Earth Science Malaysia (ESMY)

The process of urbanization has increasingly transformed landscapes, especially in rapidly developing cities like Hyderabad, which has witnessed considerable growth over the past two decades. This study investigates the spatio-temporal changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in Hyderabad city from 2000 to 2020 by utilizing multi-temporal satellite imagery and advanced geospatial techniques. The study aims to understand the extent, pattern, and nature of urban growth and its impact on other land categories such as vegetation, agricultural lands, and water bodies. Satellite data from Landsat missions (2000, 2010, and 2020) were classified using supervised image classification methods to derive LULC maps. A detailed change detection analysis was conducted to quantify the transitions among different land categories. The results reveal a significant expansion of built-up areas, especially along the peripheries and in the direction of the IT corridor and Outer Ring Road (ORR), indicating spatially uneven and corridor-based urban growth. Simultaneously, a sharp decline in vegetation and agricultural lands, along with the encroachment of water bodies, was observed. These findings underline the growing pressure on natural resources, increasing fragmentation of green spaces, and the degradation of ecological functions due to unplanned and rapid urban expansion. The study highlights the effectiveness of Remote Sensing and GIS tools in detecting, visualizing, and analyzing urban changes and advocates for their application in urban planning and management. The paper concludes by recommending sustainable development practices and the integration of geospatial monitoring in urban governance frameworks to ensure environmental sustainability and resilience in Hyderabad’s future urban growth.