Dynamic Linkage Between Urbanization, Electrical Power Consumption, and Suitability Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Abstract

This article proposes an estimation method for assessing urban sprawl using multispectral remote sensing data: SNPP-VIIRS, DMSP/OLS, Landsat 5-TM, and Landsat 8-OLI. This study focuses on the impacts of human activities, in terms of increased electrical-power consumption (EPC) due to urbanization. For this purpose, night-time light data are used to measure the EPC growth from 2000 to 2020. We also perform a suitability analysis using geographic information-systems techniques to propose a new urban town in Lahore to mitigate urbanization and EPC increase. We found an overall increase of 33% in urban area and an EPC increase of 21.6% in the last two decades. We also find that the best proposed site for the new urban town is in the northwest of Lahore.