ASSESMENT OF THE VEGETATION COVER MODERN STATE AT OBLUCHYE BY USING MULTISPECTRAL DATA

Abstract

A sustainable development of regional towns and small settlements demands the urban modern landscape infrastructure study and assessment. For this purpose, geoinformation systems and remote sensing data are widespread used. The aim of the study was to analyze the  green spaces in the small town of Obluchye (Jewish Autonomous region) using multispectral data with an assessment of indicators of the town sustainable development. The sources of information were as follows: Sentinel-2A multispectral products, the Rules of land use and development for Obluchye, field research materials, ICARP FEB RAS stock materials, special literature. The identification and analysis of green spaces distribution in Obluchye are based on calculation results of the normalized vegetation index (NDVI). It is stated that the NDVI value of 0.55 or more is the boundary value for the allocation of green spaces in Obluchye; 0.75 or more - for woody vegetation. The NDVI boundary value of 0.55...0.74 is for herbaceous and shrubby vegetation on lawns, unsettled areas, as well as for natural and produced meadows. The NDVI values of 0.75 or more in the image determine the forest vegetation of the Obluchye recreation zone, tree and shrub thickets along riverbeds and floodplain forests, and woodlands in the town built-up zone.

The green spaces distribution across the town functional zones is uneven. The high and very high landscaping areas are characteristic of the Obluchye periphery and correspond to the zones of recreational and residential development. In most cases, tree plantations are located in a recreational area, mainly outside the town. However, all urban development zones have high values of landscaping average level (from 71 to 93%).

The calculated indicators of sustainable development in Obluchye show, on the one hand,  a significant exceeding level of landscaping (53%), as compared to the established norms (at least 40%). On the other hand, the share of green areas of common use in the total area of green spaces in Obluchye is very low – only 1.6%. Thus, there is a need in a qualitative improvement of  green infrastructure in the town of Obluchye.