Scinovex

Research article · 2024 · Full text

International Journal of Geography Geology and Environment

Geographical analysis of dispersal index of rural settlement in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district using GIS techniques

CU Bhore

Volume 6(1) · Pages 347–350 · DOI: 10.22271/27067483.2024.v6.i1e.238 ↗

Research areasAgricultural Economics and PracticesLivestock Management and Performance Improvement

↓ Read full-text PDF1 citations

Abstract

Author-written

Finding the different kinds of rural communities and the elements that influence them in the study region is the primary goal of the current investigation. Bernard's (1931) method has been used to calculate the degree of concentration for the detailed investigation of rural settlements. The majority of the data used in this study is secondary, taken from the 2011 Aurangabad District Census Handbook. This estimated index demonstrates that favorable natural conditions like fertile soil and the presence of good irrigation infrastructure have led to a comparatively high concentration of settlements in the sillod tehsils. The Godavari River occupies some of these areas. The western portion of the research region, which is mostly in the tehsils of Khuldabad and is distinguished by a steep terrain, has a low index of concentration. In the study area's tehsils of Aurangabad and Vaijapur, the index of concentration is moderate.

Summary

Source-checked

Plain-language reading of the full paper, prepared with AI and checked against the text. Each point links to the authors' own words.

  1. Why it matters

    • Settlement studies are significant in geography because they reflect the fundamental relationship between human populations and their environment. View evidence ↗

      Why it matters

      Settlement studies are significant in geography because they reflect the fundamental relationship between human populations and their environment.

      In the paper's own words

      “Because settlements are seen as a basic manifestation of the relationship between humans and the environment, settlement studies are important in the field of geography”

      Page 1

      Found in: Introduction

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 1 ↗
    • The layout and type of rural villages are directly influenced by the socioeconomic and physical conditions of the surrounding area. View evidence ↗

      Why it matters

      The layout and type of rural villages are directly influenced by the socioeconomic and physical conditions of the surrounding area.

      In the paper's own words

      “The physical and socioeconomic circumstances of the area have a direct impact on the kind and layout of rural villages.”

      Page 1

      Found in: Introduction

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 1 ↗
  2. The question

    • The primary goal of the study is to identify the different types of rural communities in the region and the factors that influence them. View evidence ↗

      The question

      The primary goal of the study is to identify the different types of rural communities in the region and the factors that influence them.

      In the paper's own words

      “Finding the different kinds of rural communities and the elements that influence them in the study region is the primary goal of the current investigation.”

      Page 1

      Found in: Introduction

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 1 ↗
    • The study aims to calculate the concentration index of these settlements using the Bernard method. View evidence ↗

      The question

      The study aims to calculate the concentration index of these settlements using the Bernard method.

      In the paper's own words

      “Calculate the concentration index using the Bernard method.”

      Page 2

      Found in: Introduction

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 2 ↗
  3. What they did

    • The research relied primarily on secondary data sourced from the 2011 Aurangabad District Census Handbook. View evidence ↗

      What they did

      The research relied primarily on secondary data sourced from the 2011 Aurangabad District Census Handbook.

      In the paper's own words

      “The majority of the data used in this study is secondary, taken from the 2011 Aurangabad District Census Handbook.”

      Page 1

      Found in: Methodology

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 1 ↗
    • The study area is the Aurangabad district, which covers 10,100 square kilometers, representing 3.28% of Maharashtra. View evidence ↗

      What they did

      The study area is the Aurangabad district, which covers 10,100 square kilometers, representing 3.28% of Maharashtra.

      In the paper's own words

      “The district occupies 10,100 square kilometers or 3.28% of Maharashtra.”

      Page 2

      Found in: Study Area

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 2 ↗
    • The degree of concentration (K) was calculated using Bernard's method, which considers the area of the tehsil (S), the total number of houses (M), and the total number of settlements (N2). View evidence ↗

      What they did

      The degree of concentration (K) was calculated using Bernard's method, which considers the area of the tehsil (S), the total number of houses (M), and the total number of settlements (N2).

