Geospatial Applications in Land Use/Land Cover Change Detection for Sustainable Regional Development: The Case of Central Haryana, India

Abstract

Timely and accurate detection of land use/land cover (LULC) change is important for the macro and micro level sustainable development of any region. For this purpose, geospatial techniques are the best tool for change analysis as they supply timely, cheaper, precise and up to date information. This paper examines the spatial temporal change trend in LULC in the case of Central Haryana. Landsat 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 images for the years 1975–2020 for pre‑ and post‑monsoon periods were analyzed for the study. Radiometric correction was performed to derive better information. ArcGIS 10.2 and ENVI 5.3 are used for thematic layout and thematic change preparation. An unsupervised classification using ERDAS IMAGINE 2015 has also been done to classify study area in eight classes. The year 1975 is considered as the base year for change detection analysis. Results showed an increasing trend for the land use classes of built‑up, water body, and agricultural land without waterlogging in the pre‑ and post‑monsoon periods between 1975 and 2020. Remaining land use classes of agriculture with waterlogging, open waterlogged area, vegetation and fallow land/sand dunes decreased during the same period. Increased human activities have changed the LULC in the region and have had a great impact on its sustainable regional development.