STUDY OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER (LULC) DYNAMICS USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) IN VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA

Periodical analysis of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) is important for understanding the transformed landscapes and managing the sustainable environment. Supervised classification on the multi temporal satellite imageries was performed to observe the quantities of LULC changes in Virudhunagar region caused by human activities on the environment for the period from 2006 to 2016. Virudhunagar is notorious for its match works, printing and pyrotechnics industries. Rapid urbanization in Virudhunagar district results the significant changes in LULC. In this study, Virudhunagar region was categorized into five major classes (Urban land, Barren land, Vegetation, Water body, Fallow land) using supervised classification technique. The transition rate of LULC classes due to anthropogenic activities in the region was increased. It is necessary to examine the dynamics of LULC changes in and around Virudhunagar to conserve the sustainable environment