Estimating NDVI and LAI as a precursor for monitoring air pollution along the BBN industrial corridor of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The research conducted is to establish the role of Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) as a tool for monitoring air pollution through resolution multispectral images for Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN Industrial Corridor). The air pollution is estimated in terms of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM). The LAI was estimated through high-resolution Multi-spectral imageries for the years (2001 to 2021). LAI analysis reveals that the majority of the study is covered under moderate to very high plant canopy density region. Analysis of the 2016 image revealed vegetation indices ranging between −0.9 to 2. Decrease of the forest vegetation quality was observed between 2001 and 2021 also causes the increase in the absorption of air pollutants while at the same time. In the year 2009 the RSPM of the areas has been registered at an average of 76 ug/m3. Between 2010 and 2011 the average air quality registered at 106.67, 105.50, 83.33. The results indicate the air quality has been worsening through the years (2009 and 2020) RSPM of these regions has doubled increasing the toxicity of the pollutants. Analysis of the decadal change in NDVI and LAI shows the reduction of the annual forest coverage of the BBN industrial corridor coupled with the decrease in the air quality of the region. The study shows a clear relation between decreasing vegetation cover and the air quality of the region.