How and Where is Urban Growth? Analyses of Urban Growth in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Urban growth is a spatial and demographic process and refers to the increased importance of towns and cities as a concentration of population within a particular economy and society[l]. The spatial formation and the dynamics of urban growth are important topics of analysis in the urban studies. At early stages scholars considered Western and Asian urbanization process to be a result of urban rural migration. Later various scholars felt that there are some differences in the Asian urbanization process. In 1970 McGee-Ginsburg concluded that Asian urbanization is not a result of urban rural migration and that it is an economic transformation of agricultural activities to non agricultural activities. Although, the McGce-Ginsburg model captures the socio-demographic dimensions of the rapid urbanization process, little is known about the dynamics of landscape structures in the emerging desakota regions in Asia. GIS and remote sensing applications have the possibility to identify this dynamic landscape structure. Aim of this paper is to explore the landscape dynamics and socio demographic transition of Colombo district in Sri Lanka. It also expects to review its emergence of desakota regions in Colombo district.