MONITORING AND SIMULATING LAND USE/COVER CHANGES USING OPEN SOURCE MOLUSCE FOR LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA

Accurate information on land use/land cover dynamics is needed for the selection and implementation of land use programs to meet the rising demands of basic human requirements and wellbeing. Land use land cover transition analysis is a rigorous approach that helps to understand physical and human involvement in the natural environment as well as sustainable development. Thus, the study aims to predict the land use/land cover of Ludhiana, Punjab state, for the year 2033 using the MOLUSCE plugin. Classified land use/land cover maps for the years 2009, 2015, and 2020 were prepared in the Google Earth Engine platform. The prediction model used these prepared classified maps along with four generated spatial variables maps i.e. slope, elevation, distance from road, and distance from water maps. According to the study, the built-up area might grow by 85.79 sq. km between 2020 and 2033. Forecasted reductions in vegetation, bare soil, and water class cover could total 23,91, 49,02, and 12,87 square kilometers, respectively. The res