Large detail scale mapping from aerial orthophotos for understanding local-scale urban land use dynamics. The case of Madrid, Spain

The Madrid Land Use project (MLUP) is an aerial photographic interpretation-based mapping program for the Madrid region, Spain, now available for five time periods: 2000, 2006, 2009, 2014 and 2020. In this paper we showcase the most recent updates for 2014 and 2020, using examples from the municipalities of Arganda del Rey, Campo Real and Rivas-Vaciamadrid. The updated geodatabase enhances our understanding of urban development trends and land use patterns. Broadly, development followed a simplistic template initiated by the construction of road infrastructure, later infilling with multi-family housing, retail and facilities. This pattern is highly dispersed, increasingly car dependent and energy and resource inefficient, and thus not aligned with environmental, climate or sustainability goals. The results of the MLUP show the continuing importance of large detail scale mapping from aerial orthophoto interpretation as an essential tool for understanding urban land use dynamics.