Urbanization and Its Environmental Impact in Ceredigion County, Wales: A 20-Year Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Assessment (2003–2023)

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Publicado en:Sensors vol. 25, no. 17 (2025), p. 5332-5353
Autor principal: Younis, Muhammad Waqar
Otros Autores: Akpokodje Edore, Jilani, Syeda Fizzah
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MDPI AG
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100 1 |a Younis, Muhammad Waqar  |u Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK; eta@aber.ac.uk 
245 1 |a Urbanization and Its Environmental Impact in Ceredigion County, Wales: A 20-Year Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Assessment (2003–2023) 
260 |b MDPI AG  |c 2025 
513 |a Journal Article 
520 3 |a Urbanization is a dominant force reshaping human settlements, driving socio-economic development while also causing significant environmental challenges. With over 56% of the world’s population now residing in urban areas—a figure expected to rise to two-thirds by 2050—land use changes are accelerating rapidly. The conversion of natural landscapes into impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt intensifies the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, raises urban temperatures, and strains local ecosystems. This study investigates land use and landscape changes in Ceredigion County, UK, utilizing remote sensing and GIS techniques to analyze urbanization impacts over two decades (2003–2023). Results indicate significant urban expansion of approximately 122 km2, predominantly at the expense of agricultural and forested areas, leading to vegetation loss and changes in water availability. County-wide mean land surface temperature (LST) increased from 21.4 °C in 2003 to 23.65 °C in 2023, with urban areas recording higher values around 27.1 °C, reflecting a strong UHI effect. Spectral indices (NDVI, NDWI, NDBI, and NDBaI) reveal that urban sprawl adversely affects vegetation health, water resources, and land surfaces. The Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) further highlights areas experiencing thermal discomfort. Additionally, machine learning models, including Linear Regression and Random Forest, were employed to forecast future LST trends, projecting urban LST values to potentially reach approximately 27.4 °C by 2030. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable urban planning, reforestation, and climate adaptation strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of rapid urban growth and ensure the resilience of both human and ecological systems. 
610 4 |a US Geological Survey 
651 4 |a United Kingdom--UK 
651 4 |a Wales 
653 |a Vegetation 
653 |a Remote sensing 
653 |a Thermal energy 
653 |a Temperature 
653 |a Sustainability 
653 |a Biodiversity 
653 |a Geographic information systems 
653 |a Land use 
653 |a Environmental impact 
653 |a Rural areas 
653 |a Urban areas 
653 |a Energy consumption 
653 |a Urban heat islands 
653 |a Climate change 
653 |a Urbanization 
700 1 |a Akpokodje Edore  |u Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK; eta@aber.ac.uk 
700 1 |a Jilani, Syeda Fizzah  |u Department of Physics, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3BZ, UK; sfj7@aber.ac.uk 
773 0 |t Sensors  |g vol. 25, no. 17 (2025), p. 5332-5353 
786 0 |d ProQuest  |t Health & Medical Collection 
856 4 1 |3 Citation/Abstract  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3249714499/abstract/embedded/7BTGNMKEMPT1V9Z2?source=fedsrch 
856 4 0 |3 Full Text + Graphics  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3249714499/fulltextwithgraphics/embedded/7BTGNMKEMPT1V9Z2?source=fedsrch 
856 4 0 |3 Full Text - PDF  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3249714499/fulltextPDF/embedded/7BTGNMKEMPT1V9Z2?source=fedsrch