Geospatial analysis of urban expansion using the NDBI spectral index and Landsat-8 data
Full Text (PDF)
Tabarak Bakr Wahid 1 , Zuhair Jaber Mushref 2 *
More Detail
1 Directorate of Education in Anbar Governorate, Ministry of Education, Ramadi, IRAQ2 Department of Geography, College of Education for Humanities, University of Anbar, Ramadi, IRAQ* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study aims to analyze urban expansion in the western part of Ramadi City using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques. It relies on Landsat-8 satellite data and the application of the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) to extract the built-up area with high accuracy. The study employs a combined quantitative-spatial methodology comprising three main approaches: a quantitative analytical approach to process spectral data and derive the NDBI value; a geospatial approach to analyze the geographical distribution of the built-up area and classify neighborhoods according to urbanization levels; and a comparative-temporal approach to monitor the dynamics of land-use changes. The spatial processing involved a series of steps, including collecting Landsat-8 data; performing pre-processing operations (cropping, geometric correction, and coordinate transformations); conducting unsupervised classification; and finally, applying the NDBI equation to extract built-up areas and converting raster layers into vectors using ArcMap 10.8 software. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the NDBI index in characterizing urban areas, revealing that the built-up area reached 2,716 hectares, representing 72.5% of the total study area (3,747.5 hectares), with clear variations in development levels among neighborhoods. This methodology contributes to providing an accurate spatial database that supports sustainable urban expansion planning and demonstrates the vital role of integrating remote sensing and GIS in assessing urban growth and guiding future planning decisions.

Keywords

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2026, Article No: em0362

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17556

Publication date: 01 Jan 2026

Online publication date: 16 Dec 2025

Article Views: 53

Article Downloads: 35

Open Access References How to cite this article