Analyzing The Change In Built Up Area Along The River In Moradabad District Using Remote Sensing And Gis (1994-2024)

Abstract

This study analyzes the spatio-temporal change in built-up areas along the river corridor of Moradabad District, Uttar Pradesh, from 1994 to 2024 using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Multi-temporal satellite imagery from Landsat and Sentinel-2 was classified into major land use categories—Built-Up, Agricultural Land, Vegetation, Water Bodies, and Other—through supervised classification using the Maximum Likelihood Algorithm. The results reveal a significant increase of approximately 265% in built-up areas over the three decades, primarily at the expense of agricultural and vegetative land. Buffer zone analysis (0–1 km, 1–3 km, and 3–5 km from the river) indicates substantial urban encroachment within the 1 km zone, posing serious environmental risks. Statistical correlation shows a strong positive relationship between population growth and built-up expansion (r = 0.92). The study highlights the consequences of unplanned urban sprawl on the Ramganga River ecosystem, including floodplain degradation and increased flood vulnerability. The findings underscore the need for sustainable urban planning, river buffer protection, and the integration of geospatial monitoring in developmental policies.

Keywords: Remote Sensing, GIS, Land Use Land Cover, Built-Up Area, River Encroachment, Moradabad District, Change Detection, Urban Sprawl