Abstract: Based on the spatial analysis function of GIS, the land use transfer matrices of counties along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway were processed in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, and then the spatial global characteristics of land use change were analyzed by using standard deviation ellipse. The results showed that the main types of land use in the study area were grassland, woodland and unused land. Grassland average accounted for the largest proportion of 46.34%, followed by woodland, which accounted for 27.55%, and unused land average accounted for 18.50%. Water area, cultivated land, and construction land average accounted for 3.90%, 3.26% and 0.45%, respectively. During 2000—2015, the area of construction land, woodland, unused land and water area increased by 181.62, 26.92, 35.68, 12.73 km², respectively; the area of arable land and grassland decreased by 171.63 km² and 85.37 km², respectively. The change rate of each land use type in 2000—2015 was construction land>cultivated land> unused land > water area > woodland > grassland. There were obvious regional differences in land use type changes, and the changes in the eastern section of the railway were higher than those in the middle and western sections. From 2005 to 2010, from 2010 to 2015, compared with 2000 to 2005, the land use type change range was smaller, and the spatial dispersion was higher. The latter two periods had stabilized, with the center of change from Baiyu County to the southeast to Kangding City. The coverage of the main changes had a trend of expanding west and south.

Key words: GIS, Sichuan-Tibet Railway, LUCC（land use and cover change）, standard deviation ellipse, spatial analysis