ABSTRACT

Urbanisation and associated growth patterns (urban sprawl) are characteristic of spatial temporal land use changes taking place at regional levels. Unplanned urbanization and consequent impacts on natural resources including basic amenities has necessitated the investigation and understanding of mechanisms and dynamics of land use and land-use change on a range of spatial scales and evaluate the environmental consequences of these changes at the landscape scale. Rapid urbanization subsequent to globalization in Karnataka state show dominant changes in land use during the last two decades. Urban regions are getting urbanized at much faster rates while peri-urban areas are experiencing sprawl.

These processes   have negative impacts   on   natural resources,   economic health, and community characteristics. Quantitative   estimations of urbanisations patterns are required   to help   local and regional land   use planners   to   better identify, understand   and provide appropriate infrastructure and basic amenities.  Multi-temporal remote sensing data  would help in understanding land cover and land use changes.  A combination of land cover, land use dynamics with  gradient analysis and spatial metrics, would help in characterizing spatiotemporal patterns of landscape dynamics. This communication is based on the analysis of urbanization process and landscape fragmentation of a tier II city in Karnataka. Supplementray data including historical maps, qualitative data have also been used to understand the urbanization process and fragmentation patterns. Spatial   metrics  aided in characterizing long-term   trends   and patterns   of   urban   growth. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of spatial results helped in visualizing the pattern of growth, in order to highlight future land use trends. The   results of the analysis   shows of dispersed growth initially    causing   increased   fragmentation .Gradually thegrowth filled in vacant non-urban area inwards, resulting into a more compact or aggregated urban pattern.improved understanding   of urban   growth,   helps   in effective   and suitable regional planning.

Keywords -Urbanisation, urban sprawl, spatial metrics, Tier II cities, Landscape dynamics.