Landuse Landcover Modeling for Urban Area of Bengaluru Region

Landuse and landcover change is a key driver in modeling urbanization. It is essential for sustainable urban planning. The study focuses on modeling landuse landcover for the Bengaluru urban area using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool and Geographic Information System. The landuse maps for 2001 to 2019 are used in modeling. The soil and water assessment model is calibrated and validated using observed streamflow data, and the model performance are evaluated using statistical indices. Linear, Nonlinear, Logarithmic and Exponential models were selected and analyzed. Among them, Exponential model was selected, due to high statistical value. The result shows that urbanization has a significant impact on the changes in the study area, with decrease in forest and agricultural land and an increase in urban and built-up area. The model also predicts future scenarios for 2030, which indicates further urban expansion and decline in green spaces. The linear model shows higher R² value more than 0.94, during post monsoon. The model proved to be an effective tool for prediction and can be used to evaluate the potential impacts of different land use policies and urban planning strategies.