@article {10.3844/ajessp.2011.90.101,
article_type = {journal},
title = {Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Urban Growth Using Land Use/Land Cover, Water Quality and Health Indicators: A Case Study of Arequipa, Peru},
author = {Carpio, Oswaldo Villena and Fath, Brian D.},
volume = {7},
number = {2},
year = {2011},
month = {May},
pages = {90-101},
doi = {10.3844/ajessp.2011.90.101},
url = {https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajessp.2011.90.101},
abstract = {Problem statement: This research assesses the direct effects of urban expansion on land
cover/use, river flow, water quality and the indirect effects of these variables in the rate of
gastrointestinal disease in people in Arequipa, Peru through the combined use of satellite remote sensing
and geographic information systems. Approach: It also uses information about demographic changes,
hydrologic data and land cover change in the Arequipa region for the last 17 years. The goal is to
understand the relationship between urbanization, water quality in the Chili River and incidence of
gastrointestinal diseases. Results: Landsat imagery was used to determine this relationship and to
extrapolate business as usual trends into the future ten years from now. Results indicate that there has
been notable urban growth and a loss in volcanic material land and cropland between 1990 and 2007, as
new urban developments have appeared in these areas. The population expansion over volcanically active
area is particularly troubling since it poses a potential human health risk. We also model a business as
usual scenario out to the year 2020, which shows continued loss of these land use types and serves as a
warning for land managers to consider alternate policies. Conclusion/Recommendations: The analysis
also shows a direct correlation between urbanization with the decrease of water quality and the increase
in the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases.},
journal = {American Journal of Environmental Sciences},
publisher = {Science Publications}
}