Urban Sprawl Analysis: A Case Of Lagatafo Lagadadi Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

The continued formation of urban sprawl is a worldwide concern associated with the rapid growth of urban population, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. Like the problems of many cities in the country, Urban sprawl around the periphery and within the Laga tafo laga dadi town is the critical problem which has a great impact in provision of urban amenities in to those places. For this reason, there is a need for employing geospatial information for measuring spatial indicators to determine the spatio-temporal characteristics of urban sprawl in order to support cities to contain urban sprawl. In this research, Landsat Images, Spot Images, AutoCAD and Google Earth Maps are integrated with Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System technology software for Land Use Land Cover changes and urban sprawl analysis in the concentric rings of 0 to 3km, 3 to 6km and 6 to 9km. The result demonstrate that, during the period of 2000 up to 2022 urbanization increased generally, bare land areas and agricultural land were converted in to built-up lands. Concentration of built-up area increased from 3.4 km2 to 34.91 km2 during the study period, and dominance of dispersed growth than compact settlement development and the result of Shannon entropy values shows that, high level of urban sprawl examined in 2010 in the proximity of 6 to 9 km. Dominant urban sprawl pattern in LagaTafo LagaDadhi town was outward extension and infill development. This research provides a better understanding about measurement of urban sprawl pattern, intensity and development trend around Laga-Tafo Laga-Dadhi Town. It also, important guideline and a resource for urban planner and policy makers to design appropriate plans and policy for sustainable city development. Implementation of building bylaws and land use plans is highly recommended. Furthermore, is high time for planner and policy makers to develop urbanization not only in horizontal dimension but in vertical dimension as well.