Spatiotemporal Analysis of Mobile Sand [g1] Expansion Using Spectral Indices (NDSI, NDSDI, BSI, CI, GSI, NDSLI, and ASI) from 2013 to 2024: A Case Study in Rostamabad-Rigan, Kerman Province

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

Drifting sands have covered vast areas in the Rostamabad region of Kerman Province, posing a serious threat to human settlements. Therefore, this study investigates the expansion trend of drifting sands in the area using spectral indices. For this purpose, the following indices were employed: the Normalized Difference Sand Index (NDSI), the normalized difference of dunes index (NDSDI), the barren soil index (BSI), the Crust Index (CI), the normalized difference soil index (NDSLI), and the Grain Size Index (GSI). These indices were aggregated and averaged to formulate an Aggregate Sandification Index (ASI). The analysis was conducted over the period from 2013 to 2024, and the resulting ASI values were categorized into four groups using the Jenks Natural Breaks Classification Method: active dunes, semi-active dunes, stabilized dunes, and semi-stabilized dunes. The results indicate that approximately 179.2 square kilometers were classified as active dune areas according to the ASI. Over the 11 years, the extent of these active areas decreased by 9.5%. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive correlations among all indices, with the highest correlations observed between NDSI and CI at 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. Moreover, the ASI and NDSI demonstrated the highest Kappa coefficients, measured at 0.95 and 0.94, respectively. The findings further showed that extensive parts of the settlements and farmlands in the southern section of Rostamabad village have been severely affected by the expansion of drifting sands.

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References

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Journal of Natural Environmental Hazards

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 December 2025

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  • Receive Date: 27 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 16 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 04 December 2025
  • First Publish Date: 04 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 04 December 2025

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