Geospatial Analysis Of Bahria Enclave, Islamabad's Urbanisation Over The Previous 15 Years

Abstract

Exacerbated urbanization and an increasing pace of land clearing have been observed in Zone IV This alarming situation is exerting pressure on natural resources and land-related activities in the federal city, previously known as Malot village, where agriculture was the major practice. This study focused on various land use/land cover (LULC) types, documenting the changes that have transpired over the years, and exploring the underlying causes behind these transformations. LULC is integral to managing and overseeing natural resources while accommodating the escalating human demands within the existing ecosystem. It underscored the significance of remote sensing and GIS techniques in effectively mapping and detecting changes. Data collection spanned a 15-year year period, incorporating five-year intervals: 2005, 2010, and 2015, alongside consecutive years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, to comprehensively capture recent developments. This study was facilitated through spatial imagery analysis of four primary parameters: Agricultural land, Natural vegetation, Built-up areas, and Streams. Employing ArcGIS 10.8 software, data analysis was conducted. Research findings uncovered substantial disparities in the four parameters over the study period. The built-up area showed a consistent upward trajectory between 2015 and 2018, as well as between 2020 and 2022, with growth rates of 157.58% and 46.85%. The alarming decline of natural vegetation was indicated by negative percentage changes, from years 2010 to 2015 and 2015 to 2018. Similarly, the substantial negative percentage changes in streams and agricultural land over various time intervals highlighted the adverse effects of urbanization on water bodies and fertile lands. Notably, these changes significantly impacted on the lives of Malot village residents, resonating across the economic and social.