Dynamics of change in the peri-urban landscape of Huerta de Valencia: the case of La Punta (Valencia)

Abstract

This paper is a partial result of a wider research project that attempts to assess the changes in the urban and peri-urban fabric soils of the municipality of Valencia from 1944 to 2004. The research presented focuses on the analysis of the nature of the changes and the dynamics of these over time in the area of La Punta, a town administrated by the city of Valencia (Spain) and located in the district of Quatre Carreres. The methodology is based on the analysis and measurement of changes in land structure, in the land use, in the occupation of building and in the forested areas presented in the traditional structure of non-urban roads. The key to measure such changes have been the use of the Cadaster of 1929 1944; 1972; 1989; orthophoto collections from the Valencian Regional Library and evolution of mapping from the SIOSE. The most outstanding results refer to the surprising resilience of some elements of the structure of the Huerta de Valencia and the discovery and identification of landscapes (plural) result of the different dynamics of change.