      In the paper's own words

      “When describing the geographical variations of settlement dispersion refers to a technique for calculating Bernard’s method and using the following formula, which he applied to get the degree of concentration index:”

      Page 2

      “K = Degree of Concentration S = Area of the Tehsil M = Total number of houses in the tehsil N2= Total number of settlements in the tehsil”

      Page 2

      Found in: Methodology

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 2 ↗
  4. What they found

    • Sillod tehsil is characterized by compact settlements with concentration values higher than 4000, accounting for 11.81% of the total area. View evidence ↗

      What they found

      Sillod tehsil is characterized by compact settlements with concentration values higher than 4000, accounting for 11.81% of the total area.

      In the paper's own words

      “Compact <4000 Sillod 131 11.81”

      Page 3

      “The study area's Sillod tehsil is home to the majority of the compact settlement. ... This settlement has concentration values that are higher than 4000.”

      Page 4

      Found in: Compact Settlement

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 3 ↗
    • Semi-compact settlements, with an index range of 3000-4000, were found in the Aurangabad and Vaijapur tehsils, covering 28.16% of the area. View evidence ↗

      What they found

      Semi-compact settlements, with an index range of 3000-4000, were found in the Aurangabad and Vaijapur tehsils, covering 28.16% of the area.

      In the paper's own words

      “Semi Compact 3000-4000 Aurangabad, Vaijapur 351 28.16”

      Page 3

      Found in: Semi Compact Settlement

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 3 ↗
    • Semi-sprinkled settlements (index 2000-3000) are the most common, found in Kannad, Soegaon, Phulambri, Gangapur, and Paithan tehsils, covering 55.31% of the area. View evidence ↗

      What they found

      Semi-sprinkled settlements (index 2000-3000) are the most common, found in Kannad, Soegaon, Phulambri, Gangapur, and Paithan tehsils, covering 55.31% of the area.

      In the paper's own words

      “Semi Sprinkled 2000-3000 Kannad, Soegaon, Phulambri, Gangapur, Paithan 798 55.31”

      Page 3

      Found in: Semi Sprinkled Settlement

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 3 ↗
    • Dispersed settlements, with an index range of 0-2000, are located in the Khuldabad tehsil and cover 4.73% of the area. View evidence ↗

      What they found

      Dispersed settlements, with an index range of 0-2000, are located in the Khuldabad tehsil and cover 4.73% of the area.

      In the paper's own words

      “Dispersed 0-2000 Khuldabad 76 4.73”

      Page 3

      Found in: Dispersed Settlement

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 3 ↗
    • The compact settlements in Sillod are attributed to rich black soil, excellent irrigation, and well-developed transportation and agricultural industries. View evidence ↗

      What they found

      The compact settlements in Sillod are attributed to rich black soil, excellent irrigation, and well-developed transportation and agricultural industries.

      In the paper's own words

      “Sillod tehsil's rich black soil and excellent irrigation infrastructure contribute to the area's agricultural development. ... This tahsil's well-developed transportation infrastructure and agricultural industries also aided in the development of the compact town there.”

      Page 4

      Found in: Compact Settlement

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 4 ↗
    • Dispersed settlements in Khuldabad resulted from unfavorable conditions, including poor soil quality, rough terrain, steep slopes, and low groundwater levels. View evidence ↗

      What they found

      Dispersed settlements in Khuldabad resulted from unfavorable conditions, including poor soil quality, rough terrain, steep slopes, and low groundwater levels.

      In the paper's own words

      “Such settlements are the result of a combination of poor soil quality, steep slopes, rough terrain, and low groundwater levels.”

      Page 3

      Found in: Dispersed Settlement

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 3 ↗
  5. What it means

    • The authors conclude that the development of settlements in the study area is clearly influenced by physiographical impacts. View evidence ↗

      What it means

      The authors conclude that the development of settlements in the study area is clearly influenced by physiographical impacts.

