Perspective Chapter: Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Urban Expansion

Abstract

Understanding the effects of urbanization and formulating sustainable planning strategies begins with an analysis of the dynamics of urban growth at various spatial and temporal scales. Several quantitative methods for analyzing urban expansion and the spatial pattern of urbanized areas have been developed and their applications have been widespread. The choice of an appropriate method for a particular situation depends on different factors, making it difficult for users to make an informed decision and increasing the requirement for knowledge about the various approaches. This chapter gives an overview of the prevailing approaches for spatio-temporal analysis of urban expansion. Given the importance of analyzing the spatio-temporal growth of built-up areas for sustainable urbanization, this chapter provides a good insight into the main features of existing methods. Accordingly, it would help researchers and potential users to undertake effective analysis, balancing between their needs and resource requirements.