Urban expansion monitoring using Landsat 8 imagery: a case study of Jinan

This study employed NDBI, MNDBI, and ULI indices to conduct multi-temporal and multi-faceted remote sensing monitoring and analysis of urban expansion in Jinan, China from 2013 to 2021 based on Landsat data. Following systematic preprocessing, including radiometric calibration, atmospheric correction, image mosaicking, and cropping combined with NDVI and surface reflectance calculations, a comprehensive technical framework for urban land information extraction was established. Results revealed a significant increase in Jinan’s built-up area by 2021 compared to 2013, with urban expansion exhibiting distinct spatial heterogeneity. While MNDBI demonstrated superior accuracy, both ULI and NDBI effectively captured urbanization trends. This research provides a methodological reference for monitoring land-use dynamics in rapidly urbanizing regions and offers scientific support for territorial spatial planning in Jinan.