Spatial analysis of urban green space and its utilization rate for the flood-prone region Assam, India

Increasing urbanization and unplanned growth reduce urban resilience to natural hazards such as floods. Utilization of urban green space (UGS) as a nature-based solution (NBS) can be effective for sustainable urban development and increasing urban flood resilience. The existing body of research on flood resilience in the flood-prone region of Assam needs to look into the crucial role that UGS can play in mitigating the impact of floods. Despite the rising frequency and severity of floods in the region, there is a notable opportunity for increased recognition of UGS in enhancing resilience and paving the way for more effective flood management and community resilience. The present study aims to assess the distribution patterns of UGS and its utilization rate across urban areas of Assam by combining the Point of Interest (PoI) with the land use land cover (LULC) of the region. The spatial pattern of UGS is determined using geostatistical tools like Global Moran's I, Getis Ord General G, and hotspot analysis. About 35.71% of the total UGS is present in Lower Assam, and a mismatch exists between the spatial distribution of UGS present and the UGS utilized. The distributions of UGS utilized are 45.73% (Lower Assam), 28.22% (Upper Assam), 9.75% (Northern Assam), 11.50% (Central Assam), and 4.78% (Barak Valley). The spatial variation of intra-UGS (IUGS) and peri-UGS (PUGS) utilization rate difference indicate a difference of more than 80% in the actual utilization rate of IUGS and PUGS in Bongaigaon (87.27%), Sivasagar (84.07%), Karbi Anglong (83.96%) and Chirang (81.42%) districts of Assam. The study contributes valuable insights into integrating green infrastructure within urban planning frameworks, offering a direction for sustainable development in flood-prone regions. Urban planners and policymakers can use this spatial distribution of UGS to enhance urban resilience and sustainability.