Urban sprawl in Rangpur City Corporation from 2003 to 2023: A spatiotemporal exploration using geospatial techniques

The swift urbanisation and sprawl observed in major cities of Bangladesh have prompted a detailed examination of their spatiotemporal dynamics. Therefore, this study explores the intricate patterns of urban sprawl, aiming to provide comprehensive insights into its evolution and impact. Landsat TM images from 2003 and 2013, along with an OLI image from 2023, are employed in supervised classification to detect temporal built-up area expansion of the Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC). Urban sprawl trends and patterns were evaluated and analysed using Shannon's Entropy Model (SEM), Landscape Metrics (LMs), and the Urban Expansion Intensity Index (UEII). Findings include an increase in the urban expansion rate of 16.5% in 2023. Consequently, RpCC's urban expansion trend from 2003 to 2023 is 16 times greater. Additionally, SEM and LMs confirmed that the RpCC expanded in a dispersed manner and the uncontrolled expansion in urban areas, respectively. These results definitively measure urban sprawl and threaten the sustainable development of RpCC.