Analyzing Urban Growth Patterns Using RS and GIS in Brisbane, Australia
Introduction
The global rate of urbanization is increasing with an estimated 55% of the current population is presently living in urban centers (Reba et al., 2016). The projections by the UN shows that 68% of the population will be living in the urban areas by 2050, implying there will be gradual growth over the years (UN, 2018). A number of studies reveal that growth is taking place in cities with less than 1 million in population and expanding greatly. Other studies show that already advanced cities continue to attract more population into the urban centers prompting the expected growth. Notably, the studies both point to a growth and changes in the urban fabric and population (Reba et al., 2016).
Proper management of urban growth translates to a sustainable development and especially among towns that are projected to grow faster. Countries will face challenges in meeting the demands of the growing populations in terms of transportation, energy provision, housing, basic services such as health care, education, security among others (Yasin et al., 2019). In understanding the growth patterns, urban areas can plan for it population adequately and control the process.
In this study, we seek to establish the growth patterns in Australia owing to the projected growth in population.
Objective
The main aim of the study is to model and analyses urban growth patterns using remote sensing and GIS technologies in Australia.
Specific objectives
The study will prompt:
- An understanding on how technology can be used to monitor changes
- Enhance the understanding or urbanization within the spatial extent
- Carry out projections of changes in the event of continued growth
Study Area
The study area for the project is Brisbane City in Australia. The City has evolved over the years and continues to grow in population at the rate of 1.53% over the last eight years (census, 2018). The area is projected to have a population of 3 million people in 2020, which means the urban extent is still growing. The city attracts people from overseas to live in it, thus it will make a good study area in understanding the growth pattern over the last twenty years.
Hypothesis
Urban spatial growth has expanded with increasing population
Methods
The study will implore an analysis of both changes in spatial extent of the development in Brisbane urban area and the population increase within the said area. The data will be analyzed using Remote sensing software (Envi) and GIS software (ArcGIS). A correlation will be tested to asses if the change in the population number has a direct impact on the growth of the city development spatially. The study will test the relationship and the outcome will be used to validate or nullify the hypothesis.
Reference
Censusdata. (2018). 2016 Census QuickStats: Brisbane. Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017.
Reba, M., Reitsma, F., & Seto, K. C. (7 June 2016). Spatializing 6,000 years of global urbanization from 3700 BC to AD 2000. Scientific Data. 3: 160034.
UN. (16 May 2018). News. Department of Economics and Social Affairs. Accessed onhttps://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world- urbanization-prospects.html
Yasin, I., Ahmad, N., & Chaudhary, M. A. (22 July 2019). Catechizing the Environmental- Impression of Urbanization, Financial Development, and Political Institutions: A Circumstance of Ecological Footprints in 110 Developed and Less-Developed Countries. Social Indicators Research.
