Spatial Metrics based Landscape Structure and Dynamics Assessment for an emerging Indian Megalopolis

Abstract

Human-induced land use changes are considered the prime agents of the global environmental changes. Urbanisation and associated growth patterns (urban sprawl) are characteristic of spatial temporal changes that take place at regional levels. Unplanned urbanization and consequent impacts on natural resources including basic amenities has necessitated the investigations of spatial patterns of urbanization. A comprehensive assessment using quantitative methods and methodological understanding using rigorous methods is required to understand the patterns of change that occur as human processes transform the landscapes to help regional land use planners to easily identify, understand the necessary requirement. Tier II cities in India are undergoing rapid changes in recent times and need to be planned to minimize the impacts of unplanned urbanisation. Mysore is one of the rapidly urbanizing traditional regions of Karnataka, India. In this study, an integrated approach of remote sensing and spatial metrics with gradient analysis was used to identify the trends of urban land changes. The spatial and temporal dynamic pattern of the urbanization process of the megalopolis region considering the spatial data for the five decades with 3 km buffer from the city boundary has been studied, which help in the implementation of location specific mitigation measures. The time series of gradient analysis through landscape metrics helped in describing, quantifying and monitoring the spatial configuration of urbanization at landscape levels. Results indicated a significant increase of urban built-up area during the last four decades. Landscape metrics indicates the coalescence of urban areas occurred during the rapid urban growth from 2000 to 2009 indicating the clumped growth at the center with simple shapes and dispersed growth in the boundary region with convoluted