Automatic Delineation of Urban Growth Boundaries Based on Topographic Data Using Germany as a Case Study

Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) is a growth management policy that designates specific areas where should be concentrated in order to avoid urban sprawl. The objective of such boundary protect agricultural land, open spaces and the natural environment, as well use existing infrastructure public services more efficiently. Due inherent heterogeneity complexity settlements, UGBs Germany are currently created manually by experts. Therefore, every dataset linked area, investigation period dedicated use. Clearly, up-to-date, homogeneous, meaningful cost-efficient delineations automatically needed this reliance on or semi-automatically generated delineations. Here, we present an aggregative method produce using building footprints generally available topographic data inputs. It was applied study Frankfurt/Main, Hanover region rural Brandenburg while taking full account Germany’s planning legal framework for spatial development. Our able compensate most weaknesses UGB significantly raise accuracy Germany. it represents valuable tool generating basic future studies. Application elsewhere also conceivable regionalising employed parameters.