ASSESSMENT OF URBANIZATION PROCESS AND SPATIAL URBAN EXPANSION IN HO CHI MINH CITY FROM 2010 TO 2024

Abstract

This study applies Shannon’s entropy model with open-source land use and land cover data from 2010 to 2024 to assess urbanization in Ho Chi Minh city. Urban land expanded from 34,338ha in 2010 to 89,251ha in 2024, largely replacing agricultural land, forests and other land categories. Shannon’s entropy increased from 1.460 in 2010 to 1.502 in 2020, indicating greater spatial dispersion, but dropped to 1.291 in 2024 as urbanization became more concentrated and central landscapes more homogeneous. Relative entropy analysis highlights marked landscape differentiation after 2020, with core urban areas showing a sharp entropy decline from 3.21 to 1.37, while peri urban and outer zones maintained higher diversity due to the persistence of agriculture, forests and water bodies. These findings demonstrate that Shannon’s entropy is an effective tool for measuring the extent and spatial complexity of urban sprawl and provide a solid scientific basis for sustainable urban planning and land use management.