Application of satellite remote sensing in forest change detection and its environmental impacts in district Abbottabad, Pakistan
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Decline of natural resources poses significant impact on society directly or indirectly. Change inthe forest area can affect the climate and economy of a society. This study highlights the effect of forest increaseon surface temperature conditions of Abbottabad. The scope of this study covers the forest change detection ofdistrict Abbottabad (Pakistan) using Landsat 5 TM data over the period of 9 years (2000 and 2009) and itssubsequent impact on land surface temperature. A Python (Programming) based tool was developed to automatethis change detection procedure. Results indicate that almost 1% of the forest area (from 13% to 12% of totalland area) has undergone deforestation in 9 years, however vegetation has increased 36% in 2009, 51.6%decline in the past 2000 vegetation cover which is an indication of substantial deforestation. A significantchange in land surface temperature of Abbottabad was observed by 90fall in maximum and -100fall inminimum temperature, that deciphers cooler conditions. Study concludes that change in climate is not solelydependent on deforestation but also GIS automated assessment of forest change detection is possible in GIS viapython tool. This tool can speed up the process of forest change detection and assessment in Pakistan.
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220569299