Assessment of urban development pattern and urban sprawl using Shannon’s entropy: A case study of Konya (Turkey)

Defined as the uncontrolled expansion of cities toward their periphery, urban sprawl emerges during urban developments where the urban area grows more than the population increase. Furthermore, land-related demands emerge for the needs regarding settlement and infrastructure due to certain reasons such as the increase in the urban population, industrialization and lifestyle changes. As these demands are met through irregular area use, cities expand toward their peripheral areas more than necessary. Moreover, natural resources and agricultural areas are damaged, infrastructure and transportation costs increase, urban functions get separated, and social and financial issues occur. The problem of urban sprawl is one of the major issues suffered by the global cities in the last decades. For Turkey where approximately 75% of the population live in cities, examining the urban developments and specifying the rate of urban sprawl is critical. This study aimed to assess the case study of urban development and sprawl in Konya (Turkey). It first examined the population and urban area in the urban plans guiding the urban development pattern. Then, the study analyzed the changes the built-up areas underwent for 35 years between 1985 and 2020. As method, satellite images and GIS were used. Moreover, the level of sprawl regarding the urban development in Konya was measured based on Shannon’s Entropy Index. Finally, this study found that Konya was suffering the issue of sprawl, and it emphasized the importance of studies for guiding the activities of urban development in a sustainable manner.