Addressing sustainable agenda challenge through analysis of LST, GHG emissions and visualisation of urban growth in Megacities of India

Humans have altered land surface over the past century, significant enough to argue its effect on a wide spectrum of ecological processes. A detail investigation of past and present scenario of land use change pattern helps identify and manage effects on biodiversity, climate change, human health and many other bio-physical characteristics. These effects are mostly linked to larger urban places with contiguous built-up area, extending beyond administrative and jurisdiction limits. Cities and towns have been experiencing substantial growth in urban area, population size, social aspects, negative environmental influence, and complexity. Researchers have proposed various methods to combat these critical challenges keeping sustainability as top priority and providing research outcome based on sustainable development goals. This research effort considers two major Megacities of India Bengaluru and Chennai (urban agglomerations), principally aiming at defining urban growth, its past footprint and present scenario in terms of land use change. Further, to assess habitable condition in these cities, land surface temperature (LST) analysis was performed to assess the relationship and variability in city and its environs. Greenhouse gas emissions were quantified for both cities to understand its impact on environs, thereby addressing the goals of sustainable development through sustainable habitat. Quantification shows that Bengaluru has experienced a LST upsurge to 41.64˚C, Chennai shows a LST rise to 36.38˚C in two decades. GHG emissions were quantified based on various sectors of emissions including domestic, industrial etc. The outcome suggested that due to design changes in the urban development and non-native architecture used in the building has led to higher emissions in domestic sector. The last part of study addresses urban growth modelling called SLEUTH. Model accounted urban growth increase in Bengaluru to 1340 km2 (2026) and Chennai to 2375 km2 (2026). These results would aid in managing urban stress and irreversible damages caused to the environment through structural and non-structural measures, can significantly help in sustainable management of natural resources through development of an observatory.