      In the paper's own words

      “The research work's overall analysis shows that the physiographical impact is evident in the development of the study area's settlements.”

      Page 4

      Found in: Conclusion

      Read it in the full textOpen PDF at page 4 ↗

Visual summary

2 visuals

Illustrations explain the paper; charts are replotted from the paper's own table values.

Replotted from source data
Replotted from Table 1 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.↗ Enlarge
K: Kannad vs Soegaon vs Sillod vs Phulambri vs Aurangabad
Replotted from Table 1 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.

Replotted from Table 1 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.

Open full-size image ↗

K: Kannad vs Soegaon vs Sillod vs Phulambri vs Aurangabad

Replotted from Table 1 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.

View source evidence ↗
Replotted from source data
Replotted from Table 2 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.↗ Enlarge
Total area (%): Compact vs Semi Compact vs Semi Sprinkled vs Dispersed
Replotted from Table 2 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.

Replotted from Table 2 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.

Open full-size image ↗

Total area (%): Compact vs Semi Compact vs Semi Sprinkled vs Dispersed

Replotted from Table 2 (page 3) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.

View source evidence ↗

Figures & tables

From the original paper
Show the population growth in Aurangabad district, MaharashtraFigure 1Page 2Aurangabad District: Types of Settlement 2011Table 1Page 3Degree of Concentration IndexTable 2Page 3Degree of concentration indexFigure 2Page 3
FULL TEXT Original article · reflowed for reading

Introduction

Because settlements are seen as a basic manifestation of the relationship between humans and the environment, settlement studies are important in the field of geography (Sharma, 2015) [6] . The settlements are seen as areas where people are concentrated. The term "human settlement" also describes the arrangement of people and homes. The place where individuals establish their permanent residence is called a settlement. Human settlements are divided into two primary categories based on factors such as population size, lifestyle, employment structure, and socioeconomic features. They are settlements, both rural and urban. Urban towns are home to people who work in non-agricultural pursuits, while rural communities are mostly inhabited by those involved in agriculture and related industries (R. L. Singn, 2002) [8] . Many other geographers have provided explanations of the different kinds of rural communities using a range of standards and statistical techniques. In contrast to its urban cousin, a rural community is a small, straightforward collection of houses situated in a convenient location (Singh & Kumar, 2018) [7] . The overall area under settlement, or built-up area, is shown by the concentration of settlement (Nandi and Mistri, 2018) [11] . Four primary categories of settlement are described by R. L. Singh (1994) [9] : Sprinkled or dispersed settlement, semi-compact (Fragmented or hemleted communities), compact settlements, and semi-compact (Hamleted cluster). Depending on their immediate surroundings, every human community is unique. Therefore, human occupancy characteristics and environment exhibit a reciprocal link in rural communities. According to Dey and Bhaduri (2016) [1] , there is variation in the settlement structure of India, ranging from dispersed to nucleated and from small hamlets to sizable villages. While dispersed settlements are typically found in regions with an extreme climate, hilly tracts, densely forested grasslands, poor land for agriculture, regions of extensive cultivation, and areas in which farmers must live on crops rather than in villages, compact settlements are primarily found in the highly effective alluvial plains (Majid Husain, 2018) [2] . In developing nations, there are a lot of rural villages with inadequate infrastructure (Ruchi, 2020) [5] . The physical and socioeconomic circumstances of the area have a direct impact on the kind and layout of rural villages.

As a result, settlements are not seen in the same way everywhere on earth. Objective 1. To study the identify the types of rural settlement and their affecting factors. 2. Calculate the concentration index using the Bernard method.

Study Area

The state's center, an elevated region, is home to the Aurangabad District. In the southern region, it is carved out by the Godavari River and its tributaries. The entire district is located in the Godavari Basin, except for a tiny area in the north and northwest that is part of the Tapi drainage.

