In the heart of West Bengal, India, the Behrampore Urban Agglomeration is experiencing a rapid transformation, one that mirrors the urban expansion challenges faced by many growing cities worldwide. A recent study published in ‘Discover Cities’ (which translates to ‘Explore Cities’) sheds light on the spatio-temporal dynamics of this expansion, offering crucial insights for urban planners, developers, and the energy sector.
Led by Fazlur Rahman from the Department of Geography at Aligarh Muslim University, the research employs geospatial techniques to quantify land use changes and assess urban sprawl. Using multi-temporal Landsat data, Rahman and his team have tracked the evolution of Behrampore’s landscape over three decades, from 1991 to 2021.
The findings are stark. Built-up areas have surged by 345 percent, a testament to the city’s rapid growth. “The non-urban classes, including vegetation, agriculture, water bodies, and open land, have been consistently decreasing,” Rahman notes, highlighting the encroachment of urban development on natural and agricultural lands.
The study identifies three primary types of sprawl: low-density development, ribbon development, and leapfrog development. These patterns, confirmed through Shannon’s entropy and built-up density analyses, paint a picture of unplanned, scattered growth. “Agricultural land and vegetation cover are the most vulnerable,” Rahman explains, with 57.22 percent of the built-up area expanding onto agricultural land and 34.41 percent onto vegetation cover.
For the energy sector, these findings hold significant implications. Urban sprawl often translates to increased energy demand, longer distribution networks, and higher infrastructure costs. “Understanding these patterns is crucial for planning sustainable energy solutions,” Rahman suggests. By anticipating growth trends, energy providers can strategically invest in infrastructure, reducing costs and enhancing service reliability.
Moreover, the research underscores the need for better land use planning. “Stakeholders and the government must adopt more sustainable practices to promote quality urban development,” Rahman urges. This could involve integrating renewable energy solutions, optimizing energy distribution networks, and preserving green spaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
The study’s insights are not just relevant to Behrampore but offer a blueprint for other urban centers grappling with similar challenges. As cities continue to expand, the lessons learned from Behrampore’s urban sprawl can guide more sustainable, energy-efficient development strategies.
In an era of rapid urbanization, Rahman’s research serves as a timely reminder of the importance of planned, sustainable growth. By leveraging geospatial techniques, cities can better understand their expansion patterns and make informed decisions that balance development with environmental and energy considerations. As published in ‘Discover Cities’, this study is a call to action for urban planners, energy providers, and policymakers to collaborate and shape a more sustainable urban future.