The evolution of urban sprawl: evidence of spatial heterogeneity and increasing land fragmentation.

ABSTRACT: We investigate the dynamics and spatial distribution of land use fragmentation in a rapidly urbanizing region of the United States to test key propositions regarding the evolution of sprawl. Using selected pattern metrics and data from 1973 and 2000 for the state of Maryland, we find significant increases in developed and undeveloped land fragmentation but substantial spatial heterogeneity as well. Estimated fragmentation gradients that describe mean fragmentation as a function of distance from urban centers confirm the hypotheses that fragmentation rises and falls with distance and that the point of maximum fragmentation shifted outward over time. However, rather than outward increases in sprawl balanced by development infill, we find substantial and significant increases in mean fragment

SUBMITTER: Irwin EG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2410062 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature