Urban Extension Research Articles

Reconsidering Extension: Defining Urban Extension in Kentucky

As the vast majority of the population in the United States shifts to dwelling within large population centers, it is necessary to examine the responsibility and role that Cooperative Extension has to serve urban communities. Throughout its history, the land-grant system, through Cooperative Extension, has demonstrated the ability to impact the lives of individual citizens and communities positively. Within this theoretical discussion, we illuminate Cooperative Extension’s responsibility to serve urban communities in the 21st Century and highlight essential milestones in the development of urban Extension throughout the past 100 years. Also, we explore the foundations and relevance of recently developed urban Extension frameworks to the practice of urban Extension and outline a process utilized to define urban for Cooperative Extension within {southern state}. Finally, we conclude by examining examples of urban Cooperative Extension initiatives and discussing their implications in broader social, environmental, and health settings.

Comparative Ecosystem Benefits of Common Urban Trees and Palms in South Florida

This new 2-page factsheet was written to support urban forestry Extension clientele queries for information guiding Florida HOA and property owner decisions on whether to replace hardwood trees with palms, due to palms’ compact growth habit and lower leaf-shed volume, compared to hardwood trees. Written by Marguerite Beckford and Gary W. Knox, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.

Applying urban climate model in prediction mode\u2014evaluation of MUKLIMO_3 model performance for Austrian cities based on the summer period of 2019

Extreme heat events are natural hazards affecting many regions of the world. This study uses an example of the six largest cities in Austria to demonstrate the potential of urban climate model simulations applied in prediction mode providing detailed information on thermal conditions. For this purpose, the urban climate model MUKLIMO_3 of the German Meteorological Service (DWD) coupled with the hydrostatic numerical weather prediction model, ALARO, is used to simulate the development of the urban heat island (UHI) in Austrian cities for the summer period of 2019 with a horizontal resolution of 100 m. In addition to the evaluation of UHI predicting skills, other relevant variables, such as humidity and wind characteristics on hourly basis, are also analysed in this paper. Model evaluation confirmed that the MUKLIMO_3 microscale model had the capacity to simulate the main thermal spatiotemporal patterns in urban areas; however, a strong dependence on the input data from the mesoscale model was found. Our results showed large benefit in prediction of maximum air temperatures in urban areas, while the relative humidity predictions of MUKLIMO_3 appear to be much less plausible and show large variety of model prediction skills. Urban climate model simulations using real atmospheric conditions can facilitate better quantification and understanding of day-to-day intra-urban variations in microclimate as well as provide a basis for evaluation of the microclimate prediction skills of mesoscale numerical models with urban extensions.

Neighborhood dynamics of urban expansion based on morphological spatial pattern analysis and geospatial techniques: a case study of the Colombo metropolitan area, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT This study examined neighborhood dynamics of urban expansion based on morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and geospatial techniques in the Colombo Metropolitan Area (CMA) of Sri Lanka from 1992 to 2014. Traditionally, urban expansion has been detected using absolute land use/cover (LULC) terms and landscape patterns (i.e. urban and non-urban). However, non-traditional characterization of urban expansion with neighborhood rules provides a better understanding of urban transformation which is essential to urban planners and managers. This study therefore used MSPA of Landsat images (1992, 2001 and 2014) to classify and detect the expansion of urban land uses based on neighborhood rules. Urban expansion intensity and topologies (infill, extension, and leapfrog) were also employed for further analysis. The results show that the CMA experienced rapid urban expansion, recording a 288% increase in the total urban footprint from 1992 to 2014. The annual urban expansion intensity was higher during the 2000s (1.45%) than during the 1990s (0.95%). Urban expansion topological analysis revealed that leapfrog was the most dominant pattern throughout the study’s temporal extent. An outward infill expansion from the city center was observed, while urban extension exhibited a ribbon-type development along the main transport corridors and coastal belts. The patterns and intensity of urban expansion in the CMA are directly linked to the economic, demographics, and political changes in Sri Lanka. Overall, the study provides an improved understanding of urban expansion in the CMA and offers directions that could be considered in future urban planning initiatives.

Detection of Urban and Environmental Changes via Remote Sensing.

