Analysis of land cover and degradation using multi-index remote sensing from 1994 to 2024: The case of Gijduvan district, Uzbekistan

Abstract

This study analyses land cover changes and ecological transformations in the Gijduvan District of the Republic of Uzbekistan over the period 1994–2024. For this purpose, summer-season satellite imagery and eleven remote sensing indices—NDVI, NDWI, SI, IBI, NDBSI, LST, DVI, RVI, SAVI, BSI, and NDMI—were used. These indices made it possible to assess vegetation cover condition, surface moisture, temperature, urban expansion, and desertification processes. Spatial analyses were carried out in ArcGIS Pro using Landsat 5 data for 1994 and Landsat 8 data for 2024. The results revealed severe land degradation and a decline in vegetation cover in certain areas, as well as reductions in urbanized and hydrographic zones. Comparative analysis of the indices over time indicated an increasing risk of desertification and a decline in ecological stability. The use of a multi-index approach enabled an in-depth assessment of land surface dynamics and provided essential insights for sustainable land resource management and ecological planning. This research confirms the effectiveness of remote sensing indices in monitoring long-term ecological changes.