Build Up Index Script

/*
Author: Karl Chastko
*/

let ndvi = (B05 - B04) / (B05 + B04);

let ndbi = (B06 - B05) / (B06 + B05);

let BU = (ndvi - ndbi)

return[BU];

Evaluate and visualize

EO Browser

General description of the script

This is a simple script used to visualize and automatically map urban/built-up areas using NDVI and NDBI indices. This method works well for identifying urban areas during summer months but is less effective during periods of snow cover. Typically lower values represent developed land and higher values represent vegetation. This index is great for monitoring urban development through time and estimating the percent of impervious surfaces in urban areas.

Author of the script

Karl Chastko

Description of representative images

Toronto Ontario Canada developed areas shown in dark grey, vegetation shown in white/light grey.

Build Up Index script

Credits

Y. Zha, J. Gao & S. Ni (2003) Use of normalized difference built-up index in automatically mapping urban areas from TM imagery, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 24:3, 583-594, DOI: 10.1080/01431160304987