This study examines the spatial effect of road density on urbanization in Thailand from 2013-2017. The urban density is proxied by the nighttime light data obtained from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night band satellite. The Open Streep Map (OSM) database provided the road network data of each subdistrict (or tambon in Thailand’s administrative classification) and other explanatory variables, including building footprints and points of interest. These data represent the geospatial locations of human settlements and economic activities, such as residential areas, retailers, commonplace spots, and public agencies. The first analysis utilized the local indicators of spatial association to investigate geographical correlations. The result shows the statistically significant correlation between road density and nighttime light. The second analysis used spatial regressions to examine the spatial casualties of road density and other variables on urbanization. Results econometrically reveal that road density exerts a statistically significant and positive effect on urban expansion. These findings confirm the significance of road density on urbanization and affirm the necessity of transportation infrastructure investment. This study further suggests future expansions involving the integration of satellite images, geospatial data, and spatial econometric methods to quantitatively explore the spatial relationships.

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Tepinta, P. (2020). Effect of transportation development on the urbanization in Thailand. International Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 6(1), 44–62. doi: 10.20469/ijhss.6.20005-1