Urban Big Data Analytics: A Novel Approach for Tracking Urbanization Trends in Sri Lanka

Nimesh Akalanka; Nayomi Kankanamge; Jagath Munasinghe; Tan Yigitcanlar

doi:10.3390/land13060888

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Urban Big Data Analytics: A Novel Approach for Tracking Urbanization Trends in Sri Lanka

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Urban Big Data Analytics: A Novel Approach for Tracking Urbanization Trends in Sri Lanka

Nimesh Akalanka, Nayomi Kankanamge, Jagath Munasinghe and Tan Yigitcanlar

Land, Vol.13(6), pp.1-45

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060888

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Abstract

urbanisation patterns

urbanisation dynamics

urban analytics

urban informatics

big data

urban big data

data fusion

Sri Lanka

The dynamic nature of urbanization calls for more frequently updated and more reliable datasets than conventional methods, in order to comprehend it for planning purposes. The current widely used methods to study urbanization heavily depend on shifts in residential populations and building densities, the data of which are static and do not necessarily capture the dynamic nature of urbanization. This is a particularly the case with low- and middle-income nations, where, according to the United Nations, urbanization is mostly being experienced in this century. This study aims to develop a more effective approach to comprehending urbanization patterns through big data fusion, using multiple data sources that provide more reliable information on urban activities. The study uses five open data sources: national polar-orbiting partnership/visible infrared imaging radiometer suite night-time light images; point of interest data; mobile network coverage data; road network coverage data; normalized difference vegetation index data; and the Python programming language. The findings challenge the currently dominant census data and statistics-based understanding of Sri Lanka's urbanization patterns that are either underestimated or overestimated. The proposed approach offers a more reliable and accurate alternative for authorities and planners in determining urbanization patterns and urban footprints.

Details

Title: Urban Big Data Analytics: A Novel Approach for Tracking Urbanization Trends in Sri Lanka
Authors: Nimesh Akalanka - University of Moratuwa
Nayomi Kankanamge - University of Moratuwa
Jagath Munasinghe - University of Moratuwa
Tan Yigitcanlar (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Publication details: Land, Vol.13(6), pp.1-45
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.3390/land13060888
ISSN: 2073-445X
Copyright note: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Data Availability: Data are available upon request from the corresponding author.
Organisation Unit: School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991068410002621
Output Type: Journal article