Rapid climate and environmental change at limited, regional, and general scales have been a major concern for researchers in a number of fields, such as topography, economy, environment, and sustainable development. Changes in land cover and land use have taken into account due to potential impacts on soil depletion, amplified run-off, water balance, and climate change. A detailed understanding of the characteristics of land exploitation and land structure is indispensable for the study of their influences on life and nature. In addition, urban extension is a major form of land extraction and land transformation, as it relates to the rise in population and the availability of financial services. Remote sensing records have been shown to be important for reporting and perceiving urban development and transition, and for providing critical information for future growth. Transformation and shift identification are the tools used to recognise distinctions in a land cover by tracking them at various times. In addition, various change identification and detection approaches are routinely tested with the goal of providing the greatest change detection deductions for a particular appliance. This review would aim to establish a practical plan that combines remote sensing techniques, on the one hand, and modelling approaches, on the other, to track land use, to cover changes, and to predict future trends.

Communicating through Calamity: Rural and Urban Extension Professionals’ Communication during and after a Hurricane

The purpose of this study was to determine the role urban and rural community status plays in the communication of University of Florida Cooperative Extension faculty and staff during and after a disaster by identifying the extent to which technology was utilized, the communication messages conveyed, and organizational communication versus personal communication. The crisis used for understanding these efforts was Hurricane Irma in 2017. An online survey methodology was used to collect data from Extension personnel across Florida. Results indicate there are differences between how rural and urban Extension faculty and staff communicate during and after a hurricane. The internet was used to a great extent as a communication channel by both rural and urban Extension professionals, but how they used the internet differed. Urban audiences chose more personal mediums when communicating personally about the hurricane, while rural participants used more social media when communicating on personal channels. Implications for this study are an increased need for templates and communication training for Extension personnel. Future research should focus on understanding crisis communication during times of power loss and examine the different roles played by Extension in rural and urban counties.

ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY FOR REGENERATING URBAN IDENTITY AS A SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LANDMARK IN EGYPT, CASE STUDY: EGYPTIAN MUSEUM(GEM)

The paper aims to create analytic methodology for the nation landmark urban context for long term expansion, to cope with the increasing of visitors, with conserving the new location of GEM museum, for being near to the Pyramids plateau. The GEM urban context is considered to be an effective sustainable landmark in regulating the urban extension in Giza, and conserving the archaeological site of the western desert “Memphis and its necropolis with the Pyramids Field” as a World Heritage. However, the existed land use of the urban context is not matching with the nation landmark, as there is a great obstacle in its accessibility and approach, besides being near to slums. So, the paper suggests analytic methodology for urban development to be an effective entertainment, by encouraging walkability to reflect positive social, and environmental impact on the GEM image. Regarding display control and new directions for the new planned usages surrounding it, so as to construct urban identity guideline. Giza Plateau is one of the most important world heritages by the UNESCO, where it should be planned in a controlled way, coping with its value. The main goal is to create unique identity of our city that plays a great role in providing reference points for future developments. (Evans, G. 2005, p. 42).

Human Activity and Forest Degradation Threaten Populations of the Nigeria\u2013Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Western Cameroon

Increased human activities such as commodity-led deforestation, extension of agriculture, urbanization, and wildfires are major drivers of forest loss worldwide. In Cameroon, these activities cause a loss of suitable primate habitat and could ultimately threaten the survival of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). We derived independent estimates of the population size of the Endangered Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, Cameroon, and surrounding unprotected forest areas through 1) direct observations, 2) camera trapping, 3) distance sampling, 4) marked nest counts, and 5) standing crop nest counts. In addition, we georeferenced signs of chimpanzee and human activity along line transects. We used a generalized linear mixed model to predict the occurrence of chimpanzees in response to edge length (measured as the perimeter of core forest patches), core area of forest patches (measured as area of forest patches beyond an edge width of 100 m), habitat perforation (measured as the perimeter of nonforested landscape within core forest patches), patch size(measured as area of forest patches), and forest cover. Chimpanzee density estimates ranged from 0.1 (direct observation) to 0.9 (distance sampling) individuals km−2 depending on estimation method with a mean nest group size of 7 ± 5.4 (SD). The mean encounter rate for signs of chimpanzee activity was significantly higher in mature forests (2.3 signs km−1) than in secondary forests (0.3 signs km−1) and above 1000 m elevation (4.0 signs km−1) than below 1000 m (1.0 signs km−1). The mean encounter rate for signs of human activity was significantly higher in secondary (8.0 signs km−1) than in mature forests (0.9 signs km−1). Secondary forests, habitat perforation, and edge length had a significant negative effect on the occurrence of chimpanzee signs. Overall, human activity and forest degradation affected the number of observed chimpanzee signs negatively. Regular antipoaching patrols and reforestation programs in degraded areas could potentially reduce threats to populations of endangered species and may increase suitable habitat area.

