Index-based Approach in Relation to Built-up and LST Dynamics; A Study of Lahore, Pakistan

In 21st century, cities outpaced in size and also in density due to development of economic sector. Consequently, the wide spread expansion of urban areas is resulting in the loss of productive green cover and water bodies. Therefore, realizing this alarming situation, the present study is aimed to investigate and evaluate the pattern of urban expansion by considering two major land cover types (i) built-up area (ii) other classes (vegetation, waterbody, soil etc.) during the last six years (2015-2020). For this study Sentinel imagery was acquired from USGS Earth Explorer, while Modis Terra images were acquired from World View NASA. New built-up area index (NBUI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), worldview water index (WV-WI) and land surface temperature (LST) were calculated in order to analyze variations in Lahore’s major land cover types and its varying temperature patterns. Spatial analysis presented the obvious impacts of land development on Lahore. NBUI indicated that the built-up area has increased drastically from 34.0% in 2015 to 84.2% in 2020; NDVI analysis depicted a decline from 0.76% to 0.73%, in the green spaces of Lahore during the study period; WV-WI portrayed inconsistent values of water bodies, a gift of massive rise in the built-up area in Lahore. LST results presented that the temperature was 42.21°C in 2015, which simultaneously increased and recorded at 49.51°C in 2020. The increase in LST exhibited the alarming situation for urban environment and can become threat to increase the air pollution level in Lahore. Therefore, this study will serve as a snapshot for policy makers to control the menace of unplanned urbanization by formulating stringent policies to protect environment.