ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Assessment of Land Use Land Cover Change and NDVI-Based Vegetation Dynamics Using Google Earth Engine in Ballia District, India

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) change and vegetation dynamics are critical indicators of environmental transformation and human environment interactions. Rapid agricultural expansion and urbanization have significantly altered natural landscapes, particularly in developing regions. Therefore, understanding these changes is essential for sustainable land management and ecological conservation. The present study aims to assess the Spatio-temporal changes in LULC and vegetation dynamics in Ballia district between 2017 and 2024. This study utilized the Dynamic World dataset for LULC classification and Landsat 8 Collection 2 Level-2 imagery for NDVI analysis, processed using the Google Earth Engine platform. A mode-based classification approach was employed to generate LULC maps, while NDVI was calculated to evaluate vegetation health. Change detection techniques were applied to identify spatial transformations in land use and vegetation patterns. The results revealed a significant increase in agricultural land and built-up areas, accompanied by a substantial decline in vegetation cover, barren land, and water bodies. Additionally, NDVI analysis indicated a slight improvement in maximum vegetation health; however, the overall green area decreased during the study period. Spatial analysis further highlighted heterogeneous patterns of change, with major transformations occurring near riverbanks and expanding settlements. The study demonstrates that increasing anthropogenic activities are driving significant landscape changes in the region, leading to ecological imbalance. These findings emphasize the need for sustainable land use planning and effective environmental management strategies to ensure long-term ecological stability.