Implementation, experience, and challenges of urban health extension program in Addis Ababa: a case study from Ethiopia

BackgroundEven though the urban health extension program (HEP) has been implemented since 2009, little was known about its implementation, experience and challenges. Therefore, this study was aimed at exploring the implementation, experience, and challenges of the urban HEP.MethodsA qualitative case study was conducted in Addis Ababa from November 15 to December 29, 2017. The study participants were recruited purposefully. The parent populations were health extension professionals (HEPs). However, health post supervisors, health development army leaders (HDAs), Addis Ababa city HEP administrators, and other community members were also involved in the study. Four focus group discussions and 31 in-depth and key informant interviews were conducted. Data were transcribed verbatim, translated into the English, and analyzed by an inductive thematic analysis approach using Atlas ti7.1 software.ResultThe study found that there were 15 health service packages of the urban HEP delivered to the community based on the need of the households. The strategies for the program implementation were provision of trainings, home visitation, creation of model households, strengthening of HDAs, supervision and reporting, referral and feedback, and social and community mobilization. However, program implementation was challenged by the health system related challenges (health service package and delivery, workload of HEPs, shortage of trained HEPs, lack of regular supervision or monitoring, lack of logistical or motivational support, poor supply chain management, dissatisfaction of HEPs, assigning of more than expected households for HEPs, etc.), multisectoral related and community related challenges (HDAs need of incentives, and lack of graduating model households as per the plan, etc.).ConclusionsAlthough the program had a significant contribution to the health of community, it was affected by different challenges that underscore the need to develop different strategies and taking of actions. Therefore, the district health office, health centers and stakeholders from different sectors should have to support and motivate the HEPs and HDAs, and work together with them for successful implementation of the program.

Best Practices of Capital City Relocation in Various Countries: Literature Review

Capital city relocation issue is currently emerging due to the condition and problem Indonesia encounters. Study toward some cases of capital city relocation could be crucial input for analysis and comparison. This paper aims to review capital city relocation examples. Literature review shows there are variances in background and driving factors internally or externally, and infrastructure needs for city development. The driving factors consist of environmental pressure, pollution, urban heat island, housing, urban sprawl, and disaster. The infrastructures required for the development of a new capital city are information and communication technology (ICT), physical infrastructure, transportation, and open green space. From the analysis, Myanmar’s Yangon to Naypyidaw relocation and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya relocation are the best practices in capital city development that boosts new activities and urban extension. Burma shows the infrastructure’s role in development of a new capital city and Kuala Lumpur reveals how ICT implementation helps to establish a new capital city. This paper is expected to fill the research gap from previous research in terms of reviews related to the need for ICT in capital city preparation. This indicates that this paper has followed the trend of ICT advancement. The next research and publication will strengthen the use of ICT as one of the variables.

Modernizing Macao, the Old-Fashioned Way: Macanese and Chinese Entrepreneurship in the Colonial City, 1877–1884

In 1877, Miguel Ayres da Silva and his Chinese partners were authorized by the governor of Macao to reclaim a portion of the city’s riverfront. Councilman Silva was one of the first native-born Portuguese, as the aristocratic mixed-blood Macanese called themselves, to bypass traditional employment in the administration or the military and to become a renowned entrepreneur. His project, in line with the government-promoted restructuring of the inner harbor from the 1850s to the 1870s, employed the modern principles of progress and sanitation and set the tone for a new age of centralized urban planning in Macao. The 1877 riverfront reclamation would be the first urban extension to be carried out under the supervision of the newly created Public Works Department. From the early 1870s on, a new generation of engineers, coming both from the metropolitan schools and from the military schools of the Portuguese State of India, promoted a modern European model of urban governance throughout the Empire. In Macao, this meant favoring the Portuguese government’s claim of full control over the territory to upgrade both the city’s insalubrious additive pattern and its inhabitants’ autonomous practices of appropriating space. However, Silva’s blatant disregard for government regulations in the construction process, as well as the ensuing succession of patched up settlements, resonated profoundly with Macao’s old-fashioned and informal methods of city-building. By focusing on Silva’s approach to the 1877 reclamation project, this essay looks at the transition from century-old bottom-up practices to the Public Works top-down model, a contested process that reflected both the ambitions and the contradictions of modern Macao.

