Forest Fire Burnt Area Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Global Forest Watch reports 17 ha of tree cover loss in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand due to forest fires between 2020 and 2024, causing significant loss of life, property, and ecosystems. Understanding wildfire dynamics is crucial for managing their impacts on natural ecosystems and infrastructure. Geospatial technologies like remote sensing and GIS enable detailed study of wildfires, aiding emergency responders in resource allocation and future planning. This research study utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to implement the methodology, followed by result analysis using ArcGIS software. Satellite images from 2020 to 2024 were examined using NDVI, NBR, and LST indices for pre-, post-, and during-fire scenarios. A standardized technique was established for processing both raster and vector data. The study found similar correlation results for FIRMS fire polygons and burnt areas.