Abstract
This study focuses on the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) within the agro-urban territory (AUT) of the Tselinograd district, which forms part of the Astana metropolitan area. Changes in LULC within the agro-urban zone were analyzed over a 15-year period (2008, 2018, and 2023) using supervised classification methods and based on geodetic data. Significant changes in the structure of land use and land cover were observed during the study period. The areas of built-up land within the city boundaries have expanded significantly. In the agro-urban zone, a steady increase in arable land and forested areas was noted, while pasture lands have been declining. This indicates an intensification of land use driven by the increasing proportion of arable land in the studied area. The use of geodetic data and geoinformation methods allowed for precise monitoring of land parcel boundaries and locations, contributing to an accurate assessment of land use changes in the area. The main driving forces behind the LULC changes in the agro-urban zone are the territorial expansion of Astana and population growth. Overall, the impact of Kazakhstan's capital on the agro-urban territory is occurring under conditions of relatively sustainable development due to a number of economic and legislative measures. The application of geoinformation methods and remote sensing data is an effective tool for promptly identifying phenomena and processes that may lead to unsustainable development.