Identification of vulnerable areas using geospatial technologies in the lower Manair River basin of Telangana, Southern India

The present study is undertaken at the lower Manair River basin, the central part of Telangana in southern India, as the Government authorities has done rapid developmental activities over the last seven years demanded identifying change detection in environmental indicators. Geospatial tools, viz., remote sensing and geographic information system, are used to classify and identify land-use/land cover (LULC) changes during 2015-2021 based on the images collected from Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS multispectral and multi-temporal satellite data set. Change detection of environmental indicators such as LULC changes, land surface temperature (LST), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) are crucial parameters that play a vital role in identifying vulnerable areas, which helps in planning and utilizing natural resources. The results revealed that the agricultural cropland filled in the top class with an area of 1124.70 km2 (33.82%) in 2015, amplified to 1442.95 km2 (43.39%) in 2021. The built-up area has marginally raised by 581.45 km2 (17.49%) in the study region. A negative correlation is observed between LST and NDVI. LULC patterns are changing, and its imprint echoed on a surge of LST. It establishes a foundation for evidence-based policymaking and sustainable growth, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in preserving the delicate balance between development and environmental conservation.