A Study on the Impact of Port Construction on the Coastal Zone Based on Remote Sensing Data: A Case of Panjin Port

The coastal zone is a biodiversity hotspot and provides crucial ecological services to coastal cities. However, rapid port development has impacted the coastal zone’s ecology. This study focuses on studying the impact of port construction on the coastal zone with Landsat TM/ETM remote sensing data. Landscape pattern indices and overall landscape pattern indices of pre-construction and post-construction were calculated to assess the ecological impact. The study also examined spatial and temporal variations in disturbance intensity using the human disturbance index and identified the scope and patterns of the port’s impact on the surrounding environment. Findings indicate that: Pre-construction, the affected area was concentrated in land-side residential zones, while during construction, the coastline was most affected within a 3.5 km range; The most significant changes of hemeroby index changes were found during construction, indicating a decline in overall ecological service function; The landscape became fragmented and simplified, with decreased evenness and density of different land cover types.