fractions and USGS Urban classes confirms that it is not possible to consistently characterize urban and suburban areas in the U.S. based on reflectance characteristics at Landsat resolutions.