Assessment of Urban Expansion in the Jorhat Municipality Area using Geospatial Techniques

This study investigates the phenomenon of urban sprawl, particularly focusing on Jorhat, the secondlargest city in Assam, India, which has experienced significant growth and expansion. Urban sprawl, defined as the unplanned expansion of a city into surrounding regions, is characterized by the outward growth of residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructure, leading to the conversion of agricultural or natural spaces into urban land. This expansion results in increased land use, the development of low-density communities, and significant challenges including traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and inefficient land use. Jorhat has witnessed exponential population growth and urban expansion, with the urban area increasing from 4.95 sq. km in 1961 to 72.58 sq. km in 2001. This rapid development has led to environmental issues such as pollution, water logging, and traffic congestion, particularly in sub-urban areas where encroachment has resulted in habitat loss and community fragmentation. The existing research on Jorhat has primarily focused on broader landscape transformations, with a gap in studies specifically analysing urban growth dynamics within the district. This study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating the extent of urban area expansion in Jorhat district, utilizing GIS and RS to quantify urban sprawl through parameters such as land cover changes and urban area expansion. By providing a detailed analysis of Jorhat’s urban growth, this research contributes to the understanding of urban sprawl’s impacts and offers valuable insights for informed decision-making in urban planning and sustainability efforts. The findings underscore the need for integrated planning and management strategies to address the challenges of urban sprawl, aiming to achieve a balance between development and environmental conservation.