Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Change Detection in Delhi NCT Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data and Google Earth Engine
Abstract: Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change detection is essential for understanding the dynamics of human modified landscapes and for supporting effective land management and urban planning. This study analyses LULC change across the Delhi National Capital Territory over a fifteen-year period, from 2010 to 2025, to assess urban sprawl and its environmental impact in one of India's fastest growing metropolitan regions. Multi temporal Landsat imagery was used as the primary data source, processed on Google Earth Engine, the cloud-based platform that enabled efficient handling and visualisation of large geospatial datasets. Five classes, built up area, agricultural land, vegetation, water, and barren land, were mapped and monitored, and classification accuracy was assessed for both dates. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index was additionally employed to track vegetation vigour and ecological change. Results reveal a marked expansion of built-up areas alongside a substantial decline in agricultural and vegetated land, driven by peri urban growth along the northwestern and southwestern fringe. NDVI analysis shows rising greenness across the outer belt, reflecting more intensive cultivation on land that remains under crops, a pattern that complements rather than contradicts the measured loss of vegetated area. Combining classification based and an index-based approach provides a robust, scalable framework for LULC monitoring. By revealing where and how urban growth is reshaping the landscape, the study offers a transferable basis for environmental assessment, resource management, and sustainable urban planning in rapidly urbanising regions worldwide.
Keywords: Urban Sprawl, LULC Change Detection, Google Earth Engine, NDVI, Delhi NCT
How to Cite?: Neil Rohatgi, "Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Change Detection in Delhi NCT Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data and Google Earth Engine", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 795-802, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26903183702, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26903183702