Urbanization and Monument Deterioration in Andhra Pradesh: A GIS-Based Physical Condition Assessment of Heritage Sites in Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam

Ranjith Kumar Varre

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.70962

Urbanization and Monument Deterioration in Andhra Pradesh: A GIS-Based Physical Condition Assessment of Heritage Sites in Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam

Author(s)	Dr. Ranjith Kumar Varre
Country	India
Abstract	High rate of urbanization in the major metropolis of Andhra Pradesh is a serious and growing challenge to the physical integrity of the monumental and heritage sites of historical significance. This paper employs a physical site condition evaluation of ten of them allotted through three urban centers, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam, using multi-source spatial data in the form of Sentinel-2 satellite images, ISRO Bhuvan LULC data, Digital Elevation Models, and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) boundary maps. A composite Condition Classification Index (CCI) was constructed that included the structural integrity scoring, surface erosion indices, vegetation encroachment measures, and proximity to urban areas measures. The evaluation has found that 40 percent of the evaluated places are either in the Poor or Critical CCI groups, with Boojannakonda Caves ( Visakhapatnam ) and Kondapalli Fort ( Vijayawada ) showing the worst levels of degradation. Available data on urban growth shows that Tirupati experienced a 113.6% population increase in the period 2001-2021, which places severe development challenges on areas adjacent to the areas of protection. The analysis points to construction vibration, car pollution, over-tourism, and seepage of groundwater as the major causes of deterioration. The GIS spatial analysis establishes that the relationship between the urban proximity and the CCI scores is found to be strongly negative (r = -0.74). Evidence-based policy guidelines on the use of integrated heritage buffer zones and digital surveillance systems are the final findings of the paper.
Keywords	Heritage conservation, GIS-based assessment, urbanization, Andhra Pradesh, condition of monuments, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Condition Classification Index, Archaeological Survey of India.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-01-08
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.70962

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Urbanization and Monument Deterioration in Andhra Pradesh: A GIS-Based Physical Condition Assessment of Heritage Sites in Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam

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