Quantifying impervious surface changes using time series planimetric data from 1940 to 2011 in four central Iowa cities, U.S.A

- Impervious surface area increased and became more connected over time.
- Building and parking lot surfaces became more important in the last 20 years.
- Spatial heterogeneity of surfaces was quantified in different percent IS zones.
- Dominant impervious surfaces include roads (low IS zones), buildings (medium), and parking lots (high).
- Policy and practice implementation to mitigate against IS impacts can be targeted in different percent IS zones.