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Using Land Cover Analysis through Remote Sensing and Ground Observations
Organization(s):Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Country:United States of America
Student(s):Aarav Awasthi, Vineeth Erram, Sophie Humer, Boone Macon, Jeannelyn Newsome, Charles Quinn, Zimraan Shamrao, Charles Quinn, Claire Tagalog, Aadhi Umamageswaran
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Member(s):Cassie Soeffing
Contributors:Dr. Rusty Low, SME IGES, Andrew Clark, SME IGES, Peder Nelson, SME Oregon State University, Dr. Erika Podest, SME NASA JPL, Dr. Brianna Lind, SME IGES
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report, Mission Mosquito Report
Protocols:Land Cover Classification, Earth As a System
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Presentation Poster:
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Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-01-29
Over the last two decades, the world population has increased by approximately 1.5 billion, representing a staggering 15% rise. Subsequently, land cover has undergone significant changes, resulting in an increase in impervious surfaces in the form of buildings, sidewalks, roads, etc. How does this urban development affect plant ecosystems? Looking backwards at case study locations helps us understand the changes arising from urban sprawl. Each location can be analyzed before, during, and after periods of urban growth. The progression of urbanization can be measured and monitored using several tools, including the 1984-2024 Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Viewer, various layers available in Earthmap digital software from the baseline year 2020, and the 1984-2025 Landsat satellite imagery supplemented by ground observations collected through GLOBE Observer. Nine different nine km2 kernels are divided into 36 evenly spaced 100 m2 areas of interest (AOI) and 1 centroid location. The geometry is converted into a GeoJSON file, allowing for repeatable operations within each dataset. The United States population is projected to increase by roughly 40 million people in the next 30 years, indicating urbanization will continue. It is essential to investigate sustainable approaches to create a balance between urban development and the ecosystems it displaces. By utilizing investigated approaches and materials that prioritize sustainability, we can harmonize the relationship between urban development and the plant ecosystems that we aim to protect.