Methodology

The current study's objective is to determine the district's degree of concentration (Index) for the 2011 census. Aurangabad district which is shown in this area was thoughtfully selected for this investigation. This work's data came from secondary sources. The information required for analysis is acquired from the Aurangabad District Handbook. When describing the geographical variations of settlement dispersion refers to a technique for calculating Bernard's method and using the following formula, which he applied to get the degree of concentration index:

Degree Concentration Index

Degree Concentration Index

Dispersed Settlement

Isolated settlements, sometimes referred to as dispersed settlements, are typified by small-scale units, which can range from a single house to a small cluster of buildings. The majority of these communities can be found in Khuldabad's tehsil. This group range's concentration index is less than 2000. Such settlements are the result of a combination of poor soil quality, steep slopes, rough terrain, and low groundwater levels. These tiny communities are dispersed over forested and hilly regions. The inclines in the terrain have reduced connectivity for these settlements. These kinds of settlements have been concentrated in the eastern Khuldabad tehsil. In this area, hamlets and villages are small, and residences are situated distant from one another. Since a portion of the population is tribal, the main economic pursuits in these villages are agriculture and animal husbandry.

Semi Sprinkled Settlement

These little communities are situated close to land that can be farmed. There is a 2000-3000 concentration value range. This kind of settlement is primarily distributed throughout the research area's tehsils of Kannad, Soegaon, Phulambri, Gangapur, and Paithan. These kinds of towns are mainly found close to arable land in Kannad tehsil. These towns' main features include their tiny size, dispersed individual habitations, low road quality, and limited road connectivity throughout the entire region. These kinds of settlements are primarily found in the middle regions of the tehsils of Phulambri and Gangapur.

Semi Compact Settlement

Semi-compact Settlement Falling somewhere between compact and helmeted settlements, semi-compact settlements are an in-between kind. These settlements consist of clusters of unconnected homes gathered in a single location (Mondal and Roy, 2020) [10] . These communities are distinguished by a compact, tiny nuclear center that is surrounded by a scattering of hamlets. This kind of settlement is primarily found in the research areas's Aurangabad and Vaijapur tehsils. In the case of the tehsils of Nashik, the primary factor supporting the growth of semicompact settlements close to the central city is industrial development. The majority of industrial workers reside in these communities. In the case of Vaijapur, the onset of agricultural development and the provision of transportation and communication infrastructure facilitated the expansion of these villages. There is a 3000-4000 concentration value range.

Compact Settlement

The study area's Sillod tehsil is home to the majority of the compact settlement. The majority of the communities in this tehsil are characterized by small housing spacing and dense populations. This settlement has concentration values that are higher than 4000. Nucleated or clustered settlements are other names for these settlements. In nucleated settlements, buildings are typically built extremely near to one another, and the roads are quite small. Permanent agriculture, profitable land, and a climate that is conducive to settlement are the ingredients that produce compact rural settlements (Patil, 2019) [3] . Sillod tehsil's rich black soil and excellent irrigation infrastructure contribute to the area's agricultural development. This tahsil's well-developed transportation infrastructure and agricultural industries also aided in the development of the compact town there. Sillod tehsils' fastexpanding population is the primary factor for the development of these kinds of towns. These kinds of villages are mainly found near Sillod City.

Conclusion

The research work's overall analysis shows that the physiographical impact is evident in the development of the study area's settlements. In the studied region, four different kinds of villages are visible. It comprises compact settlement, semi-compact settlement, semi-sprinkled settlement, and dispersed settlement. Because Sillod tehsils have good irrigation facilities and fertile black soil, there is a comparatively large concentration of settlers there, according to the Degree of Concentration (Bernard, 1931) calculation for each tehsil. The hilly tehsils in the western section of the country, like Khuldabad, have a low index of concentration because of unfavorable physical characteristics like the region's rough topography and hills. In the Tehsils of Aurangabad and Vaijapur, the index of concentration is moderate.

