Abstract: The law of land use cover change (LUCC) in Aksu irrigation area is investigated, and the driving forces of LUCC are examined by geo-informatics graphic analysis according to remotely sensed images in three periods (2006, 2010, and 2015). Conclusions are as follows: (1) From 2006 to 2010, the area of cultivated land, garden land and construction land increased, while woodland, grassland, waters and other land area decreased, among which cultivated land increased the largest, by 149 868.54 hm², mostly converted from garden land and other land; garden land increased the fastest, with a growth rate up to 43.08%. (2) From 2010 to 2015, the area of garden land and construction land displayed a rapid increase trend, while cultivated land, woodland, grassland, waters and other land area revealed a decreasing trend, among which garden land increased by 59 705.55 hm², which was the largest, mainly derived from cultivated land; the growth rate of construction land area was the largest, reaching 300.50%. (3) Economic, traffic and population were main driving forces for the rapid expansion of construction land in Aksu River irrigation area.

Key words: land-use pattern, graphic unit, graphic analysis, driving forces, Aksu River irrigation area