Study of Anthropogenic Changes in the Urban Landscape Based on the Landsat-8 Infrared Range

Abstract

Changes in the urban landscape can be detected using visible and far infrared remote sensing. Thermal imagery is widely used for research and monitoring of natural and anthropogenic objects. Multiple data sources use enhances spatial analysis capabilities. These sources are, for example, MODIS satellite data with moderate spatial resolution and daily surveys, Landsat data collection with medium spatial resolution and survey frequency of about once every 14 days, and high-resolution PlanetScope data with the ability to acquire multiple scenes per day. This paper proposes the methodology for identifying anthropogenic transformations in the urban landscape by land surface temperature. Three categories of changes were identified: no changes, minor changes with a temperature difference of 1–3 ºC and significant changes with a temperature difference of more than 4 ºC. When analyzing areas with maximum temperature changes, it was noted that the dynamics of changes are associated with changes in urban development, namely, with the construction of new microdistricts and shopping centers. A change in surface temperature is also associated with a change in forest landscapes, for example, in places where tree plantations were cut down.