SPATIAL CHANGES OF LAND USE PATTERN IN GUZELBAHCE DISTRICT (IZMIR)

Abstract. The primary issues related the spatial organization of urban settlements are based on the development of density and land use decisions leading due to the market mechanisms. The current spatial land use pattern of cities have emerged depending various factors such as the migration movements increased rapidly from the 1950s, the rapid and uncontrolled urbanization, the pressures of rent directing the market mechanisms, etc. This urbanization process also has accompanied many problems as the insecure construction for disasters, dense and solid urban texture, various weaknesses or deficiencies of urban infrastructure. As a consequence of the evaluation for social facility areas (gaps in urban area, open and green areas, etc.) as “potential investment areas”, the loss of solid – void ratio and dense built-environment have been experienced in urban centres and also urban development directions. The main aim of this study is to examine the spatial effects of land use decisions between the years of 2002 – 2017 under the influence of the Law 6360 in terms of urban planning discipline. These spatial variations related land use pattern are determined using Google Earth and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). According to the results, it is clearly understood that current land use patterns in Guzelbahce district have changed significantly in 15-years period. The results of analyses related the case area which the urban sprawl has seen are discussed and a variety of policies have been developed.