Figures and tables from the paper

Figure 1. Show the population growth in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra
Show the population growth in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra↗ Enlarge
Figure 1
Show the population growth in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra

Show the population growth in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra

Open full-size image ↗
Original paper figureSource PDF · page 2 ↗
Table 1. Aurangabad District: Types of Settlement 2011
Sr. No.TehsilArea (kmsq.)No. of VillagesNo. of HouseholdN2KTypes
1.Kannad1,63721159,680445212193.85SP
2.Soegaon6528523,56672252126.65SP
3.Sillod1,23313159,545171614277.55C
4.Phulambri6959231,55084642590.46SP
5.Aurangabad1,35418583,551342253305.81SC
6.Khuldabad4947620,16657761725.07D
7.Vaijapur1,58616656,173275563232.05SC
8.Gangapur1,43522170,656488412076.38SP
9.Paithan1,35618963,682357212417.60SP

Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.

View original table image
Aurangabad District: Types of Settlement 2011↗ Enlarge
Table 1
Aurangabad District: Types of Settlement 2011

Aurangabad District: Types of Settlement 2011

Open full-size image ↗
Original paper tableSource PDF · page 3 ↗
Table 2. Degree of Concentration Index
Sr. No.Types of settlementIndex RangeTehsilTotal No. of settlementTotal area (%)
1.Compact<4000Sillod13111.81
2.Semi Compact3000-4000Aurangabad, Vaijapur35128.16
3.Semi Sprinkled2000-3000Kannad, Soegaon, Phulambri, Gangapur, Paithan79855.31
4.Dispersed0-2000Khuldabad764.73

Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.

View original table image
Degree of Concentration Index↗ Enlarge
Table 2
Degree of Concentration Index

Degree of Concentration Index

Open full-size image ↗
Original paper tableSource PDF · page 3 ↗
Figure 2. Degree of concentration index
Degree of concentration index↗ Enlarge
Figure 2
Degree of concentration index

Degree of concentration index

Open full-size image ↗
Original paper figureSource PDF · page 3 ↗

References

8 in the original paper
  1. Dey F, Bhaduri S. Changing pattern of settlement structure in rural West Bengal. Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 2016;21(9):22-32.
  2. Patil S. Dispersal Index of Rural Settlement in Panhala Tahsil: A Statistical Approach. Think India Journal. 2019;22(38):176-181.
  3. Pore AV. Concentration Index for the Identification of Type of Rural Settlements in Kolhapur District. Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal. 2018;5(4):199-204.
  4. Ruchi. Rural Settlement in India. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts. 2020;8(2):1929-1931.
  5. Sharma PK. Micro-Level Appraisal of Spatial Dimensions of Rural Settlements. International Journal of Research in Geography. 2015;1(2):18-21.
  6. Singh G, Kumar S. Spatial Distribution and Types of Rural Settlements of Nadbai Tehsil (A Geographical Study). International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts. 2018;6(2):126-133.
  7. Mondal S, Roy T. A Case Study on Rural Settlement with Aspects of Socio Economic Movement & GIS in Bhagwanpur -I CD Block. Studies in Indian Place Names. 2020;40(50):1650-1689.
  8. Nandi S, Mistri T. Nature and Characteristics of Rural Settlement in Salanpur, Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal, India. International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts. 2018;6(5):202-210.

Cited by 1

From OpenAlex, OpenCitations and reference lists read by Scinovex

  • Assessment of urban flood vulnerability using multi-criteria decision making and geospatial techniques in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India ↗

    Pranaya Diwate, Prasanna Lavhale, Shreeja Das, Parminder Kaur, Abhijeet Ambadkar, Uday Chatterjee et al. · Discover Geoscience · 2026

    Urban flooding poses a significant threat to lives, infrastructure, and sustainable development, particularly in rapidly expanding Indian cities. This study aims to evaluate urban flood susceptibility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India, by integrating geospatial analysis and machine learning techniques. Eleven flood-conditioning parameters—elevation, slope, aspect, rainfall, distance to stream, distance to road, topographic wetness index (TWI), stream power index (SPI), plan…

    ❝ 0PDF