Assessing the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Urban Growth in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area Using Satellite Images

This research aims to identify the patterns of urban growth in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA) in Mexico. The research utilizes satellite images from 2000, 2010, and 2020 and employs remote sensing and spatial statistics techniques to calculate urban expansion, its direction, and changes in the estimated built-up area over the study period. The findings indicate a pattern of center-periphery spatial diffusion of the built- up areas. Directional patterns were identified, observing that for the period 2000-2010 the direction of the built-up areas was directed mainly towards the south, while for the period 2010-2020 this direction changed towards the north with a growth of 47.6% over the entire period. On the other hand, Shannon entropy values were estimated, going from 0.79 in the year 2000 to 0.86 in 2010, showing that the metropolitan area has presented an urban sprawl pattern. Finally, the discussion centers on the impact of a newly established automotive plant on the expansion of built-up areas during the past decade, while also considering the prospects of the upcoming new automotive plants in the state. This research can serve as input for future studies that address urban planning with satellite images.