of the Landsat TM imagery from 1995, the biotope map of 
the entire area of the city of Zagreb has been made (Fig. 4). 
To facilitate handling and use of obtained results and to 
perform analyses for determining changes and for planning 
purposes, all produced maps have been incorporated in GIS. 
Comparison of the produced maps shows that on the satellite 
imagery the main biotope types only (although not all of 
them) can be separated. Park forests and forests can be 
separated by the field verification only, similary as the built 
areas and roads. For a more detailed analysis of biotope 
subtypes and categories, it is necessary to use aerial 
photographs with obligatory field verification, since, for 
instance, it is impossible to distinguish public buildings 
from dwellings using the aerial photographs only. 
The produced maps present a basis for multidisciplinary 
researches of urban area biotopes to determine the biological 
diversity as an indicator of quality of human life. The 
changed status map (Fig. 3) is the basis for monitoring urban 
space development in the studied period. 
According to the separated biotope types, the digital maps 
for the researched area of the city of Zagreb for the year 
1982 (Fig. 1) and for the year 1997 (Fig. 2) as well as the 
map of changes have been made. By interpretation of the 
Landsat TM imagery from 1995, the biotope map of the 
entire area of the city of Zagreb has been made (Fig. 4). 
        
To facilitate handling and use of obtained results and to 
perform analyses for determining changes and for planning 
purposes, all made maps have been incorporated in GIS. 
5. CONCLUSION 
All obtained data on biotopes present the zero status in the 
researched area, and at the same time they are a basis for 
establishing a continuous change montoring system that 
should ensure urban area protection and development 
planning in accordance with the principles of a sustainable 
growth. 
The aerial photographs proved to be a suitable and reliable 
tool for detailed biotope mapping. Repeated photographing 
enables a fast and simple determination of changes and 
status monitoring. 
The satellite imageries can be used for biotope mapping in 
cases of larger surfaces only, and this in the initial phase as 
a global status presentation. 
GIS is very suitable for integrating data from various sources 
(interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite imageries, 
field data). The established GIS model presents a starting 
point for all further multidisciplinary researches. 
  
  
Q 
S 
2 
Figure 1. Map of biotopes for the research area of the city of Zagreb for the year 1982 
242 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 7, Budapest, 1998