Leveraging open source land use and land cover data for urban and regional planning in transforming areas

A steadily growing repository of publicly available land use and land cover (LULC) data holds great potential for addressing pressing challenges, e.g., associated with climate change or profound societal and economic transformations. However, significant portions of this data remain underutilised. This article exemplifies the practical applicability of harnessing such data for advancing spatial planning within the Rhineland mining area, Germany – a region currently undergoing significant structural shifts induced by the upcoming coal phase-out. The study features a three-pronged approach, integrating and overlaying numerous diverse datasets. First, we conduct a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem services (ES) in the region (1). Moreover, we present an evaluation of areas (un)suitable for future settlement development based on multiple constraints (2). Finally, we offer community-level analyses assessing the most suitable future land use focus, considering current LULC and ES information presenting three primary options: settlement, agriculture and natural/recreation (3). Findings are conveyed at various levels of spatial and informational granularity. We show spatially differentiated patterns of combined ES pronunciation, constraints for settlement development, and the suitability for the mentioned land use categories being meaningful in both the detailed and the reduced representation. This accommodates distinct planning requirements and audiences, spanning from regional to urban land use planning and from informing laypersons to providing knowledge to planning professionals. The approach possesses wide-ranging applicability and adaptability. It should encourage practitioners/planners to explore untapped potentials within open data for shaping planning processes and informing stakeholders. Primary benefits include objectifying and optimising planning processes while promoting their acceptance.