Proximity-based assessment of land requirements for urban expansion in Lucknow, India

Urban sprawl, a widespread phenomenon in cities, poses multifaceted challenges to sustainability. To cultivate a scenario conducive to sustainable development, the imperative lies in its regulation. This study focuses on the evaluation of limited urban land resources, investigating the disparities between required and existing land areas in Lucknow. The analysis involves the utilization of Landsat datasets (1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021) to perform current Land-use land-cover classification and the processing of the Global Human Settlement Layer population dataset to calculate the requisite land area. The downloaded remote sensory datasets are converted into LULC maps which are further divided into eight concentric rings about the CBD of the city and same LULC map was used to demarcate the three offsets focusing on the primary road network. The existing land area and required land area is computed in each ring and offset. A comparative examination of these areas reveals substantial disparities between the necessary and current land extents (from 29.4% to 41.68%), underscoring the pressing need for regulatory interventions. This research article delves into the intricate dynamics of urban expansion, land use, and their implications on sustainable urban development.