Evaluation of Urban Sprawl and Land Use/Cover Variation Patterns through Remote Sensing Data: A Case Study in Kabul City, Afghanistan

The objective of this study is to utilize geospatial technology and remote sensing data to assess the changes in land use and land cover, as well as urban sprawl, in Kabul city, which serves as the capital of Afghanistan, during the period spanning from 1993 to 2021. Urban sprawl has given rise to unsustainable patterns of urban growth when viewed from social, environmental, and economic perspectives. Hence, it is crucial to observe and regulate the city’s expansion to uphold sustainable planning and development. In this research, Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 for the years 1993, 2008, and 2021, as well as the integration of Shannon’s entropy model with GIS, were used to estimate changes in land cover and land use, as well as spatial dispersion and urban compactness. The results show that the built-up area increased dramatically from 137.7 km2 to 212.0 km2, which demonstrates 74.4 km2 of expansion, while the vegetation cover decreased significantly from 208.5 km2 to 173.7 km2, which shows a 34.8 km decline from 1993 to 2008. While between 2008 and 2021, the built-up area increased drastically from 212.0 km2 to 364.8 km2, which demonstrates 152.8 km2 of expansion, the vegetation cover decreased significantly from 173.7 km2 to 126.6 km2, which shows a 47.1 km2 decline. Furthermore, between 1993 and 2021, the built-up area expanded from 137.7 km2 to 364.8 km2, indicating a 227.2 km2 expansion, whereas the vegetation cover reduced significantly from 208.5 km2 to 126.6 km2, showing a −81.9 km2 reduction. Furthermore, the total values of relative Shannon’s entropy for the years 1993, 2008, and 2021 are 0.68, 0.71, and 0.70, respectively, which are closer to the upper limit of 1 and hence indicate the spatial dispersion within the study area during the study period. The findings of this research will serve as valuable tools for urban policymakers. They will aid in comprehending the spatial patterns of urban sprawl in Kabul city and in formulating appropriate strategies and policies. These measures aim to curtail the wasteful utilization of nonrenewable resources, maintain environmental equilibrium, address social inequalities, and promote comprehensive and sustainable development.