Identifying urban greenspaces by a combined analysis of digital map and remote sensing data: a case study of Kuala Lumpur

We present a three-step approach to enrich the information about green spaces stored in the planning information system. These stages are: (a) extending the types of areas recognised as green or open spaces; (b) using existing digital mapping and this broader ?typology? to enable a more comprehensive city-wide identification of green or open spaces and (c) extracting further information about the nature and condition of the land within each of these land parcels, through an interpretation of high resolution IKONOS satellite data. We describe and illustrate each of the stages and present preliminary results from this work in progress. We suggest that the enriched data that would be generated would enable planners to have an enhanced understanding of the nature and condition of remaining urban green spaces, be able to more objectively evaluate the priority to protect different spaces and to defend decisions made about green spaces more transparently.