IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i1p106-d1561988.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Resolution Sentinel-2 and Pleiades Imagery for Mapping Urban Tree Species

Author

Listed:
  • Fabio Recanatesi

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Antonietta De Santis

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Gatti

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Alessio Patriarca

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Eros Caputi

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), University of Tuscia, Via 6 del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Giulia Mancini

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Chiara Iavarone

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), University of Tuscia, Via 6 del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Carlo Maria Rossi

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Gabriele Delogu

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), University of Tuscia, Via 6 del Paradiso, 47, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Miriam Perretta

    (Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Forno Vecchio, 36, 80134 Naples, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Boccia

    (Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Forno Vecchio, 36, 80134 Naples, Italy)

  • Maria Nicolina Ripa

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 8, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Urbanization poses significant challenges to ecosystems, resources, and human well-being, necessitating sustainable planning. Urban vegetation, particularly trees, provides critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, and biodiversity conservation. Traditional tree assessments are resource-intensive and time-consuming. Recent advances in remote sensing, especially high-resolution multispectral imagery and object-based image analysis (OBIA), offer efficient alternatives for mapping urban vegetation. This study evaluates and compares the efficacy of Sentinel-2 and Pléiades satellite imagery in classifying tree species within historic urban parks in Rome—Villa Borghese, Villa Ada Savoia, and Villa Doria Pamphilj. Pléiades imagery demonstrated superior classification accuracy, achieving an overall accuracy (OA) of 89% and a Kappa index of 0.84 in Villa Ada Savoia, compared to Sentinel-2’s OA of 66% and Kappa index of 0.47. Specific tree species, such as Pinus pinea (Stone Pine), reached a user accuracy (UA) of 84% with Pléiades versus 53% with Sentinel-2. These insights underscore the potential of integrating high-resolution remote sensing data into urban forestry practices to support sustainable urban management and planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Recanatesi & Antonietta De Santis & Lorenzo Gatti & Alessio Patriarca & Eros Caputi & Giulia Mancini & Chiara Iavarone & Carlo Maria Rossi & Gabriele Delogu & Miriam Perretta & Lorenzo Boccia & , 2025. "A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Resolution Sentinel-2 and Pleiades Imagery for Mapping Urban Tree Species," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:1:p:106-:d:1561988
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/106/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/106/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cohen, Barney, 2006. "Urbanization in developing countries: Current trends, future projections, and key challenges for sustainability," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 63-80.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pankaj Bajracharya & Selima Sultana, 2022. "Examining the Use of Urban Growth Boundary for Future Urban Expansion of Chattogram, Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Ahsan Nawaz & Xing Su & Qaiser Mohi Ud Din & Muhammad Irslan Khalid & Muhammad Bilal & Syyed Adnan Raheel Shah, 2020. "Identification of the H&S (Health and Safety Factors) Involved in Infrastructure Projects in Developing Countries-A Sequential Mixed Method Approach of OLMT-Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska & Agnieszka Stacherzak, 2022. "The Impact of a City on Its Environment: The Prism of Demography and Selected Environmental and Technical Aspects Based on the Case of Major Lower Silesian Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Vu, Khuong & Hartley, Kris, 2018. "Promoting smart cities in developing countries: Policy insights from Vietnam," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(10), pages 845-859.
    5. Zhixiong Tan & Haili Wu & Qingyang Chen & Jiejun Huang, 2024. "Spatiotemporal Analysis of Air Quality and Its Driving Factors in Beijing’s Main Urban Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Dinkelman, Taryn & Schulhofer-Wohl, Sam, 2015. "Migration, congestion externalities, and the evaluation of spatial investments," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 189-202.
    7. Mari-Isabella Stan, 2022. "The impact of the pandemic crisis on employment in the context of urbanization," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 33(1), pages 492-505, July.
    8. Adomako, Samuel & Shenkar, Oded & Liu, Xiaohui & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Ahsan, Mujtaba, 2024. "Editorial on Doing business in Africa: Navigating opportunities and challenges in Africa's emerging markets," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    9. Zhen Yang & Jun Lei & Jian-Gang Li, 2019. "Identifying the Determinants of Urbanization in Prefecture-Level Cities in China: A Quantitative Analysis Based on Spatial Production Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, February.
    10. Malayaranjan Sahoo & Narayan Sethi, 2022. "The dynamic impact of urbanization, structural transformation, and technological innovation on ecological footprint and PM2.5: evidence from newly industrialized countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4244-4277, March.
    11. Bernard Fosu Frimpong & Frank Molkenthin, 2021. "Tracking Urban Expansion Using Random Forests for the Classification of Landsat Imagery (1986–2015) and Predicting Urban/Built-Up Areas for 2025: A Study of the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, January.
    12. Yan Yan & Hui Liu & Ningcheng Wang & Shenjun Yao, 2021. "How Does Low-Density Urbanization Reduce the Financial Sustainability of Chinese Cities? A Debt Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Ulep, Valerie Gilbert T. & Ortiz, Danica Aisa P. & Go, John Juliard & Duante, Charmaine & Gonzales, Rosa C. & Mendoza, Laurita R. & Reyes, Clarissa & Elgo, Frances Rose & Aldeon, Melanie P., 2012. "Inequities in Noncommunicable Diseases," Discussion Papers DP 2012-04, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
    14. Rudke, Anderson Paulo & Martins, Jorge Alberto & dos Santos, Alex Mota & Silva, Witan Pereira & Caldana, Nathan F. da Silva & Souza, Vinicius A.S. & Alves, Ronaldo Adriano & de Almeida Albuquerque, Ta, 2021. "Spatial and socio-economic analysis of public transport systems in large cities: A case study for Belo Horizonte, Brazil," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    15. S. A. Mashi & A. I. Inkani & Oghenejeabor Obaro & A. S. Asanarimam, 2020. "Community perception, response and adaptation strategies towards flood risk in a traditional African city," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 103(2), pages 1727-1759, September.
    16. Salvati, Luca & Sateriano, Adele & Grigoriadis, Efstathios & Carlucci, Margherita, 2017. "New wine in old bottles: The (changing) socioeconomic attributes of sprawl during building boom and stagnation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 361-372.
    17. Chuxin Hu & Binglin Liu & Zhiqiang Yan & Chunxiao Ma, 2024. "Construction and Empirical Research of an Evaluation System for High-Quality Development of Small Towns in Guangxi Under the New Development Concept," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-35, November.
    18. Nina Savela & Jarkko Levänen & Sara Lindeman & Nnenesi Kgabi & Heikki Koivisto & Meri Olenius & Samuel John & Damas Mashauri & Minna M. Keinänen-Toivola, 2020. "Rapid Urbanization and Infrastructure Pressure: Comparing the Sustainability Transition Potential of Water and Energy Regimes in Namibia," World, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-18, July.
    19. Leslie Gray & Laureen Elgert & Antoinette WinklerPrins, 2020. "Theorizing urban agriculture: north–south convergence," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 869-883, September.
    20. Luca Salvati & Adele Sateriano & Eftathios Grigoriadis, 2016. "Crisis and the city: profiling urban growth under economic expansion and stagnation," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 329-342, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:1:p:106-:d:1561988. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.