Conclusion

The peri urban to urban gradients analysis elucidated the changes in land use intensity due to the policy focus on setting up industries, leading to the increase in the population of urban and suburbs. The study shows that Bangalore is rapidly expanding with a significant increase in built-up area from 1.87% (1973) to 28.47% (2010), whereas the vegetation has decreased from 62.38% to 36.48% and also depletion of large water bodies and open spaces. Shannon entropy value is increasing from 1973 to 2010 and reaching towards the critical (reference) value highlights the sprawl. The present work demonstrates the usefulness of spatial metrics for metropolitan land use planning.

The study identified the potential utility of common landscape metrics for discriminating different patterns of the spatio–temporal land use change in response to the process of urbanisation. The landscape metrics number of patches (NP) and patch density PD showing the higher fragmentation of urban patches at periphery. Due to higher the value of number of patches (NP), mean patch size (MPS) value has come down ENN_AM showing the intermediate urban patches are developed. AI is showing the urban patches are disaggregated towards periphery. AWMSI showing the patches are becoming more irregular. The results shows urban patches are more clumped at the urban center, but fragmented towards the periphery due to newly developed urban patches at the edge. Intensified urbanisation is taking place continuously at a faster rate in outer areas, bringing more area under built-up (Urban) category as revealed by metrics (dispersed growth).

PCA was implemented to prioritize the landscape metrics useful for analysing urban dynamics. CCA was also done which brought out the critical relationships between metrics and hence proved as a very useful statistical tool to explain the higher contributors in a given set of landscape metrics. Finally, urban landscape planning design requires strengthening the structural connectivity of ecological landscapes to improve urban-ecological functional linkages. Spatial metrics and variables of urban land use form the basis for alternative representations of these factors in urban models. Such information at regional level will help decision makers in modifying the landscape in order to achieve a sustainable balance of resources.