Change Detection in Israel Using NDVI of 2015 and 2025: A Geospatial Study

Abstract

Increasing climatic variability and human development pressures are reshaping Vegetation across landscapes. In Israel, where Vegetation varies from Mediterranean landscapes in the North to arid regions in the south, ongoing spatial assessments are essential to identify significant shifts in vegetation greenness across these diverse environments. This study examines changes in Vegetation over a decade in Israel, from late 2015 to late 2025, utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. By generating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) composites within fixed autumn periods, the study applies a seven-class spectral framework to represent Israel's wide array of vegetation conditions more accurately. The results show extensive shifts in land greenness over the 10 years, with about 40% of classified regions moving into lower vegetation-density categories, while the total classified area remained stable. These insights highlight the effectiveness of NDVI-based change detection in recognizing large-scale changes in vegetation conditions. The spatial patterns identified in this study lay the groundwork for addressing vegetation stress and change, aiding in further evaluations of drought impacts and informing strategies for land use and environmental resource management.