A GEOSPATIAL STUDY OF TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF BIOPHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE STATE OF UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

Abstract

Inevitable process of urbanization is taking place at much faster rate than ever before. It has engulfed all possible regions across the globe in order to meet out the demands of ever-increasing demographic pressure. Urbanization involves anthropogenic activities like construction of roads, railways, bridges, buildings (both residential and commercial) resulting in alteration of landscape. Similar scenario is taking place in the States of India but the most vulnerable ones are the mountainous states located in close vicinity of the mighty Himalayas. One such State is Uttarakhand which is facing the widespread destruction of pristine environment due to various developmental processes taking place as a result of urbanization. The vegetative destruction in order to provide land area for construction of hotels, resorts, ropeways and other constructions. The current unsustainable urbanization has triggered multi- dimensional problems like alteration of micro-climate, vegetation destruction, biodiversity degradation, habitat fragmentation and many more in the study area. The present study analyses trend and pattern of landscape alteration in the light of digital data viz Landsat - 4, 5 (TM) for 1990, 2000, 2010 and Landsat - 8 (OLI) for 2020. The ‘change detection’ along with ‘rate of change of land per year’ has been calculated and analyzed for various categories of land use/land cover. In addition to this, built-up expansion during 1990-2020 have also been analyzed and discussed. Lastly, study gives emphasis to bring urbanization process on the lines of sustainability and make an appeal to promote ecological urbanization in the study area.