Decoding Patterns of Urban Dynamics in Class-1 City of Khammam, Telangana State, India

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of urban sprawl enables to understand the status, growth, direction, spatial pattern of urban growth. Spatio-temporal change analysis is essential to monitor and understand LULC dynamics. Present study illustrate use of IRS LISS4 and LANDSAT-5 (MSS) remote sensing data of 1991–2015, for change detection of LULC by quadrant and spatial metrics analysis in Class-1 town of Khammam in Telangana in south central India. Study revealed that extent of built-up area grew over 3.78–22.43 km2 in 15 years by > 500% pushing beyond municipal limits and onto peri urban area. Development of urban sprawl into peri urban area has been around 8 km2 during 2001–2015. Six landscape metrics were used to analyze to understand landscape characteristics in relation to urban growth size, shape, pattern; LecoS tool of QuantumGIS was used to compute Number of Patches, Patch Density, Edge Length, Fractal Dimension Index, Shannon’s Diversity Index and Shannon’s Equitable index. Results indicate that fragmentation of LULC increased due to pressure of anthropogenic activity. Core area of Khammam town is dense with single patch and compact shape, whereas, new patches of built up area of town are fragmented. Agriculture area is dominant patch with higher edge length. SDI value: 1.39 and SEI: 0.66 in 2015, show high diversity and low evenness among classes; dispersed fragmented outgrowth of urban sprawl, mostly towards NE and Eastern directions in a ‘leap-frog pattern’.