GIS-Based Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Bulacan Province, Philippines (2020–2025)

In the field of civil engineering, understanding land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics is essential for effective planning and sustainable development. This study assessed the LULC changes in Bulacan Province, Philippines, from 2020 to 2025 using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The research aimed to identify major LULC categories, quantify changes in area and percentage, and analyze trends associated with urban development. Secondary spatial datasets obtained from the Philippine Geoportal were utilized and processed through GIS-based change detection analysis, including data standardization, spatial mapping, and comparative evaluation. The results showed that annual crops remained the dominant land cover despite a slight decrease, indicating the continued importance of agriculture in the province. Built-up areas exhibited a notable increase, reflecting ongoing urban expansion, while grassland showed the most significant decline. Closed forest demonstrated a slight increase, although this may be influenced by classification variability. Other land cover types remained relatively stable during the study period. Overall, the findings indicate gradual shifts in land use patterns driven by urbanization and development pressures, providing baseline information for land use planning and environmental management.