Green Space impact on Urban Built-Up Expansion in Ahmadabad city, India: a case study for Sustainable Urban Planning

Urban green spaces play a vital role in improving air quality, reducing urban heat island effects, and supporting ecological balance. Ahmadabad, India, has undergone rapid urbanization in recent years, which has necessitated the assessment of its green spaces and urban development patterns. This study aims to analyze the spatial changes in green spaces in Ahmadabad over the last decade, assessing the impacts of urban development on environmental sustainability. The analysis used Landsat 8 and IRS LISS-IV satellite imagery for 2014 and 2023 to extract land use and land cover data. A change detection approach was applied in ArcGIS and Google Earth Engine to quantify the variations in green and built-up areas. The methodology involved the calculation of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) for vegetation assessment and integrating spatial analysis techniques to map urban sprawl. The results showed a significant decrease of 29.19% in green spaces, corresponding to a loss of 60.52 km², while built-up areas increased by 12.47% (7.9 km²). This increase in urban areas was identified as the main reason for the decline in green spaces driven by residential, commercial, and industrial development. These findings highlight the critical need for sustainable urban planning strategies to reduce environmental degradation. Protecting existing green spaces, enhancing urban green infrastructure, and adopting balanced land use policies are essential to prevent further loss. Furthermore, integrating community participation and advanced GIS-based monitoring can significantly assist urban sustainability efforts. The rapid urbanization of Ahmadabad poses significant challenges to its ecological health and the quality of life of its residents. Regular monitoring and strict urban planning measures can help maintain green spaces. Future studies should focus on the socio-economic impacts of innovative urban design and green space restoration to create resilient and sustainable cities.