Monitoring the Urban Green Spaces and its Influence on the Thermal Characteristics Using Remote Sensing: A Case Study of NCT- Delhi

Urban Green Spaces (UGS) is an essential ecosystem variable that regulates the urban environment sustainability and keeps the environment in check. The growth and distribution of UGSs are directly impacted by urban expansion. Monitoring the spatio-temporal changes in UGSs is crucial for identifying the direction of urban development since the increase in impervious land is closely related to the spatial change in green cover. This study examined the UGSs of NCT-Delhi using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data products, i.e. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST). These environmental parameters quantify the variability in vegetation cover and the thermal characteristics of the region. The study's findings show that the surface temperature of NCT-Delhi has risen over the past 20 years, with the core city, the North East, and the East district experiencing the highest temperatures. Due to healthy vegetation cover, the spatiotemporal NDVI analysis revealed that the New Delhi and Central Delhi region has a high NDVI. The outer regions of the North and North West districts, along with the Yamuna floodplain region, exhibited high NDVI values due to the presence of agricultural land. According to the UGSs investigation, from 2002 to 2022, the vegetation cover over UGSs will become denser. In 20 years, urbanization has caused an increase in surface temperature in UGSs. The study’s findings indicate a noticeable increase in the amount of greenery in UGSs of NCT-Delhi, which are the results of various programmes and initiatives carried out by the Ministry of Environment, the Delhi Development Authority, and the Forest Department NCT of Delhi. This work can be used as a tool for integrated spatial planning to address urban sustainability challenges.