Tracking Urban Change With Landsat
Earth-observing Landsat satellites have been capturing images of the planet’s surface since 1972. Landsat 8 is the newest satellite in the program, a joint effort between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. It launched Feb. 11, 2013, and collects more than 400 images per day. New and archived Landsat data are available free to the public over the internet – and researchers have put the data to a multitude of uses. One is called the National Urban Change Indicator, or NUCI, created by MacDonald, Dettwiler, and Associates, LTD. It’s the results from a process that mines Landsat images over a 27-year period to identify areas of “permanent change,” where soil has been paved over for parking lots or other concrete structures.
NUCI results act as a red flag for FEMA, helping the agency focus its mapping efforts and budget. But if maps identify a high risk of floods for a certain community, residents can take action, including elevating houses, building flood barricades, and more.
Landsat data is used by MacDonald, Dettwiler, and Associates, LTD to make the National Urban Change Indicator, or NUCI. The process identifies areas of “permanent change,” where soil has been paved over for parking lots or other concrete structures. Areas of urban change indicate where flood risk maps might need to be updated.
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Writers
- Alison Schuyler Ogden (NASA/GSFC)
- Kate Ramsayer (Telophase)
Video editor
- Alison Schuyler Ogden (NASA/GSFC)
Scientist
- James R. Irons (NASA/GSFC)
Interviewee
- Zack Roehr (Dewberry)
Producers
- Alison Schuyler Ogden (NASA/GSFC)
- Matthew Radcliff (KBRwyle)
Narrator
- Alison Schuyler Ogden (NASA/GSFC)
Project support
- Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET)
Missions
This visualization is related to the following missions:Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Tapes
This visualization originally appeared on the following tapes:- None
Related pages
Georgia Urban Sprawl
June 29th, 2013
Read moreAnimation of a Northeastern suburb of Atlanta from 1984 to 2010 through the eyes of Landsat satellite images. The animation begins with a view of the United States and zooms into the Atlanta suburb, which then cycles through Landsat images of the area from 1984 to 2010. While the animation moves through time, the viewer should be able to see the Mall of Georgia spring into existence along with the growth of all the surrounding neighborhoods. Print resolution still of the establishing shot of this animation. The Northern hemisphere is pictured with the United States highlighted, and the Landsat data inset further highlighted with a yellow outline. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1984. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1985. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1986. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1987. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1988. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1989. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1990. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1991. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1992. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1993. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1994. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1995. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1996. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1997. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1998. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 1999. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2000. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2001. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2002. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2003. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2004. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2005. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2006. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2007. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2008. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2009. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2010. Print resolution satellite view of Atlanta's Northeastern suburbs in 2010 along with labels for reference. Text overlay with Interstate 85, Route 316, Mall of Georgia, and the Chattahoochee River labels. This layer is intended for post-production use to establish a frame of reference when needed. One of the many ways to keep FEMA maps up to date is by tracking urban change using satellite imagery. Take this suburb of Atlanta, Georgia as an example. By mining Landsat images spanning a 27 year period, it's possible to identify areas where the land surface has permanently changed and affect the areas ability to absorb water.The river to the Northwest is the Chattahoochee River. The "Y"-shaped roads are Interstate 85 (upper branch) and Route 316 (lower branch). As the years go by, one can see the Mall of Georgia being built in the upper middle part of the screen, immediately north of Interstate 85. Surrounding neighborhoods sprout up throughout this whole area as we move through time. This animation was created for use in a NASA video on water run-off changes related to urban sprawl titled "FEMA Risk Map". Related pages