M.Sc. (Geography) / The aim of this research is to determine if, by means of Landsat MSS digital data, urban land use classes can be identified and separated, and if changes in land use (urban sprawl) can be detected, over a period of time. Regional authorities function at inter-municipal scale. In order for these instittitions to perform these functions, they need to have access to standardized data (standardized in scale, time and interpretation) in order to obtain a global view of the total area under their authority. Remotely sensed digital data have the potential to fulfil these needs. A secondary objective will then also be to make an evaluation of the various applications of the results to the relevant authorities.