Analysis of Anthropic Pressure Indices in the Metropolitan Area of Braşov, Processed/Highlighted by Means of GIS

Abstract Metropolitan areas represent large urban centers, made up of a metropolis and adjacent areas of influence. In general, one or several cities are polarizing centers which inspire a name to the metropolitan area as the most important component of the city. The human pressure may be analyzed using anthropic pressure indices. They are calculated according to the relation between the surfaces with different types of occupation and the number of population overlapping such occupied areas. The data used in calculations may be found in official statistics and in international environmental monitoring programs. Such program is Copernicus which provides the Corine Land Cover data relating to use of land in Europe. To calculate and analyze anthropic pressure indices one may use GIS applications which process the Corine Land Cover data and create maps that expose changes occurred at visual level.