Abstract
Faced with a lack of fine grain data availability, in rapidly emerging urban centers of developing nations, the study explored a mapping methodology to create thematic map of public urban green space (UGS). Using GIS, a thematic map of Nagpur city, India was prepared. The objective was to prepare spatial data that are relevant for planners and policy makers, with detailed UGS typologies and to update the status of overall availability and distribution of hierarchical recreational green spaces in the city. The spatial and non-spatial data with added attributes gathered through fieldwork resulted in a holistic dataset, with high accuracy of thematic map (0.93 kappa coefficient). The recorded status of different typologies as well as the distribution of recreational UGS shows disparity in the distribution of UGS. The eastern part of the city grossly lacks UGS provisions, which is compensated by the western part with larger availability of natural green spaces. The mapping methodology is novel and effective for recording qualitative status, analyzing their spatial distribution and prioritizing the provisions of UGS. Future research integrating these spatial data with more qualitative research can provide a holistic view on benefits of UGS provisions and thus facilitate effective UGS governance aiming towards better green infrastructure and hence broader urban sustainability.
Highlights
Asian cities witness special dynamics of urban transition with uneven demographic densities, changing landscape patterns, traffic and congestion and other environmental challenges [1]
geographic information system (GIS) is used to maintain the inventories of urban green space (UGS), through the raster dataset received from satellites for the monitoring of vegetation in urban and rural areas [40,41]
Accuracy assessment of the map quantitatively states the accuracy of the generated map, and is important as the data derived from these maps can be used for further assessment, accuracy reflects the reliability of data
Summary
Asian cities witness special dynamics of urban transition with uneven demographic densities, changing landscape patterns, traffic and congestion and other environmental challenges [1]. By 2025, India is expected to have 68 emerging urban centers with an over 1 million population size [3], and this will absorb much of the arable lands present around the emerging cities and affect their urban environment [4]. The rapid urbanization in developing countries is characterized by patterns and process of land use change [5], which poses a big challenge towards balanced and sustainable growth planning and expansion of urban centers. Even though UGS are recognized as important elements to sustain and generate ecosystem services for urban areas and over all wellbeing [6], they are undervalued and are under tremendous pressure of destruction and degradation in almost all major cities of India [7]
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