Spatio-temporal Analysis of Urbanization, Urban Growth and Urban Sprawl Since 1976-2011 in Kandy City and Surrounding Area using GIS and Remote Sensing

Urbanization is the dynamic process and it is one of the more important indicators of development. Though it is happening rapidly, in developing countries like Sri Lanka, the process of urban expansion is underestimated, due to use of traditional administration boundaries to demarcate urban area. But in the developing countries the urban expansion is happening beyond the traditional boundaries and without proper planning. Therefore the identification of urban expansion and direction of urban expansion are important for urban planning and to measure the level of urbanization. Statistical information alone is difficult to measure urban expansion because, it is physically observable phenomena on the earth surface, both horizontally and vertically. Therefore spatial and temporal analysis is important to understand urban expansion, and for this both RS (Remote Sensing) and GIS techniques provide unrivalled opportunity to analyze urban expansion. Therefore main objective of this study is to analyze the urban expansion in the Kandy urban area both temporally and spatially since 1976, using RS and GIS. The findings of the study will be very useful to redefine the urban boundaries of the Kandy urban area and formulate policies and strategies for future urban development in Kandy urban area.