Background Study data for Edible Urbanism: restructuring urban green voids.

These Urban voids have been termed as recreation spaces in the land use plans of Noida but have been rendered barren as no specific purpose has been assigned to them. The study explores the dynamic relationship between society and the agrarian landscape, i.e How the society influences the agrarian regime, concurrently, the agrarian landscape shapes the society. Secondly, analyse the production of ecosystem services, patterns in land-use change, and variation in climate and environment.

Ultimately, explore the possibilities of a novel model for the fragmented voids.The data in the following data sets were retrieved through Landsat images, Gis and primary survey. Land Use land coverIn statistical terms, the percentage of Built-Up in Noida area was 29.52% during 2010 which was increased to 55.03% in 2016. It is also showing some positive land use analysis in which the wastelands are getting reduced and are getting replaced by vegetative areas which is showing an increasing trend over the years. With the increase in urbanization, the urban vegetation is also increasing with a decrease in the Open Land.

It can also be seen through the graph that the built up has increased rapidly during 2016. The built-up area was found to be 63.17 sqkm during the year 2010 which further expanded to 90 sqkm in 2016. Simultaneously, the cultivated lands were found to be 94.76 sqkm in 2010 which had shrunk to 52.29 sqkm in 2016.

There is a minor change in the area of the water body also with the area declining from 3.64 sqkm in 2010 to 2.06 sqkm in 2016.Impervious surfacesThe fast growth in population and expansion of urban built areas has led to the transformation of the natural landscape into impervious surfaces. Remote sensing-based estimate of impervious surface area (ISA) has emerged as an important indicator for the assessment of water resources depletion in urban areas and developed a correlation between land-use change and their potential impact on urban hydrology. The results observed by analysis of multi-temporal satellite images show an extreme temporal change in the growth of ISA in the city. The ISA observed for the year 2001 is 28 sq. km; in 2007, its increase was 48 sq. km and was 132 in 2014Agriculture coverStatistics show that the percentage of agricultural land has been drastically reduced, displacing farmers to the banks of Yamuna and Hindon. Such change in the land-use use pattern has also forced the population to change their occupation to adapt to the developing cityscape.

The dense weave in the urban fabric has also forced green spaces inter-woven to shrink considerably. As we look into the master planning of Noida we understand how green areas and agricultural areas are being drastically reduced in order to bring in new development. The new master plan of 2031 showcases that only a fragment of floodplains is left as green areas. In reality, even these flood plains are encroached by sand mafias and temporary furniture markets.

The green spaces have also fragmented and hence the biodiversity is reducing in Noida. All the canals are disconnected and have been converted into dumping areas. For example, the Shadra canal is disconnected from its green areas and has become a nuisance to the neighbourhood.Green cover The dense weave in the urban fabric has also forced green spaces inter-woven to shrink considerably. As we look into the master planning of Noida we understand how green areas and agricultural areas are being drastically reduced in order to bring in new development. The green spaces have also fragmented throughout the decade and hence the biodiversity is reducing in Noida.

The method of setting up manicured green spaces doesn’t promote a sustainable ecosystem. All the interwoven green areas (recreation land use) when seen in the primary survey it was observed that all them have been encroached by various buildings, some are also left barren and abandoned. Some green areas have been converted into parks but these parks soon got barren as one single activity in such large green areas was not able to cater to it. Hydrological coverThere has been a stark reduction in the waterbodies of Noida.

The maps show the disconnection and loss of water bodies in Noida in the past 2 decades.NORMALIZED DIFFERENCE VEGETATION INDEX According to the results achieved through this exercise, it can be seen that the overall vegetation of Noida has reduced distinctively. In terms of area under vegetation. From 430.53 Ha in 2000, forest reduced to 337.41 Ha.

In 2016. While grassland reduced from 10211.8 Ha. to 8377.56 Ha. From the above images, it can be seen that the city doesn't have a definite pattern of growth overall but have spread across in every direction.

It can be seen that though the change in the forest remains negligible in terms of percentage (though, a reduction of 430.53 Ha. to 337.4 Ha), the grassland has reduced by dramatically by 10%. In 2000, the area which came under grassland was 10211.8 Ha and in 2016, it reduced to 8377.56 Ha. BUILT DENSITY According to the map above it can be seen that density is increasing in the new coming development areas along the expressway, putting more pressure on resources and creating a higher urban heat island effect.

Along the expressway, agricultural lands are being sold to developers and more high rise high-density housing are coming.