Avaliação da expansão da malha urbana de três lagoas utilizando NDBI e NDVI com dados Landsat no Google Earth Engine

Abstract

Unregulated urban expansion has been associated with significant environmental impacts, particularly in municipalities experiencing rapid growth, such as Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul. This study analyzed the relationship between urban growth and vegetation cover over the past three decades, aiming to address gaps in understanding the environmental effects of industrialization in the region. The hypothesis proposed that expanding built-up areas is directly related to reducing vegetated areas. The methodological procedures adopted in this research were based on applying the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index), derived from Landsat imagery processed on the Google Earth Engine platform. Pearson’s Correlation was also applied to evaluate the association between urban expansion and vegetation loss. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between NDVI and NDBI, indicating that industrialization, which intensified after 2010, drove the growth of built-up areas at the expense of vegetation. It was concluded that implementing sustainable urban planning is essential to balance economic development with environmental preservation, providing a foundation for public policies aimed at sustainability in Três Lagoas.