CONCLUSIONS

Urbanisation with its Spatio-temporal form, pattern and structure has been quantified for Raichur, atier II city in Karnataka through the gradient approach using temporal remote sensing data, land use analysis, Shannon’s entropy, and spatial metrics. Land use analysis shows an increase of urban area from 1.44% (1973) to 8.51% (in 2010) in and around Raichur. The present land-use is predominantly cultivation or agriculture.

Shannon’s entropy, a measurement on the degree of sprawl in city, highlights the tendency of sprawl in recent times at outskirts. Spatial metrics in accordance with the Shannon’s entropy indicates a clumped growth at city centre and dispersed growth at outskirts. This analysis visualizes the spatial patterns of urbanisation which helps in the regional planning to provide basic amenities and infrastructure. It is imperative to maintain the environmental quality through the judicious use of land by checking the haphazard growth of urbanization. Spatial models provide vital inputs for the decision makers and city planners to visualize and plan a sustainable growth process.