Application of GIS and remote sensing for assessing land cover change:  a case study in selected communes of Phu Tho province

Nguyen Thi Hai; Vu Xuan Dinh; Nguyen Ba Long; Nguyen Duc Anh; Nguyen Thi Bich; Pham Thanh Que; Xuan Thi Thu Thao; Trinh Hai Van; Nguyen Trong Nhan; Vu Thi Hang; Nguyen Thi Oanh

doi:10.55250/Jo.vnuf.11.1.2026.062-072

Authors

Nguyen Thi Hai Vietnam National University of Forestry
Vu Xuan Dinh Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Ba Long Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Duc Anh Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment
Nguyen Thi Bich Vietnam National University of Forestry
Pham Thanh Que Vietnam National University of Forestry
Xuan Thi Thu Thao Vietnam National University of Forestry
Trinh Hai Van Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Trong Nhan Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment
Vu Thi Hang Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment
Nguyen Thi Oanh Vietnam National University of Forestry

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55250/Jo.vnuf.11.1.2026.062-072

Keywords:

GIS, land use/land cover (LULC), Landsat 8/9, Markov Model, Phu Tho province, Random Forest

Abstract

This study applies Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques to assess land cover change in Luong Son, Cao Duong, and Lien Son communes (former Luong Son district), Phu Tho province, Vietnam, during the period 2014 - 2024. Landsat 8/9 satellite imagery was processed and classified using the Random Forest algorithm on the Google Earth Engine platform. The classification results achieved an overall accuracy of 83.31% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.7900 for the year 2014, and 86.48% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.8294 for the year 2024, demonstrating the high reliability of the land cover maps for both study periods. Transition matrix analysis conducted in ArcGIS reveals that perennial cropland (CLN) increased by 7.4%, reaching 23,844.38 ha, while built-up land (CTXD) expanded significantly by 22.1% to 5,841.87 ha, reflecting rapid urbanization. Water bodies (MN) also increased by 13.8% to 937.35 ha, mainly due to irrigation and water resource development. In contrast, annual cropland (CHN) slightly decreased by 3.7% to 5,000.85 ha, and bare land (DT) declined sharply by 74.5% to 898.35 ha, indicating a trend toward more sustainable land-use restructuring. Markov chain modeling predicts that by 2034, built-up land will continue to increase by 11.7% to 6,527.89 ha, perennial cropland will grow by 2.1% to 23,360.78 ha, and water bodies will expand by 9.0% to 1,021.84 ha. Conversely, annual cropland is expected to decrease by 4.3% to 4,787.37 ha, while bare land will further decline by 8.2% to 824.92 ha. These findings provide a robust scientific basis for land-use planning and management in Phu Tho province, highlighting the strong potential of integrating GIS and remote sensing for sustainable land resource management, and recommend incorporating Sentinel imagery to enhance multi-temporal analysis in future research.

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