This book presents a comprehensive framework for urban ecological-sensitivity mapping and prediction by integrating advanced GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, machine learning, and scenario-based modelling techniques. Urbanization is transforming landscapes at an unprecedented pace, creating significant challenges for ecological sustainability, environmental quality, and urban resilience. Understanding how urban growth influences ecological systems has become essential for developing effective planning and management strategies in rapidly expanding metropolitan regions. It systematically examines the interactions between urban expansion, landscape dynamics, ecological security, ecological vulnerability, ecosystem services, and environmental quality within a unified analytical framework.

A distinctive feature of the book is its application of state-of-the-art modeling approaches, including ANN-CA-Markov and TerrSet Land Change Modeler (LCM) for urban growth and land-use change prediction; Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) for analyzing spatial heterogeneity in urban ecological processes; DEMATEL-ANP for ecological security assessment and decision-making; and the Scenario-Based Ecological Land Management and Prioritization Model (SELM-PM) for evaluating future development pathways and ecological conservation strategies. The integration of these approaches provides a robust decision-support system for identifying ecological risks, assessing environmental change, and designing sustainable urban futures.

Combining theoretical foundations with practical applications, this book addresses critical gaps in assessing urban ecological health and sustainability, particularly in densely populated developing-country cities. Its insights support evidence-based decision-making, spatial planning, climate resilience, and ecosystem conservation strategies, bridging the divide between research and practice. The book is designed for urban planners, environmental managers, geospatial analysts, policymakers, and researchers interested in sustainable urban development, ecological risk assessment, and the application of advanced GIS and modelling techniques to metropolitan-scale environmental challenges.

Dr. Subrata Ghosh is a geographer and environmental researcher specializing in urban ecology, landscape planning, environmental management, geospatial analytics, and sustainable urban development. He completed his master's degree in Geography and Environmental Management from Vidyasagar University in 2015 and obtained his Ph.D. from the same university in 2023 under the Faculty of Science. Dr. Ghosh has successfully qualified the UGC-NET examination four times and was awarded the prestigious Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) on two occasions. He is also the recipient of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2024-2026). His research contributions encompass a broad range of interdisciplinary themes, including urban ecology, ecosystem management, landscape dynamics, environmental sustainability, urban climate studies, and spatial planning. He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles, including publications in SCI-indexed journals with high-impact factors. Dr. Ghosh has actively participated in numerous national and international conferences and seminars.

Prof. Nilanjana Das Chatterjee is a professor and the former head of the Department of Geography at Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India, where she has served for 18 years. Prior to joining Vidyasagar University, she was a faculty member at Haldia Government College under WBHES for four years. Her research expertise encompasses urban ecology, land-use planning, environmental and bio-geography, forest landscape ecology, ecosystem services, human-elephant conflict, folk and indigenous cultures, women-related issues, and sustainability studies. She emphasizes the application of geospatial analysis, GIS-based modeling, and remote sensing to assess ecological, urban, and social-environmental phenomena. Prof. Chatterjee has led and completed several major research projects funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)She has published more than 125 research articles in high-impact international journals and contributed to numerous collaborative research publications from Springer, Routledge, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis. She has authored and edited over 8 books.