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ISMAILIA GOVERNORATE USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES

The Idea of Development Of Ismailia Governorate considered being one of the most important developmental initiations of the Country seeking to the re-formant structure of the Egyptian inhabited areas to reduce population concentration in the Valley and Delta threatening critically the green agricultural areas in addition to increasing the Environmental Load creating, in turn, lots of health, economic, and social problems. The demand for preserving the environment and its features emerges as an economic problem, In terms of studying Strategic Environmental Assessment through which the natural resources and their appropriate uses are defined besides the positive/negative impacts of the proposed project, Remote sensing technique and the GIS and satellite images are used for defining the negative and positive impact of the project and establishing cities and urban extensions. The problem, as explained by the strategic environmental assessment results is crystallized in the importance of the huge development projects in pushing the economy wheel and achieve optimal utilization of natural resources that contribute to the restructuring of the Egyptian inhabited area, even if these targeted projects are accompanied by some environmental impacts, that the study focuses on to clarify them to contribute proposing a researching initiative and reaching applicable solutions, that could be stated in the following axes. The main objective: It is stated in the strategic environmental assessment through the administration of the environmental objectives matrix and balancing between alternatives. Also, the total environmental systems have been submitted as alternatives for sustainable development. The Study relies on the standard method by proposing a comprehensive model that considers the environmental dimensions of the understudied area to reach the best economic development sites. The study also uses the experimental method with semi-experimental procedures and reference to previous Arab and foreign reports, research, references and studies. Digital Transformation processes are used in this study, to obtain digital data of the different geographical features in the study area; added to that, modeling of environmental standards and determinants, which are implemented through the use of several programs using the remote sensing techniques (Erdas Imagine - Envi). Moreover, Geographic information systems (Arc GIS Desktop) program has been used in addition to multiple satellite visuals for monitoring the environmental change rate in the land cover and the digital elevations model (DEM) to build and activate digital models to choose the best development sites according to environmental standards and determinants. The current study has come out with many results, some of which go following the results of previous studies, including the results of the current study that has already been reached. These results have been included as a Geospatial database for applying the FAO methodology in classifying lands suitability for targeted development; presenting as well, a proposed appropriate development plan, while preserving at the same time the existing economic activities and the optimal utilization of available (natural/human) resources in the surrounding environment. The study recommends the necessity of exploiting the distinguished geographical location of Ismailia Governorate through the proposed sustainable development plane, in attempt to support decision-making in linking Sinai and the West of the Suez Canal through targeted development projects through: Optimal use of the available economic resources in Ismailia Governorate depending on the comparative advantage of the existing economic activities such as agricultural reclamation / coastal tourism / fish farming / fishing activities). Announcing that (Al-Timsah Lake) is a Natural Reserve for its environmental unique characteristics that contribute to preserving biological diversity, wild and marine life, with a 200 m. a taboo area set for the lake. Establishing and activating integrated coastal zone management committees to coordinate between research, executive and non-governmental authorities and with participation of civil society organizations (NGO). Utilization of the suitable lands for urban development at a rate of up to 55% of the total area of the proposed development plan as an important developmental activity for what these lands possess of components compatible with the target development. Attracting the developmental projects to the appropriate areas and developing the infrastructure to encourage internal migration to the expected targeted (urban/industrial) developmental areas.

Assessment of radioactivity and geotechnical characteristics of soil foundation for suitability of safe urban extension using geospatial technology new Sahl Hasheesh Marin Port, eastern desert, Egypt

