Characterizing spatial structure of urban tree cover (UTC) and impervious surface cover (ISC) density using remotely sensed data in Osmaniye, Turkey

Urban trees provide a wide range of significant benefits, and their degradation can result in air pollution and floods, and can damage public health and decrease social welfare.The purpose of this research was to estimate the urban tree cover (UTC) and impervious surface cover (ISC) density and to evaluate how they influence forest gain and loss in Turkey. Accordingly, i-Tree Canopy random point sampling and remote sensing methods were applied using the most current Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus images of Osmaniye City. The results indicate that the majority (n = 217) of random points were overlapped with buildings on aerial photograph with a percent cover estimate of 34.1 +/- 1.88%. Also, the second highest number of the randomly selected points (n = 166) overlapped with road cover at estimate of 26.1 +/- 1.74%. Grass cover (n = 68), ISC (n = 59), and shrub cover (n = 52) percentages were estimated as 10.7 +/- 1.22%, 9.26 +/- 1.15%, and 8.16 +/- 1.08%, respectively. UTC (n = 41) percentage was estimated as 6.44 +/- 0.97% in the urban city center. The lowest percent cover of randomly selected points was parking lots (n = 34) estimated as 5.34 +/- 0.89%. Also, the forest loss intensity was unevenly distributed and reflected areas with high population density, and forest cover loss was estimated at the highest level on the east side of the city center. The findings of this research suggest that urbanization around the city center of Osmaniye has altered the local vegetative cover due to deforestation activities to create areas for building construction and new developments.