Geospatial approach for petrol pumps valuation with urban prediction modelling by cellular automata in creeds of metropolitan expanse

Abstract. The research demonstrated the spatial analysis of site suitability using physical parameters in the Metropolitan expanse that requires environmental safety and sustainability. The location of petrol filling stations that are already developed without following any standard criteria is drastic. This research finds out the level of compliance of petrol pumps to set standards for distances and location in Lahore Metropolitan Corporation. 195 petrol pumps were sampled and eight standard criteria were developed. Which were used to perform site suitability analysis using Analytical Hierarchy Process technique. The results revealed that 88% of petrol pumps in the study area meet the standard criteria while 12 % did not meet the criteria due to improper planning of the management. Furthermore, by incorporating all the essential factors for petrol pumps suitable sites and spatial prediction of urban sprawl using Cellular automata have been developed. Therefore, this study also indicates the LULC pattern of metropolitan area with past and present existence of LULC feature. On the basis of past and present trends the future prediction has been performed using cellular automata modelling to observed the future scenario of urban development’s patterns. The prediction of future builtup pattern results are very alarming and need serious concentration regarding future road map. The study showed that geographic information system is essential tool that can assist decision and policy makers for a new development project to take appropriate measures.