Mapping Urbanization Intensity and Directional Growth in Kozhikode, India: A 30-Year Spatio-Temporal Study

Rapid urbanization in coastal Indian cities poses significant challenges for sustainable land use and infrastructure planning. Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, located along the southwest coast of India, is among the fastest-growing urban areas in the country. This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of urban expansion in Kozhikode and its suburbs over a 30-year period from 1993 to 2023, highlighting the need for sustainable urban planning in rapidly developing coastal cities. Landsat satellite imagery for the years 1993, 2003, 2013, and 2023 was processed to extract urban built-up areas, comprising high-density residential and newly developed zones. Aeolotropic Buffer Gradient Analysis (BGA) was performed using ArcGIS to identify directional trends in urban growth. Urbanization Proportional Index (UPI) and Urbanization Intensity Index (UII) were used to quantify the magnitude and rate of urban expansion. The results reveal a clear spatial shift in urban growth, with significant expansion towards the North-Northeast (NNE), East-Northeast (ENE), and East-Southeast (ESE) directions. Built-up areas have intensified particularly along the recently widened National Highway corridor. The Kozhikode urban agglomeration now stretches from Elathur in the north to Ramanattukara in the southeast and Kunnamangalam in the northeast. These findings provide essential inputs for policymakers, planners, and urban managers to develop informed strategies for balanced and sustainable urban development in rapidly urbanizing coastal regions.