Landscape shape index, as a potential indicator of urban development in Hungary
The study of settlement shape, morphology and structure is a classic topic of urban geography. Since the 1960s multiple shape indices have been developed. Urban patterns were then compared with geometric forms or, alternatively their temporal changes were tracked and analysed. In the current study...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Debrecen
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Acta Geographica Debrecina: Landscape and Environment Series |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://landscape.geo.klte.hu/pdf/agd/2014/2014v8is2_4.pdf |
| Summary: | The study of settlement shape, morphology and structure is a classic topic of urban geography. Since the
1960s multiple shape indices have been developed. Urban patterns were then compared with geometric
forms or, alternatively their temporal changes were tracked and analysed. In the current study we
adapted the landscape shape index (LSI) to analyse the historical shape development of eight Hungarian
cities. The LSI is capable to demonstrate the functional and mutual relationship between the developed
area and their immediate physical and natural environment. Over the past 230 years the land area of the
studied cities has increased manifold for several reasons: on average, an areal increase of 10.4 to 24.5
was observed for the eight settlements, while their perimeter increased by 8.8 to 30.3 times. Simultaneously
with their size growth, the studied cities are characterized by an increasingly fragmented and
dissected ground plans. Consequently, due to the longer border between the developed areas and the
adjacent natural zones, urban areas have become increasingly sensitive to environmental effects over the
past century, while mutual ecological and environmental interactions has also considerably increased
between the adjoining zones. In general, cities of hilly and low-mountain areas had the highest LSIs,
whereas cities located on relatively flat grounds had comparatively low LSIs. We also investigated the
rank correlation of the historical change of LSI of the studied settlements. Cities of high positive correlations
(> 0.9) were classified into two major categories. Miskolc, Pécs, Szeged and Kecskemét belonged to
the group of higher LSIs, whereas Székesfehérvár and Nyíregyháza fell into the class of medium LSIs and
the third category included Debrecen and Győr, cities of low (< 0.9) LSIs. Based on the temporal trends of
the LSIs, our results provide applicable information for decision makers in order to monitor, manage and
track their investments, city management policies and infrastructural development strategies. |
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| ISSN: | 1789-4921 1789-7556 |