Urban sprawl impact assessment on the land surface temperature over the green capital of Gujarat using a geospatial approach

In developing countries, examining land use land cover (LULC) change pattern is crucial to understanding the land surface temperature (LST) effect as urban development lacks coherent policy planning. The variability in LST is often determined by continuously changing LULC patterns. In this study, LULC change effect analysis on LST has been carried out using geometric and radiometric corrected thermal bands of multi-spectral Landsat 7 ETM + and 8 TIRS/OLI satellite imagery over Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in the years 2001 and 2022, respectively. Maximum likelihood classification (MLC) was applied to assess LULC change while an NDVI-based single-channel algorithm was used to retrieve LST using Google Earth Engine (GEE). Results showed a substantial change in built-up (+ 347.08%), barren land (- 50.74%), and vegetation (- 31.66%). With the change in LULC and impervious surfaces, the mean LST has increased by 5.47 degree celsius. The impact of sparse built-up was seen on vegetation and agriculture as a maximum temperature of > 47 degree celsius was noticed in all LULC classes except agriculture, where the temperature reached as high as > 49 degree celsius in 2022. Since Gandhinagar is developing a twin-city plan with Ahmedabad, this study could be used as a scientific basis for sustainable urban planning to overcome dynamic LULC change and LST impacts.