Leveraging machine learning for analyzing the nexus between land use and land cover change, land surface temperature and biophysical indices in an eco-sensitive region of Brahmani-Dwarka interfluve
Bhaskar Mandal
Abstract
This present study aims to evaluate land use and land cover changes using five machine-learning algorithms in Google Earth Engine. The performance of these machine learning algorithms was evaluated using user accuracy, producer accuracy, overall accuracy, and kappa coefficient. Additionally, it seeks to understand the evolving pattern of land surface temperature and its correlation with biophysical characteristics in the Brahmani-Dwarka interfluve region from 1991 to 2021. The results demonstrate that RF algorithms outperform other algorithms in terms of performance, with RF algorithms averaging an 86 % overall accuracy and a Kappa coefficient of 0.82, while GTB comes in second with an 85 % overall accuracy and a Kappa value of 0.81. SVM performed moderately, while CART and MD algorithms struggled to perform in this study. The analysis of land transformation from 1991 to 2021 indicates that the stone crushing industry, built-up, and waterbodies have shown an upward trend, while vegetation and fallow land have decreased in their geographical extent. The results of the LST analysis indicated the study area had an LST rise of 8.72 °C over the last 30 years, or 0.29 °C per year, with the stone crushing and mining activities exhibiting the highest increase of 11.67 °C. Further, correlation analysis reveals LST has a highly significant positive correlation with NDBI and NDBaI and a very significant negative correlation with NDVI, MNDWI, and NDLI throughout the study period. The findings emphasize the importance of long-term planning and environmentally friendly development, ensuring responsible stone crushing activities, sustainable techniques, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable utilization of natural resources. • RF algorithms classified LULC most accurately, with a mean overall accuracy of 86 % and kappa of 0.82. • Land transformation matrix indicated an increase in stone crushing, built-up, and waterbodies. • LST analysis showed an increase of 8.72 °C in LST over 30 years, or 0.29 °C yearly. • Stone crushing and mining had the most considerable LST rise of 11.67 °C among LULC classes. • LST correlated positively with NDBI and NDBaI and negatively with NDVI, MNDWI, and NDLI.