Ecological Footprint

This Chapter is from the volume: de Sherbiniin, A., A. Rahman, A. Barbieri, J.C. Fotso, and Y. Zhu (eds.). 2009. Urban Population-Environment Dynamics in the Developing World: Case Studies and Lessons Learned. Paris: Committee for International Cooperation in National Research in Demography (CICRED) (316 pages). Available at http://www.populationenvironmentresearch.org/workshops.jsp#W2007

AN ASSESSMENT OF URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH. A CASE STUDY: DELHI, INDIA
Atiqur RAHMAN
Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India

Maik NETZBAND
Centre for Environmental Research, Department Urban Ecology, Environmental Planning and Transport, Leipzig, Germany

Alka SINGH Javed MALLICK
Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India

Abstract
India’s cities are growing rapidly, resulting in a wide variety of environmental stresses. In this paper an integrated approach using satellite data and GIS techniques in conjunction with socio-economic data is used to assess urban environmental issues in Delhi. Delhi’s current population of 13.8 million is growing rapidly, and is projected to reach 22.4 million by 2021. The issues addressed in this paper include: changes in land use/land cover

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(1992-2004); changes in surface temperatures for 2001 and 2005; solid waste generation, collection and its management; and industrial pollution (i.e. air, waste water and noise). The results show that Delhi is developing very rapidly mainly in the west, south-west and eastern sides. The study shows that a 122% increase in highly dense residential area was recorded during last decade in Delhi. There was a reduction (17%) in agricultural land because of urban expansion in the fringe areas. The pollution load has increased in terms of air, water, noise, and solid waste generation

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