ABSTRACT In this study an appropriate investigation was carried out to assess the geotechnical parameters and possible health risks to verify the suitability of Sahl Hasheesh (SH) area for the urban extension using GIS techniques. For this purpose, eighty-three bore holes were drilled at depths 20 m below the ground surface. Laboratory tests were performed on representative soil and rock samples to determine their physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics such as: grain size distribution, chemical analysis, Atterberg limits and point load strength. Also, airborne gamma-ray spectrometry was used for finding the three-radioactive elements (K, U and Th) concentrations near the ground surface of the study area. These concentrations were analysed for specific activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K radionuclide’s to calculate the exposure dose rate (DR) and annual effective dose rate (AEDR). The annual effective dose rate ranges from 0.2 mSv/y to 4 mSv/y under permissible level, so the study area is radioactively safe. GIS techniques were used to produce many geospatial layers of radioactive and geotechnical properties and integrated all these layers to build the geospatial urban extension model. The urban extension model illustrated that the ideal and good zones were observed in most of the study area. But, the marginal to poor zones were observed in the northwest and central regions of the study area. This model will be useful in the management and development of the area under study. In addition, it will represent a database in the future to decrease the hazards impacts on the construction.

Urban flooding in Britain: an approach to comparing ancient and contemporary flood exposure

Using modified UK Environment Agency Flood Estimation Handbook techniques, inundation extent and likely flood hydrographs for 0.1% probability annual return periods are compared for twelve Roman town sites in the UK, both at the present day and for simulated Roman catchment conditions. Eight of the study sites appear to have suffered minimal urban flood liability as occupied in the Roman period. The exceptions were Canterbury, York, Leicester, and Chichester. It is reasonable to expect flood characteristics to have changed subsequently in response to transformations in catchment land use, urban expansion, wetland reclamation, and floodway engineering. However, modelling results suggest limited differences in flood flows attributable to such factors. Greater present-day urban damage liability essentially results from floodplain urban extension. There are also contrasts between sites: those Roman towns lying on floodplains themselves, rather than on slightly elevated terraces (Canterbury, Chichester), are dominated by groundwater regimes with attenuated flood peaks. Taken together, these results suggest some Roman awareness of the actualities of urban flood liability at the time. Site sensitivity has not been carried forward as urban expansion has flourished, especially from the nineteenth century with suburban and industrial expansion. The straightforward mapping approach here suggested should in future take account of multiple century-scale hydroclimatic changes, morphological river channel and floodplain transformations over similar time periods, and on-going improvements to inundation modelling.

Urbanization—Its Hidden Impact on Water Losses: Prądnik River Basin, Lesser Poland

Urban development causes multiple water losses. Some of them may be ignored but some could have a huge influence on the whole catchment, including soil drought. As urban sprawl rises, space for unaffected infiltration and retention is increasingly limited. The objective of this study was to backcast and to estimate water-retention loss due to urbanization during the period of 1990–2018. We used landcover data, meteorological and hydrological data and data on soil water-holding capacity. Water-retention loss was expressed as soil water retention capacity loss, net precipitation loss and total sum of precipitation loss. Historical change in urban extension has led to large impacts on the hydrological cycle of the study area. Progressive urban development caused water-retention losses which range from 3.380 to 14.182 millions of cubic meters—depending on the methodology used. Hydrological analysis showed the lack of a significant trend (decrease trend) of low flow which is caused by the high percentage of natural land use in the upper part of catchment. Our results show that backcasting of water retention change using CLC data (a) brings new and plausible data on retention loss, (b) is possible to replicate and (c) data used are common and easy-to-get.

Residents’ perceptions of green infrastructure in the contemporary residential context: a study of Kingswood, Kingston-upon-Hull, England

Recent developments in the conceptualisation of green infrastructure have used ecosystems services as a framework to understand its multi-functionality. A number of studies explore green infrastructure functions and services, both outside and within the field of planning and design, primarily from the perspective of professionals. The research reported here uses an ‘on-site’ and ‘sharp-narrative’ qualitative approach in a typical urban extension in Kingston upon Hull, England, to gain further insight into how residents perceive green infrastructure and which aspects of it they value. The findings indicate that they understand green infrastructure experientially rather than functionally, predominantly appreciating its cultural services. The article addresses a gap in our understanding of residents’ perceptions of green infrastructure and its benefits within contemporary, master planned, speculative housing development. This knowledge is important at a time of rapid urban development to inform the successful planning and design of green infrastructure in new residential neighbourhoods.

