Study of Urban Growth Dynamics Using Global Human Settlement Layer Data Set: Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Due to remote sensing-derived time-series geospatial data sets of built-up area, settlement typologies are becoming increasingly available in public domain. The present study aims to study the urban growth dynamics in Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India, for the last four decades, using open and freely available Global Human Settlement Layer data sets. The growth dynamics was analysed based on factors like increase in built-up area, hot spot analysis and settlement typologies. The results indicate a highly skewed and unbalanced pattern of urban growth, especially after the formation of Uttarakhand State in year 2000. Most of the urban growth process is confined to foothill cites, while in the hill towns there is a stagnated urban growth. The study emphasizes the applicability of GHSL data sets in analysing the urban growth process in Indian conditions where time-series geospatial data are often lacking.