Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Urban Expansion of Cochin City Region in GIS based on Buffer Gradient Analysis

A comprehensive assessment and proper methodology is inevitable for urban planning. This study is to identify spatiotemporal trends of urban expansion and intensity in Cochin city region and its satellite towns. To measure the magnitude and pace of urban growth and Urban proportional Index (UPI) and Urban Intensity Index (UII) were developed. GIS based buffer analysis was adopted in this study. Two distinct phases of urbanization are discernible i. e. phase of rapid urbanization (1990-2000) and Phase of diffusive urbanization (2000-2010). The Cochin urbanization is characterised by a transformation from being localized, high intensity and uniform to diffusive regionalized and complementary.