ICRD MR2018

1. Thanura Madusanka*
Assistant Lecturer, Department of Geography,
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,
Sri Lanka,
ntmsilva123@gmail.com
H.D.A.D.Wijesiri
Physical Planner,
National Housing Development Authority,
Sri Lanka
91adeviwijesiri@gmail.com
Analytical Study Related to Impact of Land Cover
Changes for Urban Sprawling in
Sub Urbans: Special Reference to Kadawatha, Sri
Lanka
Abstract No. 3111

2. Line Up
Introduction
Research Problem and Objectives
Methodology
Findings
Conclusion
Reference (Part of)
Appendices
Abstract No. 3111

3. Introduction
Urbanization is a global level flow. In 2050 around 2.5 billion people became urbanized (UN). In local
level the urbanization is also emerging factor and indicator of developed socio – economic background
Urbanization of Sri Lanka measuring under administrative perspective. That’s mean if some area
under control by Municipal Council or Urban Council that particular areas consider as Urban areas.
According to that scenario Urbanization of Sri Lanka is 18.4 % ( Census and Statistics Report – 2012).
Sub urban area expansion of Sri Lanka is conspicuous due to peripheral township development
process.
Sprawling effect is the major driver for introduce urban characteristics to Sub urban areas. Land use
changing is an indicator of the sprawling effect.
This study focus to land cover changes of Kadawatha Sub Urban area to explored urban morphology
and examine how is urban sprawling function on the area.
Abstract No. 3111

4. Research Problem
Have there temporal land cover changes in Kadawatha Sub urban area?
Objectives of the research
Main Objective - To identify the temporal land cover changing pattern of a Sub Urban
area.
Specific Objective - To explain the impact of land cover changes of urban sprawling.
Abstract No. 3111

5. Methodology of the study
Spatial Analysis Ground Level Analysis
Land use digital data of 1989
and 2016
(Base maps from - Department of Survey
and Land use and Policy Planning
Department , Sri Lanka)
Data types and analysis
Arial verification (Google earth)
Observation
Focus group discussion
Google street view verification
Conclusion
Applied geospatial
techniques and retrieved
relevant land uses
distribution and extent
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6. Study Area
Why Selected
Kadawatha?
It is emerging sub urban area
of Colombo Metropolitan.
Has potential to development
with good commercial area
and well infrastructure
development
Why Used buffer
zones?
To show the sprawl effect and
can be compared the land use
changes with the core area
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7. Findings / Results
Land cover changes in 1989 and 2016 in Kadawatha Sub Urban area
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8. Findings / Results
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1989 2016 1989 2016 1989 2016 1989 2016
Home Garden Coconut Rubber Paddy Land
Land Cover Changes in Kadawatha Sub Urban – Buffer based land cover extent
1989-2016
1 km 2km 3km
Formalized by author via applied Geo spatial calculations to the cartographic data
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9. Home gardens increased. Specially within 3km buffer area have top increasing level and people
tries to establish their residence area out side of sub urban core. With in 1km area mainly
consisted with commercial lands and it was denoted slight different both 1989 and 2016.
Other agriculture land covers declined. Specially Rubber and Coconut have considerable
contraction. Most of this kind land converted to residence area.
Most of Paddy lands gone abandon level. The paddy lands which where was inside of 1km buffer
area in 1989 goes abandoned in 2016 and infrastructure development caused to this pattern.
When compared overall land cover changes of 1989 and 2016 Kadawatha SU became ideal
urbanized land use pattern.
Most of Commercial landscape within 1km buffer. Kadawatha town developed due to the textile
sector and the shops that emerged either side of the road function as a catalyst in the town.
The expressway (E02) was able to strengthen the catalyst because it influenced the development
of the town along the Colombo – Kandy main road.
Findings / Results Cont.
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10. Conclusion
Land use patterns of Kadawatha Sub urban area have considerable changes with
in past 30 years. Specially agriculture land uses declined conspicuous level.
Urban sprawling can be understand from the increase of residence area beyond
1km buffer (2-3km buffer zone). Non agriculture land uses expand peripheral
area of the sub urban.
Ideal sub urban characteristics established in the area.
Reference (part of)
Land use data (Digital) of 1989 and 2016 of Gampaha District (Part of) from Survey Department of and Land Use and policy Planning Department
(LUPPD), Sri Lanka
Amarawickrama, S., Singhapathirana, P. and Rajapaksha, N. (2015) ‘Defining Urban Sprawl in the Sri Lankan Context: With Special
Reference to the Colombo Metropolitan Region’, Journal of Asian and African Studies, 50(5), pp. 590–614. doi: 10.1177/0021909615570949.
Baxter, R. et al. (2008) ‘[ No Title ]’, Animal Genetics, 39(5), pp. 561–563.
Pozzi, F. and Small, C. (2001) ‘Exploratory analysis of suburban land cover and population density in the U.S.A.’, IEEE/ISPRS Joint
Workshop on Remote Sensing and Data Fusion over Urban Areas, DFUA 2001, pp. 250–254. doi: 10.1109/DFUA.2001.985890.
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/world-urbanization-prospects-2014.html
Department of Census and Statistics (2012) Census and Statistics Report, Colombo , Sri Lanka
Abstract No. 3111

11. Appendices
Expressway Entrance – Kadawatha
Marsh lands / Paddy lands converted to
infrastructure facilities.
Commercial area of the Kadawatha
Images – Google street view
Accessed 07/12/2018
Abstract No. 3111