Impact of Urbanization on Land Use and Land Cover: A Geospatial investigation of Taluka Khairpur (2000-2020)

Urbanization is a major driver of land use and land cover (LULC) changes, profoundly affecting agricultural lands and promoting urban expansion. Recent studies indicate that urban development often occurs on the most fertile and productive lands, contributing significantly to the reduction of arable land in the outskirts of cities. This research study analyzes the LULC changes in Taluka Khairpur using GIS and remote sensing techniques. It provides a detailed 20-year (2000-2020) analysis that has not been previously addressed. Satellite images for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). ArcGIS was utilized for supervised classification and LULC calculation, including categories like built-up areas, agricultural land, barren land, desert, and waterbodies. The study revealed significant changes in LULC over 20 years. The built-up area in Taluka Khairpur increased by 131.59 km² (221%), during the study period which resulted in transformations in other LULC categories. Such as, agricultural land decreased by 34.40 km² (47.25%), barren land by 80.89 km² (34.74%), desert area decreased by 6.74 km² (2.56%), and waterbodies by 9.57 km² (3.64%). This study highlights the significant urban expansion and reduction in agricultural and natural land cover in Taluka Khairpur, underscoring the need for sustainable urban planning and environmental conservation