Geospatial Analysis Of Tree-Based And Shrub-Dominated Land Cover In Ayodhya District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Woody vegetation systems – encompassing tree-based and shrub-dominated land cover -serve as critical sources of timber, fuelwood, and food security in developing economies like India. These ecosystems enhance environmental resilience and strengthen community livelihoods, necessitating precise spatial analysis. This study applied Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) to Google Earth imagery to map woody vegetation across Ayodhya District, Uttar Pradesh. A systematic stratified random sampling design guided field survey point selection, object classification, and thematic map validation using ground-truth data. Vegetation features were classified as patches, linear arrangements, or isolated trees; notably, forested areas exhibited exclusively patch-based distributions. The standardized delineation methodology involved: (1) initial pixel segmentation into image objects, followed by (2) application of spatial-property rules for crown/cluster detection – establishing the object-based framework. The resultant spatial inventory provides vital baseline data for sustainable management of woody vegetation resources.