Use of Remote Sensing in the Study of Vegetation Cover Threatened by Cement Emissions in Arid Rangelands

In Tunisia, the cement industry of Gabe’s is a source of dust emissions that has an impact on vegetation. Based on twelve sentinel 2-A images from 2016 and 2021, two vegetation indices (normalized different vegetation index (NDVI) and atmospherically resistant vegetation index (ARVI)) were used to establish correlations between spectral response and the influence of dust deposition. Twelve zones around the cement plant at a maximum distance of 20 km were delimited. The aim of this study is to assess vegetation cover around the cement factory of Gabes and to establish if there is a preferred direction of dust deposition on vegetation. Results shows that the month April has the higher values for the two indices for all the study period. In addition, 2017 presented the maximum values for these radiometric vegetation indices which is related mainly to annual rainfall (151 mm). Furthermore, MCA’s analysis showed that the weakest classes of these VIs are associated with dominant wind direction (ENE-WSW) especially for sectors localized at 10 and 20 km from cement plant. It seems to be more tolerant in the study area. ARVI results presented a better performance when compared with NDVI in the evaluation of vegetation in areas affected by dust deposition.