GIS-based spatial and temporal changes of land occupation caused by mining activities-a study in eastern part of Hubei Province

By using multi-source and multi-temporal high resolution remote sensing data and related techniques of remote sensing and geographic information systems, this paper analyzes the spatial and temporal changes of land occupation caused by mine development in four mining areas of eastern Hubei Province from 2011 to 2014, including Chengchao-Tieshan iron-copper polymetallic deposit area, Daye-Yangxin iron-copper polymetallic deposit area, E-Nan mining area, and Wuxue-Yangxin non-metallic mining area along the Yangtze River. The results show that: In the research area, land occupation of energy mine exploitation is small and in scattered distribution, with coal mine occupying the largest area, showing a downward trend in four years; land occupation of metal mines is large and in centralized distribution, with iron mine and copper mine occupying the largest area, showing a downward trend in four years; non-metallic mines are large and in great quantity, with mines of limestone for building and limestone occupying the largest area, showing a upward trend in four years.