Applying the Improved Remote Sensing Ecological Index (IRSEI) for Urban Ecological Assessment in Ho Chi Minh City, VietNam

This study applied the improved remote sensing ecological index (IRSEI) to evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban ecological quality in Ho Chi Minh city from 2016 to 2024. The IRSEI framework integrated four key ecological indicators: the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), fractional vegetation cover (FVC), impervious surface area (ISA), and land surface temperature (LST), all derived from Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 imagery. These indicators were synthesised into a composite ecological index using principal component analysis (PCA), providing an integrated measure of urban ecological conditions. Temporal comparisons indicate notable improvements, with a marked reduction in areas classified as “very low” quality, while zones of “acceptable” and “good” quality expanded considerably. Despite these positive trends, central districts continue to show degraded ecological conditions due to intensive urbanisation and the increasing influence of climate change. Results from the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test confirmed significant temporal shifts in IRSEI distributions between periods (p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that IRSEI offers a robust tool for long-term ecological monitoring, supporting urban planning and guiding sustainable development strategies in rapidly urbanising regions.