A Comprehensive Review of Geospatial Environmental Degradation Index (EDI) Indicators and Their Integration into Sustainable Road Engineering Design and Maintenance Practices

This study presents a comprehensive review of Geospatial Environmental Degradation Index (EDI) indicators and their integration into sustainable road engineering design and maintenance practices. Drawing on recent global research (2020–2025), the paper synthesizes multiple EDI frameworks that utilize remote sensing, GIS, and machine learning to evaluate the long-term ecological impacts of road infrastructure development in developing economies. The review identifies key indicator categories—air quality, vegetation change, soil erosion, water turbidity, and land surface temperature—and discusses their relative weights and policy relevance. In addition, the study introduces an engineering integration model showing how geospatially derived EDI outputs can inform design optimization, drainage management, and maintenance scheduling in road projects. The findings advocate for a multidisciplinary approach linking environmental monitoring and civil engineering innovation, aligning with global sustainability goals (SDGs 9, 11 & 13). This work represents the first public release of the EDI review manuscript and will serve as a reference for ongoing research on sustainable infrastructure and environmental monitoring.