Geospatial analysis of New Jersey land development over the past two decades by Rutgers and Rowan universities show that the state’s sprawl is approaching completion. Their analysis indicates that the state has just one million acres left of developable land after the most active development period the state had seen between 1986 and 2007.
The 26-page report, “Changing Landscapes in the Garden State,” analyzes data from aerial imagery that document the two decades of urban growth. In addition to a downloadable report, the site contains time lapse maps that show the urban growth, forest change, agriculture change, wetlands change, increase in impervious surfaces, and the amount of remaining land left.
This document will provide invaluable guidance for land conservation efforts and larger regional planning in the state. The work was done by the Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis at Rutgers University and at the Department of Geography at Rowan University. There is indication that ongoing land planning analysis will be done by the two.