Strategic environmental assessment of urban plans in Australia: the case study of Melbourne Urban Extension Plan

ABSTRACT This paper aims to understand the procedural effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of urban planning in Australia. The SEA has been practiced in Australia over the last two decades under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act of 1999. After the reform of EPBC Act in 2006, the application of SEA in urban sector has been widened. By evaluating the procedural practice of SEA of Melbourne Urban Extension Plan using a set of evaluation criteria, the study shows that most of the procedural requirements were confirmed by the SEA of the plan. There were some shortcomings including, among others, inadequate consideration of cumulative impacts, socio-economic impacts and the analysis of alternatives at different stages of SEA. The possible reasons behind these shortcomings were explained based on the context of SEA in Australia. Furthermore, this study explored some key features of SEA system in Australia those may influence the SEA practice. The findings of the study can be useful to the application of SEA of urban planning in addition to practitioners, academics and policy makers in Australia or elsewhere.

Socio- Economic Characteristics of Urban Extension Workers Influencing Empowerment of Farmers in Nairobi County, Kenya

The study examined the influence of socio-economic characteristics of urban extension workers on farmers’ empowerment. Purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select 64 extension workers by utilizing the Yamane formula. Data were collected by the use of questionnaires. Frequencies, percentiles and multiple linear regressions were utilised to analyse the data. The extension workers’ socio - economic characteristics were found to positively influence the choice of extension methods. The findings revealed that 37.2% of farmer empowerment could be explained by the choice of extension methods influenced by the characteristics of extension workers. However, 49.9% of the extension workers were not aware of the adult learning principles (ALPs) that are employed in the appropriate choice of extension methods. The study recommends that extension workers in Nairobi County be trained in competencies to consider ALPs and information communication and technology (ICT) techniques in choices of extension methods. These competencies can ultimately lead to an extension system design transformation that will assist the few extension workers to serve more farmers efficiently and effectively leading to farmer empowerment.
 Key words: Extension worker characteristics, farmer empowerment, Nairobi, urban and peri-urban agriculture.

Maternal health service utilization from urban health extension professionals and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last one year in Ambo town, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia, 2018

BackgroundDespite the existence of urban and rural health extension workers maternal mortality and morbidity remain, as a public health problem in Ethiopia. The utilization of maternal health services from UHE-ps is key activities, which contribute to the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess maternal health service utilization from urban health extension professionals and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last one year in Ambo town.MethodsCommunity-based cross-sectional study conducted from February to March 2018 among women who gave birth in the last year before the study period, in Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia. The Data collections were through face-to-face interview, the Focus discussion group was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regressions computed by SPSS version 20. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05 and the strength of statistical association was assessed by odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals.ResultFrom the total respondents, only 57(14.2%) women utilized maternal health services from urban health extension professionals during their recent birth. Regarding maternal health services utilization from urban health extension professional’s ANC, Delivery and PNC were 159 (39.7%), 115 (28.7%) and 76 (19%) respectively. The variables, such as graduated as model family (AOR: 2.4; 95% C I: 1.20, 4.78), home visit during pregnancy within month (AOR: 11.6; 95% CI: 3.60, 37.17), awareness on pregnancy danger sign (AOR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.62, 8.92) and parity (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.06, 7.61) were factors affecting maternal health services utilization from urban health extension professionals.ConclusionThe utilization of maternal health services from urban health extension professionals was found to be low. Being graduated as a model family, awareness on pregnancy danger sign, parity and urban health extension professional’s home visit during pregnancy had a positive statistically significant association with maternal health services utilization from urban health extension professionals. Therefore, considering the identified associated variables could increase and sustain maternal health services utilization from urban health extension professionals.

Assessment of Urban Expansion and Associated Spatial Transformation of Chandannagar City, West Bengal

The Chandannagar city, as a former French colony and a historic trading centre, has witnessed a steady growth throughout the French colonial era, and the process is still in action even today. Such urban extension has altered the land use/cover (LULC) fabric both in the core and fringe areas by transforming the natural landscape. The prime goals of the study are to assess the magnitude of urban expansion of the city from 1991 to 2016 and its consequent spatial transformation by using geospatial techniques. Three indices, that is, Built-up Index (BUI), Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Normalised Difference Water Index (MNDWI) are employed to perceive the spatio-temporal dynamics of LULC from the remotely sensed data. Annual Growth Rate (AGR) and Land Use Integrated Index (LDI) are used to evaluate the rate, magnitude, and nature of changes. The results reveal that the rapid increase in built-up area from 7.9 sq. Km. in 1991 to 14.45 sq. Km. in 2016 has transformed nearly 51.52% of the non-forest vegetation covers and 58.18% of the water bodies of the city during the observation period.