Utilization of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for Vegetation Density Analysis in Binjai City

Urban development in Binjai City has increased the conversion of vegetated land into built-up areas, so up-to-date information on vegetation density is needed for spatial planning. This study aims to map the density and spatial distribution of vegetation across the entire administrative area of Binjai City in 2025 as a baseline for sustainable spatial planning. A Landsat 9 image was pre-processed through radiometric and atmospheric correction and clipped to the city boundary, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated from the near-infrared and red bands in ArcGIS Pro. NDVI values were classified into five density classes and analysed spatially and descriptively. The high greenness class covered 7,385 ha (78.5% of the analysed area) and was concentrated in the southern, western and northern parts of the city, where agricultural land and plantations still dominate the urban fringe. The moderate greenness class (11.9%) was scattered in the central and eastern parts, while the low and very low greenness classes (9.6%) were concentrated in the city centre and along the main road corridors. Vegetation cover in Binjai City is therefore still dominated by high greenness, although low-vegetation areas have formed in the urban core and along transport corridors. These results provide a city-wide baseline for monitoring future vegetation change and for prioritising green open space in the city centre.