Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
serie Formatio Circumiectus – Environmental Processes
RESEARCH PAPER
Comprehensive analysis and quantitative assessment of land use/land cover dynamics in Wakiso and Kampala, Uganda: a multi-decadal remote sensing study.
1
School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Ningliu Road, 210044, Nanjing, China
2
Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science, School of Geosciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Fiapre, 214, Sunyani, Ghana
3
Directorate of Weather Forecasting, Uganda National Meteorological Authority, Plot 22–28 Port Bell Road, Kampala, Uganda
4
School of Remote Sensing and Geomatics Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology,
Ningliu Road, 210044 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
5
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng city, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-08-27
Final revision date: 2024-09-30
Acceptance date: 2024-11-04
Publication date: 2025-01-28
Corresponding author
Abraham Okrah
School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
Acta Sci. Pol. Formatio Circumiectus 2024;23(4):77-98
HIGHLIGHTS
- 1. The 163% rise in built-up areas highlights the need for better urban planning
- 2. The 112.4% rise in agricultural land signals a need for better farming practices
- 3. The 29.2% increase in forest cover indicates potential for reforestation
- 4. The study underscores the need for ongoing monitoring to track urbanization
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study:
This study analyses LULC changes in Wakiso and Kampala districts from 1995 to 2024. Objectives include mapping LULC types, assessing changes, evaluating transitions among categories (agriculture, water, built- -up areas, forests), and examining trends and drivers. It provides insights into the impacts of urbanization and agricultural expansion, offering practical implications for sustainable land management.
Material and methods:
Landsat images from 1995, 2010, and 2024 were used, sourced from NASA’s Earth Explorer. January images minimized seasonal variation, and data were reprojected to UTM Zone 36N with WGS84. Pre-processing included corrections and haze reduction in ArcMap 10.4. Supervised classification used a False Colour Composite of blue, green, and red bands, with 2,500–3,000 pixels per LULC category sampled. Accuracy was assessed with Kappa statistics and overall accuracy, and NDVI and NDBI were calculated for vegetation and urban growth analysis.
Results and conclusions:
The analysis showed significant land use changes: built-up areas increased by 163%, reducing vegetation cover by 30.7%. Agricultural land grew by 112.4%, while forest cover rose by 29.2%. NDVI trends revealed a vegetation density increase until 2010, then a slight decline by 2024 due to urban sprawl. NDBI showed substantial urban growth, stabilizing between 2010 and 2024. The study highlights the impact of urbanization and agricultural expansion in Wakiso and Kampala, emphasizing the need for sustainable land management to balance development and conservation.
This study analyses LULC changes in Wakiso and Kampala districts from 1995 to 2024. Objectives include mapping LULC types, assessing changes, evaluating transitions among categories (agriculture, water, built- -up areas, forests), and examining trends and drivers. It provides insights into the impacts of urbanization and agricultural expansion, offering practical implications for sustainable land management.
Material and methods:
Landsat images from 1995, 2010, and 2024 were used, sourced from NASA’s Earth Explorer. January images minimized seasonal variation, and data were reprojected to UTM Zone 36N with WGS84. Pre-processing included corrections and haze reduction in ArcMap 10.4. Supervised classification used a False Colour Composite of blue, green, and red bands, with 2,500–3,000 pixels per LULC category sampled. Accuracy was assessed with Kappa statistics and overall accuracy, and NDVI and NDBI were calculated for vegetation and urban growth analysis.
Results and conclusions:
The analysis showed significant land use changes: built-up areas increased by 163%, reducing vegetation cover by 30.7%. Agricultural land grew by 112.4%, while forest cover rose by 29.2%. NDVI trends revealed a vegetation density increase until 2010, then a slight decline by 2024 due to urban sprawl. NDBI showed substantial urban growth, stabilizing between 2010 and 2024. The study highlights the impact of urbanization and agricultural expansion in Wakiso and Kampala, emphasizing the need for sustainable land management to balance development and conservation.
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| ISSN: | 1644-0765 |
