| dc.description.abstract | Policy design for spatial planning interventions should be informed by a clear understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of urban land use change. As such, effective monitoring of urban land use change is imperative for sustainable development. No country can for this reason can realize its full economic development if its land resources are not regularly monitored, planned and used in an orderly manner. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the spatio-temporal implications of land use change in Kisii Town, Kenya. It had three related objectives. The first objective that assessed land use cover change from 2005 to 2017 was analyzed using QGIS version 3.0.1 software, through integration of three satellite image epochs (2005, 2010 and 2017). Results showed that during this period, built-up areas recorded the highest expansion (275.73%), followed by forest areas (188.26%). Conversely, transitional areas recorded the lowest decline (81.89%) followed by grass/cultivated land (-35.30%). The second objective that examined the relationship population increase and expansion of built-up areas was analyzed using simple linear regression to predict the influence that population increase would have on the built-up land. Results showed that with R2 = 94%, population increase significantly predicted spatial expansion of built-up areas, F (1, 11) =29.518, p = .000, thus, an increase in population by one unit/person increased expansion of built-up areas by .026 units/hectares. As regards the third objective that determined the relationship between Land Absorption Coefficient (LAC) and Land Consumption Rate (LCR), analysis was conducted using Pearson’s bivariate correlation and simple linear regression. Results showed a significant positive correlation (r = .854, p = .005), suggesting that a decline in LAC increased LCR. In addition, regression coefficients showed that an increase in one unit of LCR led to a decline in LAC by .124 unit. The study concluded that in absence of effective planning, land use change in Kisii Town has been rapidly increasing, attributable to a declining LAC, which in turn prompts increased LCR. Recommendation was made for a comprehensive development plan as a strategy for sustainable urban development. | en_US |