Based on GIS and RS

landuse variation features in the Shaanxi loess platform region from 1985 to 2010 were analyzed by a series of landuse change indexes. Results are as follows:In 2010

cultivated land

grassland and built-up land occupied 984 337.30

143 030.47 and 105 871.35 hm2

whose percentages over the total area of the loess platform region were 77.89%

11.32% and 8.38%

respectively. During the research period

cultivated land

grassland

forestry land and water area decreased by 20 866.61

11 065.22

1 186.44 and 748.96 hm2

respectively

accounting for 2.08%

7.18%

4.60% and 11.64% of each of land types in 1985

while built-up land increased by 33 902.8 hm2

which took up 47.11% of built-up land in 1985. There were 26 668.8 hm2 cultivated land changed into built-up land

accounting for 96.26% of the total area changed into built-up land

and 18 923.9 hm2 grassland changed into cultivated land

accounting for 93.24% of the total area changed from grassland. The land system was relatively stable during 1985-1990 (synthetic dynamic index was 0.52)

and the landuse change was active during 1990-1995 (synthetic dynamic index was 0.36). Since then

the synthetic dynamic index gradually decreased

the land system tended to be stable

and the value of synthetic dynamic index decreased to 1.16 from 2005 to 2010. In space

cultivated land changed into construction land was tremendously distributed around cities and towns

the mutual transformation between the cultivated land and grassland mainly occurred in the eastern part of Weinan platform region

the northern part of Xianyang and Baoji platform region.