Mapping and Identification of Mangroves in the Coastal Area of Langkat Regency Using Sentinel-2 Imagery and Google Earth Engine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63639/yxa4r642Keywords:
Mangrove, Sentinel-2, Google Earth Engine, Langkat CoastAbstract
The mangrove ecosystem is a crucial component of tropical coastal biomes, providing various ecosystem services, including erosion protection, fish spawning habitats, and blue carbon storage. In Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province, mangroves face significant pressure due to land conversion into aquaculture ponds and oil palm plantations. This study aims to map the spatial distribution of mangroves and identify their extent across nine coastal subdistricts influenced by marine dynamics and estuarine ecosystems. The primary data used were 2024 Sentinel-2 Level-2A imagery processed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Pre-processing included cloud masking, median compositing, and extraction of vegetation indices (NDVI, NDWI, NDBI) to enhance classification accuracy. Land cover classification was performed using the Random Forest algorithm with seven classes, including mangrove, water bodies, aquaculture/swamp, oil palm, terrestrial vegetation, open land, and built-up areas. Validation was conducted using 210 sample points, resulting in an overall accuracy of 90% and a mangrove classification accuracy of 100%. Comparative analysis with the National Mangrove Map (BIG) revealed a discrepancy in area, with 18,856.69 ha in this study compared to 15,093.13 ha in the BIG data, influenced by differences in delineation methods and data resolution. The results indicate that although mangroves are still widely distributed, some coastal areas are under pressure from land-use change and require more targeted protection. The Sentinel-2 and GEE-based classification maps provide accurate and up-to-date spatial information that can support management, conservation, and sustainable spatial planning in the coastal areas of Langkat Regency
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tengku Abdillah Aziz, Risbue Siregar, Aisyah Dwi Ramadhani, Amanda Anggraini, Nazwa Amelia Putri, Ruth Sahana Manalu, Vinny Natasya Hura, Yogi Marselinus Turnip, Ayu Surya Saputri, Widya Khairunisa (Author)
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