Impact of the Via Baltica on the Urbanisation in Lithuania by Multi-level Remote Sensing Analysis

Abstract

The disintegration of the Soviet Union has totally changed the territorial and urban dynamics of the Baltic countries including Lithuania. Their territorial changes are characterised by an intense process of urban dispersion, suburbanisation, and urban densification. The construction and the renovation of the Via Baltica constitute one of the major elements of the territorial and economic integration of the Baltic States into the European Union. During the middle of 2000', Via Baltica has been and still is a driver of urbanisation caused by the increasing accessibility and automobilisation of the population. The research was aimed at analysing the dynamics of urbanisation in Lithuania in the influence of the Via Baltica in the regional and local contexts. The research has demonstrated that the impact of the Via Baltica on the urbanisation processes measured by remote sensing is more important at the local level. The conclusion was drawn that this transportation corridor should be seen more as a structuring territorial vector of the general process of urbanisation and metropolisation of Lithuania.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.69.3.7361