Gungiajuri Haor: Two Decades of LULC Shifts Mapped by RS-GIS

Project Overview

Duration

July 2023 – June 2024

Institution

Habiganj Agricultural University

Study Area

Gungiajuri Haor, Habiganj

Supervisor

Iftekhar Ahmed Fagun

Status

Manuscript submitted

Background

Gungiajuri Haor, the largest wetland complex in Habiganj, is rapidly shifting from seasonally flooded rice fields and open water to a patchwork of intensified agriculture and shrinking natural vegetation. Because most research has centred on Bangladesh’s flagship wetlands (e.g., Tanguar Haor), long-term land-cover trends in Gungiajuri remain undocumented. 

Using two decades of satellite data and on-site checks, this study fills that gap and provides an evidence base for balancing food security with wetland conservation.

***Detailed results will be shared upon publication.

Objectives

  • Map cropland, vegetation, and water-body extents for 2000 → 2024 

  • Quantify class-to-class conversions to reveal dominant change pathways

Methodology

  • Imagery: Landsat 7 & Landsat 8

  • Field checks: DJI Mavic Air 2

  • Processing: Google Earth Engine 

  • Classification: Supervised model

  • Tools: GEE, QGIS,  Excel

Significance

  • First detailed LULC timeline for Gungiajuri Haor, expanding focus beyond well-studied wetlands

  • Replicable workflow that marries free satellite archives with cloud computing and low-cost drones

  • Policy leverage for Ramsar-aligned restoration and climate-adaptive land-use plannin

Visuals of the Research Site

Research Project 2.1
Rajibul Research Project 2.2
Rajibul Research Project 2.3
Rajibul Research Project 2.4

Disclaimer

This work represents a research project that is still ongoing. The information presented here is shared solely for academic visibility and discussion; it should not be applied until peer-reviewed publication is complete.