Impact of Urban Creep and Expansion

Overview

We present a study aimed at conducting an analysis of urban creep and expansion in the Ouseburn catchment in Newcastle upon Tyne, characterized by rural, suburban and urban areas, over a period of seven decades. Various geographic and socio-demographic data for the catchment and hydrologic modelling are used.

The rate of increase of impervious surfaces is found not to be constant in time; the significant impact of this variation on the catchment's hydrologic response (increase of river peak flows and volumes) is quantified.

The conclusions obtained are likely representative of many large towns and cities across the United Kingdom and the methodology presented can be replicated in other study areas.