International Journal of Engineering Science Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 – 6734, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 6726 www.ijesi.org Volume 2 Issue 7ǁ July . 2013 ǁ PP.49-53 www.ijesi.org 49 | Page Land Use Change Detection in Baragaon Block, Varanasi District Using Remote Sensing Jitendra Kumar Jaiswal 1 , Dr. Narender Verma 2 1 (Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India) 2 (Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India) ABSTRACT : Land is a precious resource. Over 21% of the world’s population is living on cultivated land constituting only 7% of the total area available on the earth (Wang, Jing et.al, 2012). Accurate and timely information on land use and land use change at a national scale is crucial for long-term economic development planning and for short-term land management (Zhang and Zhang, 2007). Baragaon block, Varanasi district, in recent years, has been witnessing significant land use changes. On the one hand while there is a progressive decline in area under agriculture, built up area has witnessed a prolific growth. Similarly area under wasteland, forests and fallow land too has witnessed a decline. Space technology through Remote Sensing has provided us with viable tool to assess such changes. The present paper highlights the changing trends and pattern of land use in Baragaon Block, Varanasi District using two time frame Satellite data (IRS P-6 LISS III, Standard FCC) of Rabi cropping season. The study is based on standard digital classification techniques and its accuracy assessment. KEYWORDS : Land Use, Change detection, Remote Sensing I. INTRODUCTION Land is a precious resource. Over 21% of the world’s population is living on cultivated land constituting only 7% of the total area available on the earth. The state of a country’s land resources and environment can significantly affect the sustainable development of the economy (Ma and Cui, 1987; Chen and Peter, 2000; Lin, 2002; Ho and Lin, 2004). When the situation of land use has a negative impact on the sustainable development, the government should enact new or adjust the existing regulations and laws to strengthen effective management of land resources. Many researchers have attempted to analyze the effects of land policies qualitatively (Cai, 2003; Ding, 2003; Ho and Lin, 2004; Lin and Ho, 2005; Lichtenberg and Ding, 2008), but few analysis was based on accurate and reliable data(c.f. Wang, Jing et.al, 2012). Accurate and timely information on land use and land use change at a national scale is crucial for long-term economic development planning and for short-term land management( Zhang and Zhang, 2007). A better understanding of land resources and well-timed regulating and controlling of land use are crucial for sustainable development. We must have a clear picture of the current state of various land-use types and of the changes in land use that have occurred in the past. We need to be able to explain such changes and analyze the driving forces of land policies and predict land-use changes in the future (Wang, Jing et.al, 2012). Land use mapping has always been a time consuming and expensive process. Space technology in recent years has emerged as a powerful tool for land use /land cover studies, particularly change detection. Contrary to the traditional methods of field survey in which it took several years for the preparation and final mapping of land use/ land cover of an area, remote sensing technology, due to synoptic view, map like format and repetitive coverage, is a viable source of gathering quality land cover information at local, regional and global scales (Csaplovics, 1998; Foody, 2002). Land use is a matter of continuous growth and change in pattern. For economic development of a region, planners need up-to date information which can only be obtained quickly, economically and accurately through remote sensing techniques (Gautam N. C. and Narayan L.R.A. 1983). II. STUDY AREA: Baragaon Block(fig. 1) is situated in western and north-western part of Varanasi district. The geographical limit of the study area is 25 0 23’ N to 25 0 34’47” and 82 0 39’50” E to 82 0 50’15”E. The total geographical area of the baragaon block is 174.33 km 2 with population 195972(census, 2001) of which 98758 male and 97214 female. The Baragaon Block surrounded by the river Basushi in southern-west and river Varuna in south. It touches the administrative boundary of Jaunpur district in west and north, S.R.N. Bhadohi in south- west, Sewapuri block in south, Harahua in east and Pindra block in north-east.