Identification of Irregular Settlements using Remote Sensing Technique and Calculating their Carbon Footprint: A Case Study of Islamabad

Abstract

Islamabad is a planned city of Pakistan. Over the years, due to economic growth it has been a hub for immigrants. Since it is a capital of country so most of the people came here for Government jobs. In recent years, the population of the area rises significantly as more than double in last decade. Despite of being a planned city due to high population many irregular settlements, slums and likewise areas were created in urban area of Islamabad including settled and unsettled areas. Government must provide them the basic health facilities and eradicate their poor habitat. But official managers were unable to do so because they were unaware of exact population, area, and size of these types of localities. As a result, the epidemic cases were increasing in the area. For instance, the micro plans that are developed for the easy access and approach of settlers in the areas totally neglect the communities in the irregular settlements and likewise localities because of them being not considered for any resource allocation. Communities in these types of irregular settlements are both unregistered and registered with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as CDA by itself has assigned them an identification code. Most of the localities have no record of their need and issues, health hygiene, sanitation, clean drinking water are other main problem of these types of areas. Government and semi government organizations cannot show any progress as they are not included in any of their plans. This study was aimed at devising a fast and low-cost methodology to identify and delineate these kinds of irregular settlements in the urban sectors of Islamabad by using remote sensing techniques and digital technologies with a view to help them improve their habitat and access to socio-economic and basic health services. The satellite imagery was used to classify the boundary of these irregular settlements, their spread from 2004 to 2019 and through ground truthing the availability of basic facilities in these types of irregular settlements were validated. Moreover, the information about availability of basic amenities like refrigerators, air conditioners, mass communication, types of structures, owned transport and access to public transport were all collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held with communities. Significant increase was noticed in the focused irregular localities during past 02 decades. This increase in the spread clearly shows that as population size was increased and the irregular settlements were expanded. So, using the technology we can gather the information of area and its sprawl to take decisions accordingly. This study can also help to the health sector to provide basic health facilities in the area and any type of vaccination program can be planned and managed effectively. Another assumption regarding irregular settlements is the production of greenhouse gas emission and an increase in the overall carbon footprint of the cities. So, to establish a supplementary comparative study as part of this research was held and overall carbon footprint resulting from greenhouse gas emission both by the irregular settlement and planned sector was calculated. The objective of this supplementary study is to sensitize the urban planners, environmental engineers, and city administrators to take their decisions based on appropriate factors and their subsequent analysis and the findings of this study will help the planners to concentrate their efforts on appropriate unit by devising customized environmental improvement strategies but in a holistic context.