Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Rapid urbanization in coastal and metropolitan regions of South Asia has emerged as a critical challenge for sustainable land-use planning and environmental management. This study examines the urban expansion patterns of Kochi and Ernakulam districts in Kerala, India, over a period spanning from 2000 to 2026, employing Geographical Information Technology (GIT) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques integrated with the Landscape Expansion Index (LEI). Multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery obtained from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) archive serves as the primary data source for land use and land cover (LULC) change detection. The LEI framework categorizes urban growth into three distinct modes: infill, edge expansion, and outlying growth, enabling a nuanced understanding of the spatial dynamics driving urban morphology in the study region. Results reveal that edge expansion constitutes the dominant mode of urban growth throughout the study period, with significant transformation of agricultural, wetland, and vegetated landscapes into built-up areas. The study period (2000–2026) captures both historical patterns and near-future projected trajectories, providing a comprehensive temporal baseline for urban planning authorities. Findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development, coastal vulnerability, and land resource management in rapidly urbanizing Indian cities. The methodology and outcomes offer replicable frameworks applicable to similar urban agglomerations across South and Southeast Asia.</p>