Usability of Spectral Indexes in the Discrimination and Temporal Monitoring of Open Dumping Sites

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 4, 336 - 343, 12.01.2026

Abdullah Harun İncekara

https://doi.org/10.26650/ijegeo.1789358

https://izlik.org/JA47AK79HS

Abstract

Solid waste is stored professionally in landfills or in open areas using primitive methods. The latter is called open dumping and needs to be identified due to its environmental damage. Detection of these mostly illegal areas via satellite images is possible due to their specific reflectance properties. In this study, spectral index characteristics were determined for open dumping sites located in Ünye and Fatsa districts of Ordu province, Türkiye. Except for the detection index for open dumping sites, various spectral indexes related to vegetation, water and soil were derived from temporal Sentinel images. Open dumping sites of both districts were observed for three years. The trend of each index across open dumping sites, whose coverage varies over the years, was examined. Correlations between the indexes were also calculated for each year. The graphs and statistical results revealed the specific reflectance characteristics of open dumping sites. It was determined that these indexes could be used to identify illegally used open dumping sites in a detection-based practices. However, due to the highly similar reflection characteristics of the soil and road in some parts of the image, more effective determinations can be made with an approach that takes into account surface temperature properties and more complex indexes via the short-wave infrared band. Additionally, different entropy calculation approaches may allow for a more apparent distinction of storage areas.

Keywords

Open Dumping Site , Remote Sensing , Spectral Index , Waste Management

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