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Change Detection and Encroachment Mapping Along Railway Corridors
A GIS and remote sensing–based study to track land use change, vegetation loss, and unauthorized developments along railway corridors for better planning and management.
This project analyzes land use changes and encroachments along railway corridors using satellite imagery and GIS tools. By comparing multi-year data, NDVI, and NDBI indices, it identifies vegetation loss, built-up growth, and unauthorized developments. The results are visualized through an interactive story map and dashboard for better planning and monitoring.
Building Boundary Density Analysis
India is converting railway corridors into renewable energy zones using removable solar panels placed between train tracks. Led by Sun-Ways, this innovation generates clean power without land acquisition or service disruption, producing over 1 TWh annually—enough to power 200,000 homes—and promoting sustainable railway infrastructure.
COUNT ANALYSIS
An interactive GIS dashboard visualizes feature count and area changes between years. It includes bar charts, donut charts, and thematic maps to show trends in settlements, green cover, and tree density. The tool supports spatial planning, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure assessment near railway stations.
NDVI & NDBI Analysis
Between 2018 and 2023, built-up areas (NDBI) increased notably along transport corridors and urban fringes, while vegetation cover (NDVI) declined, especially in buffer zones. The north–south corridor shows strong development trends, with peripheral zones converting from green to built-up and the central core showing higher density and reduced tree cover. These changes highlight rapid urban growth and the need for better green infrastructure and zoning control.
NDBI 2023 vs NDVI 2018
This comparison shows how vegetated and open areas in 2018 transitioned to built-up zones by 2023.
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48.1% Urban (Red Zone): Nearly half the railway land once green is now built-up, indicating major encroachment and expansion.
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24.9% Vegetated (Green Zone): One-fourth remains green, likely protected or restricted zones.
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27% No Change (Grey Zone): Stable areas that stayed either developed or undeveloped.
The results reveal a sharp loss of vegetation and rapid urbanization within railway boundaries, signaling growing pressure on ecological balance and land management.
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Comparison Analysis
​This analysis compares NDVI (2018) and NDBI (2023) to identify how vegetation has been replaced by built-up areas over time. The results highlight zones of urban expansion and land cover transformation between 2018 and 2023. Integrating NDVI and NDBI offers clear insights into the shift from green cover to urban development, supporting better urban planning and environmental monitoring.
NDVI 2023 vs NDBI 2023
This chart shows the 2023 land-use balance within railway boundaries, highlighting vegetation and built-up distribution.
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48.5% Urban (Red Zone): Nearly half the area is now built-up, showing high encroachment levels.
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29.0% Vegetation (Green Zone): A modest increase in green cover, likely from new plantations or buffers.
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22.5% No Change (Grey Zone): Stable or mixed-use areas with minimal change.
The results reveal urban dominance across railway lands, emphasizing the need for stricter regulation, restoration efforts, and sustainable green infrastructure planning.
LULC Analysis
A Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) analysis compared spatial changes between 2018 and 2023 across 231.38 hectares in Central Delhi. Using GIS, land types such as built-up areas, roads, railways, trees, and barren land were classified and quantified to assess urban growth and environmental shifts. An interactive web dashboard allows users to compare datasets, toggle layers, and analyze category-wise changes in real time, supporting data-driven urban planning and policy evaluation.
Ring and Directionality Analysis
Buffer zones of 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km were created around New Delhi’s master plan boundary and divided into four directions—north, south, east, and west—to study spatial change patterns. The analysis quantified vegetation loss and built-up growth in each sector, revealing directional trends in urban expansion. Results showed distinct sprawl patterns and vegetation shifts across zones, offering clear insights into how urban development is spreading around New Delhi.
Detailed Study Area Information
Railway corridors drive India’s urban growth and connectivity but also face rising ecological stress. The project “Tracks Through Time: Mapping Change Along Railway Corridors” uses GIS and remote sensing to track land use and vegetation changes along major routes. The interactive story map helps planners and authorities monitor encroachments, assess environmental impact, and promote sustainable corridor management.
Kernel Density Analysis
The assessment identifies encroachment risk zones near railway tracks based on built-up density. High-risk areas appear along the southern corridor near Connaught Place, Supreme Court, and Paharganj, showing rapid unauthorized construction. Stable zones like Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazaar exhibit little new development, while low-risk areas near Kashmere Gate show redevelopment and green restoration. The results help pinpoint encroachment hotspots and support targeted monitoring and regulation.