Abstract

This paper aims to measure and characterise urban sprawl development in Kuala Lumpur city using leapfrog geospatial indices. The researcher utilised remote sensing satellite data such as Landsat and Spot images for two different times. The remote sensing application was subsequently integrated with GIS database to detect changes and analyse the pattern of growth for urban areas in Kuala Lumpur. From the finding of land use change detection, the leapfrog sprawl index was calculated by using geospatial indices formula. The results proved that Kuala Lumpur is the most highly developed city in Malaysia with new development is leapfrogging towards the periphery of the city and infill development pattern seemingly increase vastly filling up the leapt areas cause by leapfrog sprawl. Improper planning will create this type of urban sprawl that is predicted to expand beyond the border towards other states locating adjacent to Kuala Lumpur which is now called Greater Kuala Lumpur. The current scenario has become an absolute threat towards Malaysia planning goal to achieve sustainable urban planning development.