Assessment Of The Alteration In Landuse Landcover Dynamics Using Gis Approach In A Remote District In Bangladesh: A Case Study In Kurigram District, Bangladesh

Land use and land cover alterations have profound implications for environmental sustainability and socio-economic development, particularly in regions experiencing rapid urbanization and population growth. This research investigates the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) in Kurigram District, Bangladesh, over a period of three decades from 1994 to 2024. The objective of this research is to assess changes in land use land cover patterns, with a particular emphasis on urbanization, agricultural practices, forest cover, and water bodies, and their implications for environmental management and regional development. Utilizing four sets of Landsat satellite imagery from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024, the research employs a combination of unsupervised classification, NDVI, and MNDWI techniques to map as well as analyze LULC dynamics. Findings indicate significant modifications in LULC dynamics between 1994 to 2024. Water bodies experienced a gradual decline, losing approximately 8,198.66 hectares over the study period, yet maintaining a consistent percentage of total land cover. Forest area fluctuated, peaking in 2014 before declining in 2024, while agricultural land showed notable variations, ranging from 39.69% in 1994 to 68.77% in 2024. NDVI and MNDWI analyses show declining water bodies (10.72% to 7.81% by 2024), fluctuating mixed land cover (30.32% to 26.27%), and dynamic agricultural land changes (39.69% to 68.77%). MNDWI reveals stable water areas (7.50% to 10.57%) and minor land fluctuations (89.43% to 92.50%), indicating terrestrial dominance over time. For accuracy assessment, the study compared a 2024 classified image with 40 ground truth data points, achieving a 90% overall classification accuracy. Utilizing Kappa Coefficient, the study found a substantial agreement (0.8703) between classified and referenced data, affirming 64% to 81% accuracy in the unsupervised classification, ensuring reliable LULC mapping results. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring and addressing LULC changes to ensure environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience, environmental management, urban planning in rapidly developing areas like Kurigram District.