GIS Based Land Use Change Analysis of a Coastal Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Satkhira is a coastal district of Bangladesh where lives of millions of people are transforming due to natural hazards and anthropogenic stimuluses, specifically water bodies are facing the bulk of the transformation owing to salinity. The study area of this research includes part of Satkhira Sadar and the work is done based on Betna river influenced zone. Sundarban and the Bay of Bengal are close to this river and its highly influenced by saline water. The natural pristine environment of the area went through major changes during the last few decades, especially after the 1980’s because of human interventions as well as natural causes. This research was an attempt to find out the transformations that took place in the area with remotely sensed imagery of 2018 and toposheet map of 1982, the underlying reasons of change and their consequences. The collected data were analyzed with Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) software’s for better interpretation and an in-depth understanding. Features which came into consideration frequently are river, shrimp farms, settlement, agriculture, embankment, salinity intrusion, increasing population, frequent hazard and riparian vegetation. The outcome of the work tells that the change in land use occurred mainly because of shrimp farming and salinity intrusion while Betna river took the major blow. Although economically beneficial, shrimp culture created a saline environment and modification of water bodies resulted in frequent waterlogging and escalated salinity in the area previously known as freshwater zone. While Bangladesh is scare in land resource, the coastal area such as the study site of this research is even more stressed owing to climate change and recurring natural hazards. Propositions are made at the end of the work to use the presented data and information mentioned in this study by corresponding authorities.