Vegetation Indices in Remote Sensing: Ways to Assess Vegetation

Density and Plant Health

In remote sensing Indices are mathematical formulas used to enhance specific features of earth surface in a
satellite imagery by combining various spectral bands of satellite data. These indices are widely used in
accurate surface analysis and it not only help to identify features like vegetation, soil and water, also assess
health of the vegetation, soil moisture, water clarity etc.
Vegetation indices are specifically used to assess and monitor vegetation health, density, and biomass by
quantifying the difference in reflectance between near-infrared and visible light. They help in applications such
as agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring by providing insights into plant growth, stress, and
overall ecosystem health
In this post Different types of Vegetation Indices are discussed with examples and formulas.

NORMALIZED DIFFERENCE VEGETATION INDEX (NDVI)

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index is one of the widely used vegetation index which uses the reflectance
value of Near Infrared (NIR) and Red Band to quantify the vegetation greenness to understand the vegetation
density and changes in health of the plants. The value of the NDVI ranges from -1 to 1, where the lower higher
values indicate healthier vegetation.
NDVI = (NIR - R) / (NIR + R)

Satellite Image NIR band Red band Formula

Landsat 4-7 Band 4 Band 3 (Band 4 – Band 3) / (Band 4 + Band 3)
Landsat 8-9 Band 5 Band 4 (Band 5 – Band 4) / (Band 5 + Band 4)
Sentinel 2 Band 8 Band 4 (Band 8 – Band 4) / (Band 8 + Band 4)

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

Bankura, WB

Acquisition Date: 31st March 2024

SOIL ADJUSTED VEGETATION INDEX (SAVI)
Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index normally uses a correction factor(L) to correct the NDVI for the influence of soil
brightness in areas of sparse vegetation. Areas where the vegetation cover is low, SAVI adjusts the vegetation
index to reduce soil background noise. It effectively improves the accuracy of the result in semi-arid and arid
environments.
SAVI = ((NIR - R) / (NIR + R + L)) * (1 + L)
The L value varies depending on the amount of green vegetative cover. Generally, in areas with no green
vegetation cover, L=1; in areas of moderate green vegetation cover, L=0.5; and in areas with very high
vegetation cover, L=0. The output values of SAVI ranges from -1 to 1.

Satellite Image NIR band Red band Formula

Landsat 4-7 Band 4 Band 3 ((Band 4 – Band 3) / (Band 4 + Band 3 + 0.5)) * (1+0.5)
Landsat 8-9 Band 5 Band 4 ((Band 5 – Band 4) / (Band 5 + Band 4 + 0.5)) * (1+0.5)
Sentinel 2 Band 8 Band 4 (Band 8 – Band 4) / (Band 8 + Band 4 + 0.5) * (1+ 0.5)

Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index

Bankura, WB

Acquisition Date: 31st March 2024

ENHANCED VEGETATION INDEX (EVI)

Enhanced Vegetation Index enhances the sensitivity of vegetation monitoring by correcting for atmospheric
effects (like aerosol scattering) and canopy background noise. It also incorporates the blue band in addition to
red and NIR to improve the accuracy of vegetation assessments, especially in areas with dense canopy cover.
EVI = G * ((NIR - R) / (NIR + C1 * R – C2 * B + L))
In the EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) formula, G is the gain factor, typically set to 2.5, which amplifies the
sensitivity of the index to vegetation changes. C₁ (6) and C₂ (7.5) are coefficients applied to the red and blue
 bands, respectively, to correct for atmospheric effects, particularly aerosol scattering. L, set to 1, is a canopy
background adjustment factor that compensates for soil brightness. The value of EVI ranges from 0 to 1. A value
closer to 1 represents healthy vegetation and a value closer to 0 represents unhealthy vegetation.

Satellite NIR Red Blue Formula

Image band band band

Landsat 4-7 Band 4 Band 3 Band 1 2.5 * ((Band 4 – Band 3) / (Band 4 + 6 * Band 3 – 7.5 * Band 1 + 1))

Landsat 8-9 Band 5 Band 4 Band 2 2.5 * ((Band 5 – Band 4) / (Band 5 + 6 * Band 4 – 7.5 * Band 2 + 1))

Sentinel 2 Band 8 Band 4 Band 2 2.5 * ((Band 8 – Band 4) / (Band 8 + 6 * Band 4 – 7.5 * Band 2 + 1))

Enhanced Vegetation Index

Bankura, WB

Acquisition Date: 31st March 2024

ATMOSPHERICALLY RESISTANT VEGETATION INDEX (ARVI)

Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index is designed to reduce the effects of atmospheric scattering
and absorption (particularly by aerosols) by using a modified version of the red band. It combines
information from the red and blue bands to account for atmospheric distortions, making it useful in
areas where atmospheric conditions may affect vegetation measurement.
ARVI = (NIR - RED - γ * (RED - BLUE))/ (NIR + RED - γ*(RED-BLUE))
γ (gamma) represents the degree of correction applied to the red band to account for atmospheric scattering
(such as aerosols). It adjusts the impact of atmospheric distortions by incorporating the blue band into the
formula. Since atmospheric scattering affects the blue band the most, this correction factor helps ARVI to be
more resistant to atmospheric effects than indices like NDVI. γ is usually set to 1, but it can vary slightly
depending on the atmospheric conditions being modelled.
Satellite NIR Red Blue Formula
Image band band band
Landsat Band 4 Band 3 Band 1 Band 4−(Band 3−γ×(Band 3−Band 1))/Band 4+(Band 3−γ×(Band 3−Band 1))
4-7
Landsat Band 5 Band 4 Band 2 Band 5−(Band 4−γ×(Band 4−Band 2))/Band 5+(Band 4−γ×(Band 4−Band 2))
8-9
Sentinel Band 8 Band 4 Band 2 Band 8−(Band 4−γ×(Band 4−Band 2))/Band 8+(Band 4−γ×(Band 4−Band 2))
2

Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index

Bankura, WB

Acquisition Date: 31st March 2024

SHADOW GREENNESS INDEX (SGI)

Shadow Greenness Index is used to detect and quantify vegetation greenness in areas with significant shadow
effects, typically in complex terrains or regions with canopy cover. It helps in minimizing the influence of
shadowed areas on vegetation analysis, which can otherwise distort greenness measurements.
SGI = (NIR−R)/ (NIR+R+B)

Satellite Image NIR band Red band Blue band Formula

Landsat 4-7 Band 4 Band 3 Band 1 (Band 4−Band 3)/ (Band 4+ Band 3+ Band 1)

Landsat 8-9 Band 5 Band 4 Band 2 (Band 5−Band 4)/ (Band 5+ Band 4+ Band 2)
Sentinel 2 Band 8 Band 4 Band 2 (Band 8−Band 4)/ (Band 8+Band 4+ Band 2)
 Shadow Greenness Index
Bankura, WB

Acquisition Date: 31st March 2024

MOISTURE STRESS INDEX (MSI)

Moisture Stress Index is a vegetation index used to detect plant water stress by comparing the reflectance in the
shortwave infrared (SWIR) and near-infrared (NIR) bands. Plants under water stress reflect more SWIR and
less NIR light. It is used in agriculture and forestry to monitor drought conditions, plant water content, and
overall vegetation health. High MSI values indicate higher moisture stress (less water in vegetation).
MSI=SWIR/NIR

Satellite Image SWIR band NIR band Formula

Landsat 4-7 Band 5 Band 4 Band 5/ Band 4
Landsat 8-9 Band 6 Band 5 Band 6/ Band 5
Sentinel 2 Band 11 Band 8 Band 11/ Band 8
 Moisture Stress Index
Bankura, WB

Acquisition Date: 31st March 2024

STRUCTURE-INSENSITIVE PIGMENT INDEX (SIPI)

Structure-Intensive Pigment Index is designed to estimate the relative concentration of leaf pigments, such as
carotenoids and chlorophyll, without being sensitive to the structural variations of the canopy. It measures the
balance between these pigments, which can help indicate plant stress or senescence. It helps in assessing plant
stress and the health of vegetation, especially in cases where leaf pigment concentrations change due to
environmental stress or aging. It is useful in ecological studies and precision agriculture.
SIPI = (NIR-B)/(NIR-R)

Satellite Image NIR band Red band Blue band Formula

Landsat 4-7 Band 4 Band 3 Band 1 (Band 4−Band 1)/(Band 4−Band 3)
Landsat 8-9 Band 5 Band 4 Band 2 (Band 5−Band 2)/(Band 5−Band 4)
Sentinel 2 Band 11 Band 8 Band 1 (Band 8−Band 2)/(Band 8−Band 4)

In conclusion, vegetation indices serve as vital tools in remote sensing for assessing plant health,
vegetation density, and environmental conditions. By leveraging various spectral bands, these indices
enhance the accuracy of vegetation monitoring, enabling more effective decision-making in
agriculture, forestry, and environmental management. The examples discussed, such as NDVI, SAVI,
and EVI, demonstrate their unique applications and corrections for factors like soil brightness and
atmospheric conditions. As these indices evolve, their role in supporting sustainable practices and
mitigating challenges like water stress and vegetation degradation will continue to grow.