Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Jalna City Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) change is a significant indicator of urban growth and environmental transformation. This study analyses the temporal changes in LULC within Jalna City, Maharashtra, India, from 2000 to 2026 using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Five major LULC categories—Water Bodies, Agricultural Land, Built-up Land, Vegetation, and Barren/Open Land—were mapped and analysed using multi-temporal satellite data. Area and percentage statistics, year-wise comparison, and trend analysis were employed to quantify the changes. The results indicate substantial urban transformation, with built-up land increasing from 5.79 km² in 2000 to 29.78 km² in 2026. In contrast, agricultural land decreased from 34.35 km² to 27.17 km², while barren/open land declined from 37.45 km² to 21.54 km². Vegetation also showed an overall reduction, whereas water bodies exhibited inter-annual fluctuations. The findings demonstrate a clear shift towards an increasingly urbanized landscape and highlight the effectiveness of Remote Sensing and GIS for monitoring long-term LULC dynamics. The study provides useful information for sustainable urban planning and landresource management in Jalna City.