Relative indices of vegetation and temperature for analysis of changes in the vegetation patterns of Curitiba (PR)

Abstract

The aim was to propose relative indices of vegetation and temperature which could reflect the changes occurred in the vegetation cover and urbanization patterns caused by transformations along the city of Curitiba (PR), by using Landsat TM and ETM+ images of 1986, 1999 and 2002. In order to separate vegetated from built-up surfaces, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was used as an indicator of vegetation presence, from of what the relative vegetation index (NDVI-_R) was created. At the same time, values from the thermal band of Landsat satellite were extracted as an indicator of thermal differences between land use, based on that a relative temperature index (DN_R) was proposed and compared with the relative vegetation index (NDVI_R). By applying these techniques it was possible to verify the importance of land use changes as the distribution of vegetation patterns in identifying different temperatures of surface. In conclusion, the indices are inversely proportional in terms of correlation tendency, which can contribute to spatial analysis precisely.

Key words:
remote sensing; vegetation and temperature indices; urban management